BUSINESS ESSENTIALS SEMINAR

Wed 24 - Thurs 25 - May 2023 | Victory Room, Marvel Stadium, Docklands, Melbourne

Hear directly from SME business leaders l Fireside chats l Industry experts addressing critical small business topics l 45 minute industry panels

FREE SEMINAR TICKET

The free to attend SmallBiz Essentials Seminar Series held during the Small Business Expo 2023 includes informative, daily industry panel discussions addressing a single topic impacting the small business sector in 2023, presented by entrepreneurs, CEOs, senior government officials, thought leaders and executives from major Australian and global companies. FOR YOUR REFERENCE below is the previous schedule for the 2022 event. 2023 SCHEDULE IS COMING SOON

[Day 1] Wed 24 May 2023

[Day 2] Thurs 25 May 2023

10:30

-

11:00

SmallBiz Competing with Big Business for talent

Historically, SMEs and their employees have been excluded from the financial and personal benefits available to the big end of town – despite employing over a third of the private sector workforce in Australia. In this session, the Co-Founder of Australia’s largest pay and benefits platform, will discuss their work democratising access to the most important tools for employee attraction and retention, and explore how small businesses can compete for talent with the most well-resourced businesses in the country.

Financial stress is on the rise as employees come to expect more from their employers following COVID-19 lockdowns.
With the ‘Great Resignation’ upon us, employers can no longer only offer a paycheck or an intranet and expect to retain their staff.
Historically it’s been difficult for small businesses to give their employees access to key financial and personal benefits – the main providers and consultancies target high-income roles in high-turnover corporations.
Flare has emerged as Australia’s leading benefits provider, partnering with platforms like MYOB to give businesses of any size access to the same tools used by the ASX50 to attract and retain talent.

11:15

-

12:00

SmallBiz Future-Proof your SME

When 73% of SMEs are looking for solutions to combat late payments along with avoiding becoming 1 in 5 SME’s who are currently targeted with fraudulent invoices, implementing e-invoicing along with automating their accounts payable and receivables process, is a no brainer.

Join our panel discussion with industry experts who have been:

consulting with and providing awareness to Australian businesses on the benefits of e-invoicing
helping Australian businesses get paid and pay on time
creating awareness on the financial impact invoice fraud, email compromise has had on Australian businesses
educating businesses why it’s important to have digital health and trust for their business and their clients
learning from Accountants what their clients have been experiencing in their businesses with e-invoicing adoption and other business challenges post pandemic
creating awareness amongst their clients and network with digitisation of business-to-business – a crucial aspect is e-invoicing, where bills are sent electronically and approved and paid automatically, doing away with traditional paper invoices being physically sent in the mail and stored in filing cabinets.

12:15

-

13:00

SmallBiz Customer Experience and Loyalty

Take advantage of growing consumer interest in excellent service while meeting the market’s post-pandemic higher customer service expectations. Identity is a crucial tool for SMB companies as they seek to outpace industry challenges and deliver amazing, trusted customer experiences for customers and employees.

Capitalise on 50%+ Consumers are seeking out Australian brands
Building customer loyalty; authentic branding
61% Consumers expect SME response time on par with large companies
Automated customer service technology and tools
Customer centric business models
Learn how Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) is the foundation for frictionless, secure customer experiences
Learn how to enhance customer satisfaction to drive revenue
Learn how to accelerate time-to-market and improve security for customer-facing experiences.

13:15

-

14:00

SmallBiz Social Media

How small businesses can utilize social media? Interacting with consumers on social media is an important marketing strategy for small businesses. Using social media helps you build brand awareness, increase your customer base, and connect with current customers.

How to grow your SME with social media marketing
Almost 8 in 10 Australians are on social media
Over 10 million Australians are active on Facebook and Instagram
Yet – 24% of small business in Australia are not on social media
Embrace the post-covid digital revolution: changing social media attitudes and habits
Best social media growth strategies and action plans
Authentically communicate with customers to reach new markets

14:15

-

15:00

SmallBiz Funding and Fexible Finance

Every year, one in six SMEs seeks finance to fund and grow their business - be inspired by the diverse range of funding options in 2022.

15:00

-

15:30

SmallBiz Resolving Disputes…Without Going to Court

As small businesses work on recovery and navigating COVID normal, resolving disputes quickly and getting back to business has never been more important. Victorian Small Business Commissioner Lynda McAlary-Smith will walk through good practices that small business people can adopt to avoid and resolve disputes and ways the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) can help.

Small business strategies for avoiding disputes and the unnecessary impacts they have on your day to day operations
Tips to help you manage conflict and de-escalate those difficult situations
How you can resolve a dispute yourself and maintain positive business relationships
Ways the VSBC can help resolve disputes without the need for court, including through impartial, low-cost mediation
How to speak up – and be heard – if you’re experiencing issues with a government department or council.

15:35

-

15:55

SmallBiz Down the Rabbit Hole: Female Entrepreneurship

Women leaders everywhere are saying the same thing: "We don’t want everything to go back to the way it was before!". But, how do we take the lessons and revelations of the last two years and use them to create better and more equitable working environments? Leela Cosgrove, Founder and CEO of Strategic Anarchy and Australian Chapter Leader of the Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network, discusses the current reality women entrepreneurs find themselves in and how we can incorporate the best of what we've discovered through the pandemic into our working lives (with bonus Alice in Wonderland metaphors!)

10:30

-

11:00

How the Victorian Chamber can help to turbocharge your business

As Victoria’s peak business body, the Chamber represents the collective voice of 50,000 members and clients. Every size, every sector and right across the State. Our strength is certainly in our numbers. What you may not realise is that the Victorian Chamber is also a business in our own right, employing more than 200 staff; a passionate team who work hard every day to help business. We are the largest providers of apprentices and trainees in the State and a Registered Training Organisation. We have a first-class workplace relations support service and we are the largest provider of certificates of origin – which businesses need to export - in the country. We understand the challenges involved in running a business and managing people. We are a not-for-profit but our mindset is one of operating like a business. We get business.

Challenges that businesses faced throughout COVID-19
How the Victorian Chamber helped
The Victoria Summit process and the resulting Playbook: how it brought stakeholders together and is impacting policy and decisions for the benefit of business and all Victorians
New membership offerings for the changing face of business in Victoria
Don’t waste a crisis: what matters going forward

11:15

-

12:00

SmallBiz The Future of Retail

The retail sector is undergoing monumental change, highlighting the emergence of entirely new trends and accelerating the progress of pre-existing ones. Join Afterpay's Kellie Clenton as she discusses the future of the retail industry over the next 3 and 7-10 years.

12:15

-

13:00

SmallBiz Digitalisation

Understand widespread digital disruption and adapt your SME to expand services and future proof your small business.

13:15

-

14:00

SmallBiz Digital Marketing

Discover the latest digital marketing tools, techniques and solutions to support your small business.

24 - 25 May 2023 Victory Room, Marvel Stadium, Docklands

17-18-19 May 2022, Marvel Stadium, Melb.

17-18-19 May 2022Marvel Stadium, Docklands, Melb.

Box 1

Box 2

17-18-19 May 2022Marvel Stadium, Docklands, Melb.

BUSINESS ESSENTIALS SEMINAR

Wed 24 - Thurs 25 - May 2023 | Victory Room, Marvel Stadium, Docklands, Melbourne

10:30

-

11:00

Speaker(s):

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Flare

11:15

-

12:00

When 73% of SMEs are looking for solutions to combat late payments along with avoiding becoming 1 in 5 SME’s who are currently targeted with fraudulent invoices, implementing e-invoicing along with automating their accounts payable and receivables process, is a no brainer.

Speaker(s):

CTO & Co-Founder

Cynch Security

Speaker(s):

Technical Advisor, Assurance & Emerging Technologies

CPA

Speaker(s):

Account Director, Indirect Tax

Deloitte

Speaker(s):

Co-Founder and CEO

LUCA Plus

12:15

-

13:00

Speaker(s):

Regional VP of Sale

Okta

Speaker(s):

Vice President SMB, APAC

Zendesk

Speaker(s):

Director, Engagement & Marketing

13:15

-

14:00

How small businesses can utilize social media? Interacting with consumers on social media is an important marketing strategy for small businesses. Using social media helps you build brand awareness, increase your customer base, and connect with current customers.

Speaker(s):

Growth Director

Attention Experts

Speaker(s):

Director

Engaging Social Media

Speaker(s):

Chief Navigator (GM)

Navii

14:15

-

15:00

Every year, one in six SMEs seeks finance to fund and grow their business - be inspired by the diverse range of funding options in 2022.

Speaker(s):

CEO

Australian Finance Industry Association

Speaker(s):

General Manager Commercial Lending Product and BFA

Commonwealth Bank

Speaker(s):

Founder

FOXI

Speaker(s):

Founder & Principal Consultant

The Launch Pad Co.

15:00

-

15:30

Speaker(s):

Commissioner

Victorian Small Business Commission

15:35

-

15:55

Speaker(s):

24 - 25 May 2023
Victory Room, Marvel Stadium, Docklands

17-18-19 May 2022
Marvel Stadium, Docklands, Melb.

17-18-19 May 2022
Marvel Stadium, Docklands, Melb.