The 2018 Geelong Small Business Festival 2018 is celebrating eight years of helping local businesses grow, connect and improve, and has over 50 events and networking opportunities on offer this August.
With Geelong just a short twenty-minute drive from the south of the Shire, business owners and entrepreneurs from Bannockburn, Teesdale, Batesford, Lethbridge (and more!) are encouraged to check out what’s on offer as there are so many potential business benefits!
See our top picks below or head over the Festival website to find out more.
1. Resilience: Why it’s crucial for business success: Ita Buttrose
Wednesday 1 August
Ita Buttrose is a legendary media trailblazer, businesswoman, best-selling author, committed community and welfare contributor and 2013 Australian of the Year, and she is coming to Geelong. Be entertained as you learn about resilience, and why it’s crucial in leadership and business. In this engaging session you will be provided with valuable tools and insights you can use to take your business to the next level. Ita was twice-voted as Australia’s most admired woman, and has a long and distinguished career in the Australian media – and we think this is presentation is a must-see.
2. Westpac Economic Breakfast: Bill Evans
Friday 3 August
You’re invited to breakfast with Westpac’s Managing Director – Economics, Bill Evans. This is the 18th year the Geelong Chamber of Commerce has jointly hosted the Economic Breakfast with Westpac. Bill is currently the Bank’s economic spokesman and responsible for all of the bank’s economic research as well as advising Westpac’s customers on the Australian economy and financial markets.
3. The Power of Positive Culture
Monday 6 August
Learn clear and easy-to-implement leadership strategies that will have an immediate impact on your business. Guest speaker Jem Fuller will provide highly effective mindset strategies that can help individuals to perform at their optimum levels, from front-line through to middle and senior levels.
4. Prioritising Local Social Impact – Is good for business?
Monday 13 August
If you’re not already, now’s the time to incorporate social value into your business so you can throw your hat into the ring and take part. Find out why – and how – you should incorporate social value into your business, so you can catch a wave of billion-dollar government department and agency spending, which will have social enterprise procurement as a priority.
5. Building a Sustainable Eco-Friendly Business
Tuesday 14 August
Meet co-owner of East Malvern’s ‘Green Onions’, Caroline Bayliss and share Caroline’s journey to becoming an experienced sustainability professional. With a background in law, corporate affairs, government relations and stakeholder engagement, Caroline’s areas of expertise include sustainability strategy, assessments and reporting, climate policy and carbon management. She has served as the Australian Director of The Climate Group and as a Director of Global Sustainability at RMIT University. Caroline is a dedicated advocate of quality, affordable organic food and we’re sure this will be a great session!