Get The Edge Program
$195 six months access
On-demand videos | Save over $5k on business expenses | Tools and resources
Held over two information-packed days, Small Business Australia released its Get The Edge Program at its inaugural conference.
Developed and delivered by industry leaders, this Program is a must for any business owner, coach, adviser, or professional serving small businesses who are looking to get the edge on their competitors.
Benefits
Save time with AI and automation
Understand how AI and the new generation of digital platforms and tools will reduce the time and hassle of doing tasks in your business that you hate.
Free training and advice
Discover how suppliers and supporters of small business can help you navigate the fast-changing business landscape through free training, advice and other business value-added services.
Digital and social media essentials
Learn what digital and social media channels are best for your industry and what is essential in making them work for your business.
Save money on expenses
Find product and service offers that give over $5,000 in savings in the following areas: Digital, IT and Website, Finance and Insurance, Human Resources, Marketing and Advertising, Training and Coaching.
Save time searching
Finding the right solution for your business can result in hours of internet searching and information overload. Save time searching and learn about the right solutions, processes or information from industry experts.
Features
- 6 months of online access to the Program
- Videos and presentations from over 25 business experts and coaches that provide the latest strategies and tools to help your business Get the Edge
- Latest knowledge and strategies for attracting new customers, improving cash flow, improving IT and accessing funding
- Learn the PROFETS framework to win with new products and when starting a new business
- Latest economic forecasts for the major industries in Australia
- Hear from global experts like Microsoft how AI will revolutionalise how business owners manage their businesses
- Get a proven roadmap for researching and planning a new business, including the key steps, service providers and investments needed to start smart
- Access over $5,000 of business expense savings from the partners of Small Business Australia.
Get The Edge Program
$195 six months access
On-demand videos | Save over $5k on business expenses | Tools and resources
Industry Leaders
Hear from the following speakers who are experts in their fields. Many work with small business owners, innovation managers and entrepreneurs. Some lead corporate teams that provide foundational services essential to small business success. Each provided practical strategies, processes and tools designed to give you the Edge on your competition.
Mark Carter
Keynote Speaker, MC & Trainer
Mark Carter
Meet Mark
Mark Carter is an international keynote speaker, trainer and coach. He has over 25 years experience as a global learning and development professional with his first role being developing leaders for Contiki Holidays.
His TEDx talk was the movie trailer for his second book, ‘Add Value’, published globally by WILEY.
Mark is the creator of a learning management system for SME’s and a media contributor. He regularly consults businesses around critical business pillars including: culture, leadership, value, adaptability and sales. His keynotes and rich academy of training programs all have a common thread specialisation in people and behaviour.
Born in England, raised in Scotland, nurtured by Europe and several round world trips he’s called Australia home since 2002. Mangoes, after all, don’t grow in Edinburgh.
Ana Marinkovic
Executive General Manager Small Business Bank
NAB
Meet Ana
Ana is the Executive General Manager of Business Direct and Small Business Bank at Australia’s largest Small Business Bank. She leads a team of over 1600 dedicated NAB employees including in field bankers, six national hubs, Business Bank servicing teams and specialised support functions all of which actively work to support the success of 550,000 business groups and 1.1 million small business customers in Australia.
Michael Vitale
Professorial Fellow at Faculty of Engineering and IT
University of Melbourne
Meet Michael
Professor Michael Vitale is an education entrepreneur and an entrepreneur educator. Michael graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA in 1982 and then joined the Harvard faculty. He has co-founded 4 companies and moved to Australia to become the Foundation Professor of Information Systems at the University of Melbourne. He has been a faculty member at Melbourne Business School, Monash University and Dean of the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM). He co-developed the Master of Management (Innovation) course at Melbourne University and was the Inaugural General Manager of the Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship. He is an active angel investor, innovation adviser and Director of several start-ups.
Bill Lang
Executive Director
Small Business Australia
Meet Bill
Bill is a business educator, coach and advisor with a passion for helping businesses improve performance through individual skill development, strategy execution and capitalising on the opportunities presented by the digital and international business revolutions.
His 30 years’ experience in building better businesses across a range of industries and countries began at top tier consulting firms, and then in his own businesses which serve clients operating in over 50 countries.
His entrepreneurial journey began with ‘Dr Dog’, a hotdog selling start-up co-founded while studying at Melbourne University in 1985. After graduating as a Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School, he co-founded internet technology and marketing businesses in Australia and Silicon Valley that culminated in a $120 million global alliance with AT&T and British Telecom.
Bill works with the team at Small Business Australia and their team of business coaches to help business owners and leaders achieve their goals, to achieve more success with less stress.
Greg Nicolle
Group Manager | Sales Enablement
Thryv
Meet Greg
Thryv is a leading SaaS business serving the needs of SMB’s, multi-location franchises and corporate customers across Australia. Thryv also includes our Yellow Pages, White Pages, True Local, WhereiS, Thryv Agency and Thryv Data businesses serving Australian-based companies with marketing services and data solutions. In my role as National Capability & Performance Manager I have end to end responsibility for the training, coaching & supporting of our frontline sales & service teams. Sensis changed its name to Thryv Australia in August 2021 after the acquisition by Thryv Inc in March 2021.
Michelle Bridgford
Enterprise Sales and Ecommerce Business Transformation
Reckon
Meet Michelle
A passionate and high performing professional with over 20 years experience in Tier One Corporate IT Sales and as an entrepreneur in eCommerce business transformation and business coaching.
As a skilled IT Solution Sales Professional, Michelle has had extensive experience in building multi million dollar sales pipelines, nurturing and growing business relationships, forming business plans, and negotiating and closing opportunities.
Michelle is a strategic thinker and has successfully expanded business opportunities from the traditional hardware sector into innovative services solutions to increase earnings and create predictable recurring revenue streams.
With excellent communication and diplomacy skills, Michelle is comfortable interacting and negotiating at an Executive level. Michelle has the ability to inspire, empower, and bring out the best in all those around her and has well rounded experience in Sales, Team Leadership, Business and Personal Transformation.
Michelle also has a multi-cultural understanding through periods of living overseas in France and China and has conversational language ability in both French and Mandarin.
Damien Goodall
Chief Executive
HR Central
Meet Damien
Evan Williams
Director Microsoft Azure and Security Business Group A/NZ
Microsoft
Meet Evan
Evan is the current Cyber Security and Azure Business Group Director for Australia and New Zealand. Previously, he held the position of Microsoft 365 Business Group Director until June 2022. Before his business group director roles, Evan served as the Small, Medium and Partner Group Director, collaborating with Microsoft Australia’s business group leaders to drive sales and marketing efforts and provide solutions for small to midmarket businesses. He also managed Microsoft Australia’s channel strategy, supporting a partner network of 14,000 Australian businesses that offer Microsoft-based solutions and services.
Liz Grant
Owner
What Your Customers Want
Meet Liz
Liz is a small business growth specialist who knows exactly how to help your business thrive. With a wealth of expertise in customer research, communications, content strategy development and execution, project management, and online presence design. Liz and her company, Know what your customers want, will help you navigate the crowded online landscape with ease, designing engaging websites, newsletters, and social media content that tell your brand’s story while adhering to brand guidelines. As an experienced coach and mentor, Liz loves sharing her insights and knowledge to help small businesses succeed.
Rob Hartnett
Managing Partner
Value Selling Associates
Meet Rob
Rob Hartnett is a global award-winning enterprise sales performance specialist and the author of the book “It’s All Possible”, on how to use a growth mindset to drive extraordinary outcomes.
Rob and his teams have won numerous global sales and marketing awards at organisations such as Apple, HP, Publicis Mojo & Miller Heiman Group (Korn Ferry). He has also been involved in a number of start up’s and successful small businesses and a regular in the media appearing in Kochies Business Builders, Fortune Magazine, Business Daily on Sky & TickerTV.
Wendi Dawson
Director of Partnerships and Client Engagement
Coraggio
Meet Wendi
Wendi has an extensive background in leadership, sales, and brand strategy and has excelled in delivering exceptional customer experiences, fostering high-performance cultures, and building business communities. Wendi’s extensive experience in business leadership includes leading organisational change and driving growth in volatile and uncertain times. As President of the Melbourne Business Network, Wendi understands the needs of small to medium-sized businesses and advocates strongly for the Melbourne business community and the role that this sector plays in fostering strong communities.
Wendi also thrives on the work she does with Coraggio, who provide peer based advisory board services to privately owned businesses through the provision of “fearless objective advice”.
Brody Viney
Senior Economist
NAB
Angela Ward
Director
3228 Digital
Meet Angela
20+ years marketing and event experience across cinema, radio and luxury cars, Angela understands what makes consumers tick. An eye for detail and creating the tone and voice of your business is what she loves. She can also whip you into shape, as her alter ego is a certified, registered fitness instructor with 30 years experience!
Hayden Brass
Founder
Zea
Meet Hayden
For the past few years, Hayden has lived and breathed Zea. He has been the driving force behind transforming a family project into a thriving business that impacts thousands of people throughout the world. He scaled his family business from about $5,000 a month in sales to over$60,000 a month over the course of a single year. It is Hayden’s personal mission to develop pure, Australian-made products that positively impact both people, and the planet. When he is not working and talking about Kunzea, Hayden enjoys getting outdoors, exploring nature and spending time with partner Jade and newborn son Hendrix.
Tara Fry
Partner
The Social Connection
Meet Tara
Tara, along with business partner Nat, together have over 20 years of industry experience. Tara and Nat pivoted their careers as journalists and newspaper editors to business owners and social media managers in 2021 with the start of their business The Social Connection. With two decades of combined experience, they can help align your business mission & marketing efforts, connect you with your audience & grow your business platform, through contemporary forms like social media management and email marketing, or traditional methods like media release writing, & essential services like proofreading.
Paul Liascos
Managing Director
Spotzer Digital
Meet Paul
An experienced and highly energised leader with a track record of building technology and digital media companies, in both start up and mature environments. Broad range of skills across Sales, Operations, Client Experience, Commercial Management, Marketing, HR and Legal. Builder of exceptional leadership teams,
A proven ability to create and deliver business strategy that delivers results. Experience working in fast changing environments with a wide range of client types and different international markets.
Leadership competencies include :
- Leading and developing teams
- Strategic planning and execution
- Sales
- Change Management
- Profit and Loss Management
- Enabling Start Up Success
- Commercial Management
- Facilitating Turn-arounds
- Strong ethics
Samantha Tait
CEO & Founder
Thinktank Social
Meet Sam
Darren Pauli
Cyber Influence Senior Analyst
Telstra
Meet Darren
I am a cyber sec awareness practitioner, freelance journalist, and former information security correspondent focused on investigative and long form reporting with more than a decade’s experience in the beat.
I actively fight cyberwar and hacking hype and strive to make meaningful contributions to the public’s understanding of how information security affects their lives and the world around them.
I now work in the field of cyber security culture. My information security advice is deeply pragmatic and seated in an understanding of the average user, human psychology, and the active and historical threat landscape.
I have spent most of my time as a reporter with technical security professionals and researchers and, as such, am well informed of the true state of information security, its many failings, hyperbole, and snake oils.
Amelia Roberts
Small Business Region Manager
NAB
Stephen Leeds
Head of Business Development Payments AU/NZ
Novatti
Meet Stephen
Award winning payment market development professional with a global proven track record of building strong teams and delivering market leading solutions. Strong background in payment portfolio P&L management, account management and partnerships for international growth. Experience scaling multi-geography payments businesses while delivering differentiated and innovative consumer experiences.
Amanda Linton
CEO
Institute of Certified Bookkeepers
Meet Amanda
Spending in excess of twenty years working with SME’s has given me valuable insight into the realities of running my own small business and the importance of having good quality advisors around you.
Taking on the CEO role of The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers now gives me opportunity to continue to build on the solid foundations laid down by our founder and Executive Chairperson, Matthew Addison, to continue to build the professionalism of the bookkeeping industry and the professionalism of our members. We are Bookkeepers of the Future.
I’m very passionate about the continuing development of the bookkeeping industry in Australia, including supporting our community around the areas of mental health and well-being. I work hard to continue to take the word to the world that bookkeepers are an important part, an integral part, of the SME business community. As professional bookkeepers, we are Bookkeepers of the Future, helping business owners and managers to do what they do best; continue to grow their business.
Growing and developing my own bookkeeping business from humble home office beginnings to twelve staff across three states, I’ve experienced all the highs and lows. The struggles of commencing as a sole operator, the struggles of being professional and staying professional, and with no formal support networks for me to lean on, particularly if I wanted to stay independent, valued friends and family were my lifeline.
Sam Ralton
Director Working Capital Solutions
Octet
Meet Sam
Sam Ralton is the Director – Working capital Solutions with Octet Finance. Sam works hard to ensure that Octet continues to provide innovative supply chain finance and payments solutions to Australian businesses and their local and global trading partners, Octet’s vision is to connect and grow the world’s businesses.
Since 2008 Octet has powered the growth of over 200,000 businesses, ensuring that local and global trade is fast, simple and safe and providing the supply chain technology and financial capability you need to grow.
Matt Vitale
Co-founder and CEO
Birchal
Meet Matt
Matt is a Co-Founder of Birchal, which is Australia’s top equity crowdfunding platform. With a background as a highly skilled financial services lawyer and entrepreneur, Matt brings a wealth of experience to his role. He has worked at a prestigious law firm in private practice and has also founded multiple successful businesses. Due to his expertise in the regulation of financial services and crowdfunding, Matt frequently provides insights as a media commentator and actively contributes to scholarly journals and industry consultations.
James Buzzard
Partner CTO and Technology Strategist
Microsoft
Meet James
James is a Partner CTO and Technology Strategist. James works with Partners to help them strategically leverage the breadth and depth of the Microsoft portfolio for their clients. James has experience working in advisory firms, higher education and has run his own MSP. James has a diverse background, having trained in Neuroscience and worked as a chef in the past.
Alex Solo
Co-founder
Sprintlaw
Meet Alex
Alex is the co-founder of Sprintlaw a law firm that operates completely online and which is transforming the way legal services are delivered to businesses. Founded in 2017 it has provided legal assistance to 40,000+ start-ups and small businesses with a team of expert lawyers supported by custom-built technology.
Thanks to the vision and hard work of Alex and his team, Sprintlaw is Australia’s fastest growing legal firm, and was the top ranked legal business in the Financial Times APAC High Growth Companies List (2022, 2023), the AFR Fast Starters (2021) and the Deloitte’s APAC Technology Fast 500 (2021) as well as a host of other awards for innovation in service delivery.
Mark Fletcher
Head of Insights
Octomedia
Meet Mark
Mark has over 30 years’ experience as an insights professional conducting qualitative, quantitative, and secondary data market research for Australian and global organisations across all industry sectors. He has a particular interest in research in the food and retail sectors, and in the production of thought leadership reports around emerging consumer trends.
Get The Edge Program
$195 six months access
On-demand videos | Save over $5k on business expenses | Tools and resources
The Small Business Australia Get The Edge Conference was proudly partnered and sponsored by the following:
Sponsors and Partners
Get The Edge Program
$195 six months access
On-demand videos | Save over $5k on business expenses | Tools and resources
