Just over 55 local business owners, regional organisations, and government representatives made history on Thursday 16 May by participating in the inaugural Whitsunday Business Conference.
The event has a hive of buzzing energy, new connections, ideas, and great discussions.
Amanda Camm MP officially opened the Conference, congratulating the Chamber on hosting the Conference and for making time and space for local businesses to come together, meet, and learn.
The program then kicked into raising awareness of the challenges and blocks local businesses are currently navigating.
The major pain points facing the group ranged from the big issues of regional disadvantage, road infrastructure, inflation impacts and insurance, and housing availability and affordability right through to attracting and keeping high-calibre staff, chasing debtors and managing cash flow, and personal productivity.
Attendees were able to connect with local professionals at the event that might be able to help ease these pain points. Many attendees offered a number of exclusive discounts and services as a way of being part of the solution.
Staffing was a major issue explored in a dedicated panel discussion.
Georgia Lavers from Greater Whitsunday Alliance set the scene by introducing their workforce-related initiatives (the Stackable Career Education Program, Educator Professional Learning Program, and the Activate Program) and the work of the Regional Jobs Committee. Georgia invited attendees — and the broader Whitsunday business community — to share their view in a short survey on workforce challenges.
With housing availability and affordability a hot workforce-related topic, Rob Cocco of Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays and Tonia Wilson of Greater Whitsunday Communities provided an impromptu update on initiatives addressing this issue including the Greater Whitsunday Housing Project Playbook.
In considering how to supercharge your people power Amanda Anderson, Branch Manager of Bendigo Community Bank, drew on her extensive management career. Her top tactics are to recognise your team with daily genuine care, invest in strengthening the team outside of work hours with social gatherings, and be willing and open to really listen and respond to the team.
Brian Ward, My Pathway small business mentor for the Whitsundays and Mackay, had attendees chuckling with his master storytelling. He recommended the Will/Skill Matrix as a way of thinking about your staff’s skills and motivation to help inform a better course of action for business owners – knowing when to direct, guide, delegate, or excite individual team members.
The second panel discussion didn’t take no for an answer, and we heard stories of operational re-invention, digital transformation, and sheer determinism.
Julia Wheway from TAFE Queensland shared how the region’s business community has adopted in recent years towards eCommerce, QR codes, online booking systems, and virtual meetings. Within TAFE Queensland, the Whitsunday and Bowen campuses are benefiting from transformations in innovative online learning practices, micro-credentialing, and augmented reality hardware (which she modelled during her presentation!).
Kristian Mulholland spoke of the game changing digital innovations the Proserpine Prawn Farm have implemented to automate feeding and water testing using artificial intelligence and machine learning. During implementation they operated in ‘reactive management’ mode and had to navigate some resistance to change and traditional practices. Now on the other side, operations are more proactive, and the workforce has evolved into smart farming specialists.
We heard of Andrew Paranomos’ tenacious commitment to his goal to become an owner/operator of a McDonald’s Restaurant. We heard of his career journey, the opportunities and wise support provided by this mentor and fiancé Jaide, the importance of hard work and doing whatever it takes move closer towards bringing goals to life, and how to bounce back from the knock backs along the way.
Attendees enjoyed the personal stories and perspectives presented by the local speakers.
An initiative of the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Conference is set to become a marquee annual event for the region’s business community. Attendees provided sound advice on what next year’s program could look like which will be fed back to the 2025 Conference organising committee. The Chamber looks forward to providing an update in the coming months.
The conference closed with an opportunity to meet the exceptional Dominque Lamb, the Queensland Small Business Commissioner. The Chamber is an active member of the Commissioner’s Regional Roundtable, ensuring the Whitsundays business community is represented in deliberations. It was a real treat to finally meet in person!
The Commissioner spoke about how energising it is to be in a room with like-minded business people as it helps you see your business in a new and different ways.
The Commissioner outlined her role in championing business needs and advocating necessary change. She highlighted the free services available to businesses that drive growth and improved operations such as:
- Mentors for Growth
- Small Business Financial Counsellors
- Small Business Wellness Coaches
- Industry Workforce Advisors
- Business Launch Pad
These services are readily available to the Whitsundays with local representatives ready to assist.
The Chamber wishes to thank everyone who participated, our speakers, and sponsors for bringing the Whitsunday Business Conference to life!
We are grateful for the encouragement and support from our partners for this Chamber initiative, including the Queensland Government’s Regional Networker Grant:
2024 Federal Budget update