As we head into April, I’m excited to share with you some highlights from the past month.
Queensland Women’s Week and International Women’s Day
March was a month of celebration and empowerment as we marked Queensland Women’s Week and International Women’s Day on 8 March. I was privileged to connect with women from different backgrounds including chamber members, small business owners, aspiring young leaders from high schools, and commercial property owners and investors. Hearing their stories and experiences was truly inspiring—it showed how investing in female-led businesses can be highly rewarding.
Local Government Elections
Following the recent state-wide local government elections, we’re excited to continue collaborating with the 48 councils participating in the QSBC’s Small Business Friendly Program (SBF program) – more are welcome to join! We look forward to engaging with the newly elected mayors once they have settled into their roles.
Inaugural Small Business Friendly Awards 2024
The inaugural Small Business Friendly Awards 2024 are now open for nominations from local councils that are SBF Program members. These awards recognise the outstanding contributions of members to the SBF Program and their dedication to improving the small business environment in their region. I’ll be announcing the winners at the annual Small Business Friendly Conference during Queensland Small Business Month in May.
Australian Alternative Dispute Resolution Awards
I recently had the pleasure of attending the Australian Alternative Dispute Resolution Awards in Sydney with Peter Maddock, Director of Assistance. I’m proud to announce that we won the Award for Alternative Dispute Resolution Group of the Year (Ombudsman and Commissions). A special shout-out to the Assistance team for their hard work alongside our panel of expert mediators helping small business resolve disputes. Be sure to explore our series of fact sheets on common dispute topics and practical tips.
QSBC Podcast
I’ve been busy recording the first few episodes of our brand-new QSBC podcast. I interviewed some inspiring small business innovators, founders, and operators. Stay tuned for the podcast launch in mid-May—I can’t wait for you to tune in and share your feedback.
Coming-up
I will be presenting at the following event:
- COSBOA National Small Business Summit, Sydney, 3-4 April 2024.
Connect with us
If you are new to our newsletter or want to learn more about our services, resources, initiatives, and projects, visit the QSBC website. If you need more information, call us on 1300 312 344 or submit an enquiry.
Main photo: I proudly accepted the Award for Alternative Dispute Resolution Group of the Year (Ombudsman and Commissions) award.
Dominique Lamb
Queensland Small Business Commissioner
For more details, read the QSBC newsletter March 2024
