Commissioner guest in Ararat
Victorian Small Business Commissioner Judy O’connell will speak at an Ararat Rural City Council Business Breakfast on September 11.
Ms O’connell, who advocates on behalf of Victorian small businesses to make sure they have a fair and competitive operating environment, will join other guests at Chalambar Golf Club from 7am to 8.45am.
Council chief executive Tim Harrison said hearing Ms O’connell’s thoughts on the economic environment small businesses were operating in, especially in light of a revitalisation of the region’s business association, would be fantastic.
Dr Harrison said another guest speaker would be the new Ararat regional business association president, to be decided at an annual meeting on September 4.
“There will be plenty of time for networking before the guest speakers present and I’m sure our local business operators will have many questions for Ms O’connell,” he said.
“The council’s business breakfasts aim to inform, educate and inspire, and we welcome all local business operators to attend for networking and learning.
“No doubt we’ll all learn a lot from Ms O’connell.”
Ms O’connell comes from a family of small-business owners – both her father and two sisters operate their own businesses – and she is an accomplished small-business engagement leader with
a proven track record of achievement across the public sector.
She was one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women in Victoria in 2018, and also manages a quick, low-cost dispute resolution service for small businesses as part of her current role.
The breakfast is open to all Ararat district business operators and is free of charge.
Bookings are essential and people can contact Ararat council business development officer Phillippa Cairns on 5355 0241 or 0437 715 673, or email pcairns@ ararat.vic.gov.au.