9:00 am
ArrivalExpo floor
Arrival, badge collection, and expo floor open
Start the day with check-in, coffee, and a first pass through the supplier floor before the SmallBiz Sessions begin.
SpeakersEvent team
Register for this session
Program
A two-day program for practical decisions and useful connections.
SmallBiz Melbourne brings the expo floor, industry panels, keynote sessions, and networking functions into one focused event experience.
29-30 July 2026MCEC Melbourne
Program agenda
Two days of sessions, roundtables, demos, and useful introductions.
Browse the current SmallBiz Sessions agenda for 29-30 July 2026, built around practical operating decisions for Australian small businesses.
29-30 July 2026
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Session type
9:30 am
RoundtableRoundtable
Meet the Experts Roundtables Session 1
Interactive small-group conversations with industry experts and government agencies designed to answer specific business questions.
SpeakersExpert hosts
Register for this session10:30 am
PeoplePanel
The People Equation: Hiring, Leading and Upskilling Without Breaking the Business
A practical playbook for building stronger teams through better hiring, leadership, and upskilling decisions on small-business budgets.
SpeakersPanel to be announced
Register for this session11:00 am
AI serviceKeynote
The SMB Advantage in the AI for Service Era
How smaller and mid-sized businesses can use speed, agility, and customer proximity to scale service without enterprise complexity.
Speakers
Register for this session11:20 am
AI in practicePanel
Beyond the Hype: How Australian Small Businesses are Using AI Right Now
Operators and specialists move past buzzwords to discuss practical AI use cases already changing everyday small-business workflows.
Speakers
Register for this session11:50 am
CommunityAnnouncement
Future Drive Australia and SmallBiz 2027 announcements
Updates on the next stage of the SmallBiz community, including a look ahead to 2027 and Future Drive AutoShow Melbourne.
SpeakersSmallBiz team
Register for this session12:00 pm
RoundtableRoundtable
Meet the Experts Roundtables Session 2
A second block of focused table conversations for finance, technology, workplace, growth, and business continuity questions.
SpeakersExpert hosts
Register for this session1:00 pm
CybersecurityKeynote
AI and Cyber-Security: Navigating the New Threat Landscape
AI is changing both business tools and cybercrime. This session explains what small businesses need to watch and strengthen now.
Speakers
Register for this session1:20 pm
Incident responsePanel
Hacked, Scammed or Breached? What To Do Before, During and After a Cyber Incident
A practical response plan for preventing incidents, limiting damage when they happen, and knowing the first actions to take.
Speakers
Register for this session1:50 pm
Future of workPanel
What's Next: AI, People and the Business of Tomorrow
A concise discussion on the technology shifts and people decisions that will matter most for small businesses in the next cycle.
Speakers
Register for this session2:20 pm
CommunityKeynote
Future Drive Australia and SmallBiz 2027 announcements
A second update block for attendees joining the afternoon program.
SpeakersSmallBiz team
Register for this session2:30 pm
RoundtableRoundtable
Meet the Experts Roundtables Session 3
Final roundtable rotation for targeted questions and next-step guidance from the advisory and exhibitor community.
SpeakersExpert hosts
Register for this session3:30 pm
ConnectionsNetworking
Supplier meetings and networking close
Use the final hour to revisit shortlisted exhibitors, meet speakers and partners, and turn session notes into follow-up conversations.
SpeakersSpeakers and exhibitors
Register for this session2026 speakers
Speaker profiles from the current SmallBiz Sessions lineup.
2025 speaker archive
Previous SmallBiz speakers from the official Sessions archive.
Speaker photos, company logos, roles, and session focus areas have been sourced from the 2025 SmallBiz Sessions archive.
2025Alison Newman
Director of Development
Cloudstaff
- Focus
- People programs and offshore team development
Strategic HR and development leader with global experience designing people programs that improve engagement, productivity, and business outcomes.
PeopleTrainingOutsourcing
2025Andy Pudmenzky
APAC Customer Marketing Manager
Constant Contact
- Focus
- Customer marketing for side hustlers and small businesses
Technology marketer and early web builder who helps founders and small business owners turn digital channels into practical customer growth.
Email marketingDigitalCustomer growth
2025Benny Balaaji
Sales Director
Zoho
- Focus
- CRM growth for small businesses and startups
SaaS sales and customer-experience leader with more than 15 years helping customers adopt practical CRM and business software.
CRMSaaSSales
2025Bianca Blades
APAC Field Marketing Manager
Constant Contact
- Focus
- Simpler marketing systems for creators and owners
Field marketing lead with communications experience across fashion, travel, and technology, focused on making marketing easier to execute.
MarketingCreatorsCommunications
2025Cathy Middleton
Senior Licensing Manager
OneMusic Australia
- Focus
- Music copyright and public performance licensing
Music copyright specialist who advises businesses on public performance licensing and leads teams helping owners understand music-use obligations.
LicensingComplianceMusic
2025Cheyne Jonstone
Co-founder & Co-CEO
Nexigen Digital
- Focus
- Digital infrastructure for Australian businesses
Technology founder who helped grow Nexigen Digital and VentraIP into a major privately owned Australian digital services group.
TechnologyHostingScale
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2025Clint Hong
Host
SmallBiz Sessions
SmallBiz Sessions
- Focus
- Event hosting and local economic development
Experienced host, MC, and local-government professional working across events, tourism, community services, and small business activation.
HostLocal businessEvents
2025Councillor Andrew Rowse
Councillor
City of Melbourne
- Focus
- Innovation, education, and city economy
Melbourne councillor contributing to innovation, education, city economy, business, and design excellence portfolios.
City economyInnovationPolicy
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2025Councillor Kevin Louey
Councillor
City of Melbourne
- Focus
- City economy and business portfolio leadership
Business, government, and community leader with long experience in Melbourne civic work and the City Economy and Business portfolio.
City economyBusinessCivic
.png)
2025Crystal Benson
Founder & CEO
Booked Solid AI
- Focus
- AI-enabled booking and customer engagement
Growth strategist combining marketing, sales, and AI automation to improve customer engagement and operational follow-through.
AIAutomationSales
2025Damon Jasinski
Presales Engineer
Zoho
- Focus
- CRM demonstrations and business workflow fit
Presales engineer translating business requirements into CRM demonstrations, workflow advice, and software adoption support.
CRMPresalesWorkflow
2025Elise Balsillie
VP Revenue ANZ
Thryv
- Focus
- Small business revenue and digital tools
Revenue leader with deep experience across media, education, and technology, helping small businesses grow through practical digital systems.
RevenueDigital toolsSMB
.png)
2025Elizabeta Galevska
Manager Dispute Resolution
Victorian Small Business Commission
- Focus
- Small business dispute resolution
Dispute resolution leader supporting low-cost mediation, awareness of rights and responsibilities, and fairer commercial relationships.
DisputesMediationGovernment
2025Gabe Enslin
Continuity Founder and Leader
adapt
- Focus
- Business continuity and resilient SME operating models
Founder helping SME owners build resilient, sustainable, and scalable businesses after leading ventures across logistics, trade, and immersive technology.
ResilienceContinuitySME
2025Gavin Diamond
VP of ANZ
Box
- Focus
- Cloud content and collaboration for business teams
ANZ leader for Box, representing secure content collaboration and document workflows for modern teams.
CloudCollaborationDocuments
2025Irwin Hau
Founder
ConversionCow and Chromatix
- Focus
- Website conversion and lead enhancement
Founder of ConversionCow and Chromatix, known for practical website analysis and conversion-focused design for B2B businesses.
WebConversionUX
2025Jack Stewart
Presales Engineer
Zoho
- Focus
- Business automation and software requirements
Presales engineer who maps business requirements into tailored software features, demonstrations, and automation options.
AutomationZohoPresales
2025Joel McKay
Assistant Director - Procurement Capability Branch
Department of Finance
- Focus
- Government procurement capability
Public-sector procurement specialist with experience across policy, trade, whole-of-government contracts, and supplier capability programs.
ProcurementGovernmentCapability
2025Julie-Anne Whitfield
Workplace Engagement Manager
R U OK?
- Focus
- Workplace mental health engagement
Workplace engagement lead building strategies and resources that help employers create more effective wellbeing conversations at work.
WorkplaceWellbeingLeadership
.png)
2025Kate Dillema
Chatbot Program Director
Booked Solid AI
- Focus
- AI chat strategy and customer conversations
Chatbot program leader shaping intelligent conversation flows that improve user experience and streamline customer communication.
AIChatbotsCX
2025Kate Jolly
Global Head of Talent
Employment Hero
- Focus
- High-velocity hiring and talent acquisition
Talent acquisition leader with global hiring experience across startups and large businesses, focused on high-performing recruitment teams.
HiringTalentPeople
2025Keeley Pasfield
Assistant Director, Public Education
IP Australia
- Focus
- Intellectual property education for small business
Public education lead with small-business experience who helps owners understand intellectual property and protect business ideas.
IPEducationSmall business
.png)
2025Kelsie Gaffey
Owner
Gracie's Wine Room
Gracie's Wine Room
- Focus
- Hospitality entrepreneurship and social storytelling
Hospitality founder who used an authentic social-media launch story to build early recognition for an inner-south Melbourne wine bar.
HospitalitySocial mediaFounder
2025Kiril Shaginov
Co-Founder
Mörk Chocolate
- Focus
- Specialty food retail and product-led growth
Specialty chocolate co-founder representing product-led hospitality, retail craft, and the realities of growing a distinctive local brand.
RetailHospitalityBrand
2025Lyndon Russell
FIPA FFA Principal
Next Level Accountants
- Focus
- Financial clarity for profitable small business
Accountant, virtual CFO, and author helping owners understand their numbers and build more profitable, sustainable businesses.
AccountingFinancePlanning
2025Marek Drummond
Managing Director
Optimus Systems
- Focus
- IT, cybersecurity, and cloud support for SMBs
IT founder with more than 25 years delivering cybersecurity, cloud management, and consulting solutions for small and medium businesses.
ITCybersecurityCloud
2025Matt Ford
National IKEA for Business Specialist
IKEA Australia
- Focus
- Furniture and workspace solutions for business
Business specialist supporting IKEA's Australian commercial service, with experience growing practical workspace and furnishing solutions.
WorkspaceRetailBusiness services
2025Max Ferguson
Founder & CEO
Lumin
- Focus
- Document workflow, eSignatures, and AI products
Founder leading a document workflow platform used by millions of customers, spanning editing, eSignatures, APIs, and AI-powered tools.
DocumentsWorkflowAI
.png)
2025Megan Forbes
Assistant Director, Business Industry and Regional Outreach Victoria/Tasmania
Department of Home Affairs
- Focus
- Migration pathways and workforce information
Outreach officer helping business, industry, and regional stakeholders understand visa pathways when local workers are unavailable.
MigrationWorkforceGovernment
2025Michael Price
Head of Business & Strategy
Nexigen Digital
- Focus
- Customer experience, service management, and strategy
Business strategy leader with experience in customer experience, employee engagement, service management, and reporting analytics.
StrategyCXDigital services
2025Paul Dove
Senior Vice President of Sales APAC
Cloudstaff
- Focus
- Outsourcing, operations, and global team growth
Sales leader with experience across outsourcing, financial services, global team management, venture capital, and M&A initiatives.
SalesOutsourcingAPAC
2025Paul Maguire
Principal
Maguire Legal
- Focus
- Employment, workplace relations, and commercial law
Melbourne lawyer advising small businesses, industry associations, and employers on workplace relations and commercial legal issues.
LegalEmploymentCompliance
.png)
2025Rakesh Prabhakar
General Manager ANZ
Zoho
- Focus
- Regional SaaS growth and business operations
Zoho ANZ leader who moved from technical consulting into business operations and regional growth across the Australian and New Zealand market.
SaaSOperationsLeadership
2025Renée Chaplin
Vice President - Asia Pacific
Constant Contact
- Focus
- APAC SaaS marketing and commercial growth
Marketing and commercial leader with two decades across APAC B2B technology companies, from startups to multinational SaaS organisations.
SaaSMarketingAPAC
.png)
2025Salina Chu
Patent Examiner for Medical Devices & Senior Advisor, Public Education and Awareness
IP Australia
- Focus
- Patent education and customer awareness
Medical-device patent examiner and public education advisor helping customers understand intellectual property, backed by biomedical engineering and science training.
PatentsIPEducation
2025Samuel Panther
Pre-sales Engineer
Zoho
- Focus
- Customer experience software and solution fit
Pre-sales engineer helping businesses align customer-experience goals with Zoho software through demos, consultation, and practical solution design.
CXZohoPresales
Small Business Expo
Meet exhibitors from diverse industries ready to share insights, tools, and strategies that help small and medium sized businesses thrive.
Find innovative solutions and new partnerships in one walkable floor.
Industry Workshops
Practical sessions help owners sharpen finance, hiring, marketing, sales, tech, and ecommerce decisions.
Leave with usable advice for current operating and growth decisions.
Networking Function
An exclusive drinks function connecting entrepreneurs, industry leaders, exhibitors, sponsors, and potential partners.
Build warm commercial relationships beyond a quick booth conversation.
SmallBiz Sessions
Keynotes, panels, and fireside chats designed around practical advice, future-focused insight, and real operating challenges.
Hear from operators and brands already solving the next set of SME problems.
Day rhythm
A program built to move from insight to supplier conversations.
Visitors can start with a practical theme, walk the related resource area, then use networking moments to turn decisions into relationships.
Morning
Start with practical sessions
Use keynotes and workshops to set priorities for the day before stepping onto the expo floor.
Midday
Compare suppliers by business need
Move through the five hubs and shortlist providers while questions and requirements are fresh.
Afternoon
Turn insights into introductions
Close the loop with networking moments, sponsor conversations, and follow-up meetings.
Session themes follow the expo resource mix.
Finance, Tax, and Accounting
Tools for bookkeeping, tax compliance, payroll, and smarter financial planning.
Hiring & People Management
HR platforms and resources for hiring, training, and managing staff.
Marketing Made Simple
Social media, email campaign, and digital advertising solutions that support growth.
Sales & Growth
Support for sales pipelines, lead generation, and customer acquisition.
Tech, AI & Cybersecurity
Software, apps, and technology solutions designed to save time and boost efficiency.
Website & eCommerce Solutions
Ways to build, optimise, and manage an online store or business website.
Practical learning paths
- AI, automation, and digital efficiency
- EOFY, smart money management, and growth capital
- Cybersecurity, data protection, and business continuity
- Marketing, customer growth, and brand positioning
- Leadership, hiring, compliance, and operational resilience
SmallBiz Melbourne 2026
Use the program to learn, compare, and connect.
Register interest now and receive program updates as speakers, exhibitors, and sponsored sessions are announced.