Members are invited to join us at the next ACCI General Council dinner and meeting, on August 15 and 16 respectively, in Brisbane. The General Council Dinner will be held in partnership with Business Chamber Queensland. 

Invitations have been circulated. Should you have any questions please contact the events team here. 

ACCI is pleased to announce that registrations are open for the Business Leaders’ Summit: Business in 3D and Gala Dinner, on Wednesday, 6 November 2024 in Canberra.

The Business Leaders’ Summit is a premier gathering bringing together industry pioneers, thought leaders and decision makers from across the nation, with a specific focus on Deregulation, Digitalisation and Decarbonisation. The Summit will be held in person and will feature a mix of keynote addresses, panel discussions and networking opportunities. 

We are delighted that the Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, will be our guest of honour at the Gala Dinner, where he will deliver a keynote address.

Event details

Gala Dinner
Date | Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Time | 6pm for 7pm – 10pm
Venue | Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 

Business Leaders’ Summit: Business in 3D

8.30am – 9.00am        Registration and informal networking

9.00am – 9.15am        Welcome

9.30am – 10.30am      Session 1 | Deregulation: Cutting Red Tape and Increasing Productivity

Keynote address: Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science 

This session will discuss the impact of current regulatory frameworks on business operations and the benefits of a streamlined regulatory environment. We examine how current regulatory frameworks impact business operations, increase costs and curb productivity and innovation.

Panellists:

Bruce Billson, Ombudsman, The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman 

Luci Ellis, Chief Economist, Westpac

Senator Jacqui Lambie 

Moderator:

Chris Rodwell, Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA

10.45am – 11.45am    Session 2 | Digitalisation: Harnessing Technology for the Transformation of Business Practices

This session explores the role of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in driving business efficiency and productivity. As businesses across sectors face growing challenges from skills shortages, AI presents a powerful solution by automating complex tasks, enhancing decision-making processes, and filling gaps in human expertise.

Keynote address: Brendan Dowling, Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology 

Panellists:

Alastair MacGibbon, Chief Strategy Officer, CyberCX 

Moderator:

Heidi Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, Business Chamber Queensland

11.45am – 12.15pm    Keynote address | The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

1.00pm – 1.30pm        Keynote address | Gina Cass-Gottlieb, Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission 

1.30pm – 2.30pm        Session 3 | De-carbonisation: Navigating the Path to Net Zero

In this session we focus on priorities and strategies for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and move towards NetZero. Latest innovations and trends in reducing greenhouse emissions will be explored; as well as a deep dive into the role of renewable energy solutions and how Australia can become a global leader in this space.

Keynote address: the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water 

Panellists:

David Jochinke, President, National Farmers Federation 

Andrew Parker, Chief Sustainability Officer, Qantas Airways 

Moderator:

Dan Hunter, Chief Executive Officer, BusinessNSW

2.45pm – 3.15pm        Session 4 | Navigating Workplace Relations Changes: Impacts to Date and What’s to come

3.15pm – 3.45pm        Canberra Insiders

3.45pm – 4.00pm          Closing Remarks

ACCI Gala Dinner 

6.00pm – 7.00pm          Networking Drinks hosted by Amazon

7.00pm – 10.00pm        Gala Dinner with Guest of honour, Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Early Bird prices are available until Monday 30 September 2024. 

We are delighted to invite members to the launch of ACCI’s Research Report: Accelerating the Potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business. We are thrilled that the Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic MP, will join us and officially launch the report. 

The Report looks at businesses’ perception of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the challenges currently acting as a barrier to adoption, particularly for small businesses, despite its huge potential to transform our economy and boost productivity.

Through case studies and interviews, the report explores how adopting AI solutions is not necessarily straightforward, with many businesses facing a variety of obstacles before they can see the full benefits of these new technologies.

There will be a presentation of the report’s key findings, followed by a panel discussion focusing on AI as a catalyst: Accelerating growth and innovation in SMEs.

SPEAKERS

Megan Motto

Chief Executive Officer
Governance Institute of Australia

Megan Motto is the CEO of the Governance Institute of Australia, a national membership association and leading authority on governance. Prior to her appointment as Chief Executive at Governance Institute, Megan was the CEO of Consult Australia, the association for professional services firms within the built and natural environment. Megan is also currently a Director of Standards Australia and a National Director for the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).

Professor Andrew Meares

Cybernetic Futures Lead
ANU School of Cybernetics

Since joining the ANU in 2019, Andrew has contributed as a Master course convenor, Master program convenor, Education Experience lead, and Design lead. He was the lead curator of the exhibition Australian Cybernetic: A Point Through Time (2022) and lead author of the exhibition book (2024).

Andrew leads cybernetic research and education experiences in cybernetic futures, the Cybernetic Imagination residency program, and is a co-investigator of an ongoing research project on Australia’s first digital system, the Overland Telegraph Line.

Michael Kennedy 

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
Intuit

Michael Kennedy is Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Intuit, the global technology platform that helps individuals achieve financial confidence and powers prosperity with TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp. He joined Intuit in early 2023 and leads a global team focusing on public policy issues including small business advocacy and financial technology. Prior to this role at Intuit, Michael served as Senior Vice President for Global Government Relations at VMware (2014-2023), where he worked on critical issues such as cybersecurity and trade policy.

Jennifer Low 

Director Digital Policy
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Jennifer acts as a leading advocate for employers in the design, implementation and operation of Australia’s national and state legislative frameworks governing WHS and workers’ compensation. She is an appointed member of a number of Federal advisory committees for Workers’ Compensation, Work Health and Safety, Mental Health and Health. With primary qualifications in psychology and safety, Jennifer’s expertise is in workplace psychosocial issues, behavioral safety, workers’ compensation and safety leadership and culture.

Please contact the Events team here, with any questions or queries.