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About The Business of Doing Business Series
The Northern Rivers is home to more than 30,000 businesses, from family-owned enterprises and sole operators to manufacturers, professional services firms, retailers, producers and growing regional employers. Together, they form the backbone of our regional economy.
Running a business in this region comes with unique opportunities and challenges. Business owners are navigating rising costs, workforce pressures, changing customer expectations, regulatory requirements and the day-to-day demands of keeping a business moving forward. At the same time, many are trying to find the time and headspace to think strategically about the future.
The Business of Doing Business Series was created by Business NSW Northern Rivers to provide business owners and operators with practical support, fresh perspectives and opportunities to learn from others who understand the realities of running a business.
Designed in collaboration with our Regional Leaders, the series brings together experienced operators, advisors and specialists to explore the issues that matter most to business performance, growth and resilience.
Across four workshops, participants will examine key areas of business success, including strategy, financial performance, customers, leadership and operational effectiveness. Each session combines practical insights, facilitated discussion and opportunities to connect with other business owners from across the Northern Rivers.
At its heart, this series is about creating the space to step back from the daily demands of business, reflect on where you're headed, and make decisions that strengthen your business for the long term.
Whether you're looking to grow, improve performance, prepare for succession, build capability within your team, or simply gain fresh perspective from others facing similar challenges, The Business of Doing Business Series is designed to help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Book Your Tickets For Upcoming Sessions
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The four sessions
Each session tackles a different part of your business, following a deliberate sequence from direction, to dollars, to demand, to delivery. Attend one session and gain value. Attend all four and transform how your business operates.
SESSION 2 — Money, Numbers & Funding
Thursday 2 July 2026
"Can we afford it?"
Understand what your numbers are actually telling you.
This session explores cash flow, margins, forecasting, funding readiness, insurance and financial risk, giving business owners clearer visibility across the business and more confidence in the decisions they make.
The focus is not just on reporting numbers, but using them to make better operational and strategic decisions.
Presenters:
→ Nicole Bryant, Macro Group — Financial Clarity for Decision-Making
→ Nathan McGrath, Collins Hume — Strategy Through Numbers
→ Matt Williamson, Good Cover Insurance — Risk & Protection
MC: Ed Riley - Max Sam
Leadership Insight: Matt Williamson
SESSION 4 — Enhancing Business Performance
Thursday 12 November 2026
"Can we deliver it?"
Build a business that can perform without relying on you for everything.
Strategy, numbers and customers only work if your team, systems and leadership can support them.
This session explores people, culture, systems and technology, help you build a business that supports staff properly, runs more consistently, and relies less on everything sitting with the owner or manager.
We’ll look at how better systems create clearer roles, stronger accountability, smoother handovers, and a better experience for both staff and customers.
Presenters:
→ Anthea Stevanovic, Intelligent Directions — Attracting, Retaining & Developing People
→ Ange Davies, Mind Your Grit — Culture, Leadership & Leading Through Change
→ Andy Vidler, Muller Enterprise / Northern Rivers Tech — Technology, Automation & Adoption
MC & Leadership Insight: Will Stuart - Byron Design Thinking
SESSION 1 — Strategy & Growth
Thursday 2 July 2026
"Where is your business heading?"
Step back from the day-to-day and get clear on where the business is going.
This session explores growth strategy, business structure, succession, risk, and the systems needed to support growth without increasing complexity or owner reliance.
The focus is on making deliberate decisions about the future of the business, instead of constantly reacting to what’s in front of you.
Presenters:
→ Nathan McGrath, Collins Hume — Strategy, Growth & Business Value
→ John Truman, Keystone Lawyers — Legal Structures, Risk & Transition
→ Anthea Stevanovic, Intelligent Directions — Strategy Execution & Business Systems
MC & Leadership Insight: Victoria Beattie(Banksia Business & The Beach People)
SESSION 3 — Customers, Brand & Digital Content
Wednesday 10 September 2026
"Do they get it?"
Get clearer on who you’re trying to reach, what customers actually care about, and where your marketing may be falling short.
This session explores customer clarity, messaging, digital experience and content, with a focus on making it easier for customers to understand your value and take action.
We’ll also look at how businesses can create more consistent marketing systems without relying on constant content production or chasing every new platform.
Presenters:
→ Kate Keys & Carol Liang, Adacy — Brand, Customer & Messaging Clarity
→ Ryan McCann, Lion & Lamb — Digital Experience & Customer Journey
→ Matt Siegel, Green Thumb Media — Storytelling & Content That Converts
MC & Leadership Insight: Anthea Stevanovic - Intelligent Directions
Individual Session Content
Highlight Video's, Photo Gallery & Past Session Recaps
View presenter bios and contact details along with downloadable slides, workbooks and resources from each session
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Thinking about further study?
Your participation in The Business of Doing Business series may contribute towards a Southern Cross University MBA through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Participants who attend at least three workshop sessions and submit three short reflective pieces within two weeks of the final workshop may be eligible to receive RPL for MGMT5002 Organisational Behaviour. This postgraduate unit can be credited towards the Southern Cross University MBA.
Depending on your existing qualifications and professional experience, you may also be eligible for additional RPL opportunities. Click here for further information about the unit and eligibility requirements.
Recognition of Prior Learning tasks
Recognition of Prior Learning - How to Take Advantage of This Opportunity
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – Business of Doing Business Series
Turn your learning into MBA credit
Southern Cross University is proud to support the Business of Doing Business Series in partnership with Business NSW, strengthening capability and leadership across our regional workforce.
Through participation in this series, attendees may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
toward a Southern Cross University MBA.
How it works
• Attend a Business of Doing Business session
• Complete the associated reflective exercise following each session
• Submit completed exercises for academic review
Participants who complete at least three (3) sessions and submit three (3) associated reflective exercises
may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for MGMT5002 Organisational Behaviour. If
approved, this may contribute credit toward the Southern Cross University MBA.
Depending on an individual’s prior qualifications and professional experience, additional RPL opportunities across other Southern Cross University business programs may also be available.
Submission details:
All completed exercises must be submitted via email to Associate Professor John Haw
(john.haw@scu.edu.au) within two weeks of the final session.
Associate Professor John Haw
Chair of Discipline (Management)
Faculty of Business, Law & Arts
Gold Coast Campus,
Room B5.23, Ph. 07 5589 3175
Download The RPL Tasks & Instructions
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aknowledgment of our partners
This series would not exist without the generosity, expertise and collaboration of the organisations and individuals who helped bring it to life.
A special thank you to Southern Cross University, our Event Partner, for sharing our belief that stronger businesses create stronger communities and for helping make this series accessible to business owners across the Northern Rivers. We are also grateful for SCU's commitment to creating meaningful pathways for lifelong learning, including the development of a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) opportunity that enables eligible participants to translate their learning from this series into credit towards a Southern Cross University MBA.
We also extend our sincere thanks to our Session Partners; Adacy, Banksia Business, Byron Design Thinking, Collins Hume, Good Cover, Green Thumb Media, Intelligent Directions, Keystone, Lion & Lamb,Mind Your Grit, Macro Group, Muller Enterprises, Max Sam & Value Imagery. From the earliest planning discussions, this series has been shaped by this group of Regional Leaders who generously contributed their time, ideas and practical experience to ensure the content reflects the realities of doing business in our region. Their willingness to collaborate, share knowledge and invest in the success of other businesses is a powerful example of what can be achieved when regional leaders come together around a common purpose.
Event Partner
session partners
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