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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
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
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
Leadership Insight: Ange Davies & 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
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
Leadership Insight: TBC
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
Session 1: Strategy, Growth & Transition
4th June Presenters
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Anthea Stevanovik
Founder
Intelligent Directions
Learn More about Anthea
Anthea Stevanovic is a business consultant, strategist, and systems architect known for her ability to cut through complexity and identify what's really holding businesses back.
As the founder of Intelligent Directions, she works with business owners who are stuck in the day-to-day, overwhelmed by growth, or facing ceilings they can't quite explain. With a sharp, diagnostic approach grounded in real-world experience, Anthea quickly uncovers underlying issues. Whether structural, operational, or strategic and implements practical, no-nonsense solutions that create both immediate clarity and long-term results.
Anthea doesn't deal in theory. She works inside businesses to rebuild how they operate through her proven business operating system. Creating structure, defining roles, implementing systems, and documenting processes so businesses become scalable, self-sufficient, and no longer reliant on the owner to hold everything together.
At the core of her work is her ability to integrate systems and people, aligning roles, performance, and structure so every part of the business functions at its best.
What sets Anthea apart is not just her strategic capability, but how she sees. Having stepped into leadership roles from a young age and driven significant growth across multiple businesses, she brings both depth of experience and sharp insight to every engagement.
She has a rare ability to identify what others miss, challenge ineffective ways of operating, and initiate the changes that actually move a business forward.
Services:
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Implementation of our business operating system to build a business that is not founder dependant;
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Business strategy creation and implementation;
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Business systems creation;
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Documentation of business processes;
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Leadership and management training;
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Keynote speaking.
Get in Touch With Anthea
E: anthea@intelligentdirections.com.au
P: 0419 617 219
L: linkedin.com/in/anthea-stevanovic-141805a8/
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Nathan McGrath
Senior Business Advisor
Strategy by Collins Hume
Learn More about Nathan
Nathan McGrath is a Senior Business Advisor at Strategy360 by Collins Hume, with over 20 years of experience across SMEs, corporates, and government programs, complemented by senior leadership roles at General Manager and Director level.
Nathan works with business owners and leadership teams to clarify objectives and focus on what drives results — improving financial performance, reducing operational and strategic risk, and building sustainable, transferable business value. His advisory approach supports confident, informed decision‑making around growth, performance improvement, and business transition.
As a contributor to Business NSW’s Business of Doing Business series, Nathan delivers practical insight across the Strategy, Growth & Transition and Money, Numbers & Funding sessions. He is known for cutting through complexity to translate strategy and numbers into clear, actionable steps that strengthen profitability and cash flow, de‑risk the business, and support long‑term value growth.
Get in touch with Nathan
E: nathan.mcgrath@collinshume.com.au
P: 02 6686 3000
L: linkedin.com/in/nathan-mcgrath-65907a30/
W: https://www.collinshume.com/360
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Victoria Beattie
Founder & Principal Consultant
Banksia Business
Learn More about Victoria
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Banksia founder and principal consultant Victoria Beattie is a 3rd generation businesswoman based in the Tweed Shire.
She’s spent her lifetime in and around family-run businesses. Victoria has spent 12 years as the head of her own international retail company. Alongside her sister, she founded an Iconic Australian lifestyle brand, The Beach People did its first million-dollar sales month within 2 years of launch.
Victoria was awarded the Business Woman of the Year for the Gold Coast in 2018. Today that business thrives and Victoria is applying her experience to supporting others in their journey to start a business, grow a business or refresh a brand through her consultancy Banksia Business.
Get in touch with Victoria
E: victoria@banksiabusiness.com
P: 0402631938
L:https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-beattie-19a3b093/
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John Truman
Lawyer
Keystone
Learn More about John
John practices Construction Law and Commercial Law with Keystone Lawyers. Prior to commencing legal practice, John worked as an engineer and manager in the local government sector.
For 25 years John was the Director of Civil Services at Ballina Shire Council. In this role John was responsible for a wide range of council works and services. John’s leadership in the sector was recognised by his service as both National and NSW President of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia.
John’s diverse experience in managing infrastructure delivery in a complex political environment means he brings a practical, commercial, and solution based focus to his legal practice.
As well as his professional qualifications in Law and Engineering, John has completed a Masters Degree in Business Administration. John also has experience serving on boards, and is currently the board chair of NSW Local Government Procurement.
John enjoys applying his experience together with his legal skills to assist builders, companies, developers, councils, and others solve their building and commercial issues.
Get in touch with John
E: john@keystonelawyers.com.au
P: +61 7 3532 7668
L: linkedin.com/in/john-truman-66a2376b/
Slides and further learning
Session 1 Slides
Download slides for session 1
Strategy, Growth & Transition
Session 1 Workbook
Download workbook for session 1
Strategy, Growth & Transition Workbook
Download Strategy, Growth & Business Value Resources from Collins Hume
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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. 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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