Community
members looking to start,
grow or improve their small business will find a wealth of opportunities at the upcoming 2024
Geelong Small Business Festival.
A collaboration between the City of Greater Geelong and the Geelong
Chamber of Commerce, this year's festival promises over 50 free and low-cost
events tailored to empower local businesses.
Running from 12 - 23 August, the festival's diverse program aims to
connect, inspire, and grow the region's small business community.
Our
small business community makes up around 97 per cent of all businesses in the
region and represents a huge driver of our local economy.
Now in its 14th year, the Geelong Small Business Festival has benefited hundreds of local businesses and nearly
30,000 business owners and community members; underscoring our vibrant
entrepreneurial spirit.
Spanning seven event themes, from marketing and business essentials to
sustainability and wellbeing, the festival caters to every aspect of business
growth and development. Highlights include workshops, networking sessions,
expert panels, and keynote presentations designed to foster innovation and
success.
View the full festival program from Tuesday 2 July at
gsbf.com.au.
The festival kicks off with a special launch event
on Thursday 8 August from 5.30 - 8pm at The Pier Geelong. Featuring
local agribusiness producers showcasing regional produce, the launch sets the
stage for an enriching fortnight ahead.
Keynote Speaker Highlight: Nadia Lee
We’re
honoured to have Nadia Lee, Founder and CEO of ThatsMyFace as our keynote
speaker. Nadia will share insights including ‘AI is here: Are you ready?,’
exploring how she built a world-first solution in identity and reputation
management. ThatsMyFace is
an Artificial Intelligence (AI) company that safely detects key business assets
and people in malicious content at scale. The business is the patent holder for
the world’s first privacy-preserving facial recognition software, making
biometric identity verification a feasible reality. Nadia's
expertise extends to AI policy research, where she serves as Industry Partner
at Reclaim Coalition and contributes to the Content Authenticity Initiative
alongside industry giants like Adobe and Microsoft.
Event Details and Registration
Tickets
for the launch event sponsored by Morris are $49 plus GST per person, inclusive
of canapes and drinks. With limited spots
available, community members are encouraged to book early to avoid missing out.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
The festival has an expanded footprint, with
activities this year centering at Geelong's civic precinct Wurriki Nyal,
alongside dedicated days on the Bellarine Peninsula and in Torquay.
This strategic alignment brings together regional business leaders,
experts, and industry organisations to share invaluable insights and strategies
for success.
The Geelong
Small Business Festival is
a great opportunity to learn new skills, gain knowledge, be inspired by
innovative ideas, and discover new ways of doing business.
There’s
something for everyone, from how to start a business, social media and managing
people, to social responsibility, sustainability and marketing.
Be
quick to secure your spot!
Geelong Chamber of Commerce CEO Jeremy Crawford
After a very
successful inaugural partnership in 2023, this year will be even bigger with a
jam-packed program condensed into two weeks and collated into key themes for
business to make the most of the festival.
We are incredibly excited to bring
Nadia Lee to Geelong, a pioneering AI futurist, along with so many sessions for
leaders to capitalise and focus on their business.