Mark Carter is an international keynote speaker, trainer, author and coach. He has over 25 years’ experience as a global learning and development professional. His TEDx talk was the trailer for his latest book, ‘Add Value’, published globally by Wiley. Mark is the founder of a learning management system for SME’s and accredited in a variety of globally recognised behavioural tools. He regularly consults businesses around key pillars such as: leadership, culture, onboarding, sales, adaptability, and presentation skills. Mark contributes across mainstream media: TV, radio, print and industry specific publications. Mark is often asked about how you go from being a leader across Europe for Contiki Holidays to a respected, sought after speaker. A decade of experiences in Europe armed him with a wealth of knowledge around people, human behaviour, the psychology of decision-making and what makes people tick both personally and professionally. Coupled with his own insatiable hunger for continued professional development Mark has risen to become an innovative professional in his field. So, from connecting with happy go lucky passengers in Europe, Mark now connects with people globally on a deeper, more meaningful level in their own lives. Upgrading from a charming tour guide to a wise sage and masterful storyteller, it’s no wonder he’s a sought-after speaker! Born in England, raised in Scotland, nurtured by Europe and matured through several round world trips, Mark Carter is a truly global citizen. He now calls Australia home where he enjoys the fruits of a sunny lifestyle. Mangoes, after all, don’t grow in Edinburgh.
Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country Wednesday @ 9:00 AM
Leadership & Innovation Wednesday @ 2:09 PM
From a social perspective
As a vibrant and active member of the Italian Australian community, my aim is to
keep the rich Italian culture and its history among second, third and subsequent generations of Italian Australians. I believe in attracting and perpetuating Italianita, amongst those of us who feel for all things Italian.
Over the years I have confirmed the pride of my background and inspired me to further my volunteer work and experience in Italian language and culture.
It is my ambition to utilise my knowledge and experience in an Australian context
and to make sure that future generations have the opportunity to be able to
appreciate and enjoy the pleasures of Italianita.
From a Professional perspective
I have excellent communication and negotiation skills with the ability to liaise with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
I am a highly organised individual who can work with minimal direction. Excellent time management skills and complete each task to a high standard.
I believe I have excellent critical thinking skills with the ability to identify and develop clear objectives around complete projects.
Fresh Legal Case Files: Learning from Franchise Legal Battles Wednesday @ 3:43 PM
Franchise Forward: Marketing in a Digital Age Wednesday @ 2:56 PM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 11:54 AM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 12:24 PM
Rebecca has over 15 years’ experience in commercial banking. She took a risk and joined Judo Bank before they had achieved a banking license in early 2019 given judos vision of a customer first model and 5yrs later has never looked back.
For the prior 10 yrs she had been a manager in Westpac commercial banking having worked her way up from the graduate program.
Rebecca completed commerce/arts at melbourne university with an honours in management.
She volunteered in an East German aged care facility for 12 months when she was just 19 and speaks basic German.
She chairs the belong at Judo women’ s initiative and is passionate about supporting women in finance.
Rebecca lives in bayside melbourne, has an incredible husband who is her rock and biggest supporter and 2 beautiful daughters aged 3 and 6. Together with her husband they run a small local air conditioning buisness so she understands small business from both a banking and business owner perspective.
Unlocking Funding for Franchise Success Wednesday @ 11:09 AM
With over 12+ years of work experience in marketing communications, media planning, and buying, I am a passionate and driven Managing Director at tfm.digital, a boutique agency that provides marketing solutions to SMEs in the Franchise and Multi-Location sector. I enjoy helping my clients grow their businesses and reach their target audiences. I value creativity, innovation, and collaboration, and I strive to deliver high-quality results that exceed expectations and generate positive outcomes.
At tfm.digital, I lead a team of talented and dedicated professionals who work across clients in Fitness, Health & Wellness, Retail and Hospitality. I oversee the marketing strategy, media planning and buying, and account management for our clients, ensuring that we provide effective and efficient solutions that align with their goals and budgets. I also leverage my own experience as a franchisee at City Cave Float & Wellness Centre, a network of wellness centres that offer float therapy, infrared sauna, massage, and yoga. As a franchisee, I manage the daily operations, marketing, and customer service of my own centre, as well as collaborate with other franchisees and the franchisor to improve the overall performance and profitability of the brand.
Franchise Forward: Marketing in a Digital Age Wednesday @ 2:56 PM
Unlocking Funding for Franchise Success Wednesday @ 11:09 AM
The CEO Playbook: Winning in Franchising Wednesday @ 9:52 AM
As the owner of The Alternative Board Adelaide City, I help business owners realise their full potential in their business and personal lives. I have extensive experience in business, from franchising, retail, business building, fostering startups, growth planning and strategy and people management. My approach adds value and is the reason for my previous successes.
After relocating to Adelaide to be closer to family, I was consciously aware that I was becoming jaded in terms of working for others and that both my business and life goals were not being fulfilled. I am passionate about people, growing businesses, helping my members discover what’s possible and assisting them with realising their potential, both from a business and personal perspective.
In bringing the Alternative Board to Adelaide, I’m able to achieve my goals and help others do the same. I hope to be able help people in business to develop themselves, their employees, to unlock the potential of their business, through facilitation of the TAB model, its tools and success strategies.
I believe the concept of sharing ideas and challenges is the essential ingredient for success in business. Sharing with peers provides learning and growing benefits often unachievable in independent business.
As a certified coach with a personal connectivity style that allows my members to build trust in me, I can provide business owners confidence that I care for them on a level that is a foundation for challenging conversations, exploration of goals and benefits for personal satisfaction in life. What my members experience is a better way to analyse, consider and then act on challenges or opportunities they face.
Supported by the global TAB team, utilising world-class tools proven globally over the last three decades and the peer board process, joining TAB might be the most valuable investment you make for yourself and your business. Let us help you realise your potential, build a stronger understanding of your business, open your mind to innovation and show you areas of growth that you’ve never previously considered. Let us help you achieve your personal goals and life aspirations while your business flourishes.
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 11:54 AM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 12:24 PM
Franchise Forward: Marketing in a Digital Age Wednesday @ 2:56 PM
Kate Lawson is the General Manager at Verimus, where she drives tech-focused operational and strategic objectives. With a strong background in service and product management, she excels in enhancing customer satisfaction and solution quality. As a 2023 Innovator of the Year (LawyersWeekly), Kate leverages her expertise to lead her team in delivering bespoke technology solutions that solve complex problems and add significant value.
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 11:54 AM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 12:24 PM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 11:54 AM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 12:24 PM
Boasting more than 35 years of experience in hospitality and asset management, David joined Quest as the Chief Operations Officer in July 2019 before being promoted to Managing Director of The Ascott Limited for Australia in February 2021. David is responsible for overseeing Ascott’s managed operations throughout Australia, in addition to ongoing global leadership of business format franchise brand, Quest Apartment Hotels, which has over 170+ hotels throughout Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the United Kingdom. Previously, David worked in senior corporate and strategic management positions in various locations across Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific. Prior to working at Ascott, he held senior leadership roles with InterContinental Hotels Group and Hyatt International, where he gained extensive experience working in both hotel and resort operations. These roles provided David with a broad range of experiences, and today his expertise spans operational capability and excellence, asset management, wealth creation, strategic alignment, concept development and cultural change. David graduated from the University of Newcastle, Australia, with an MBA and is certified in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management from Cornell University and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). He is currently a board member for Accommodation Australia and an Advisory Board member for the Tourism and Transport Forum (Australia).
The CEO Playbook: Winning in Franchising Wednesday @ 9:52 AM
Lynda is a qualified lawyer and accomplished senior executive with extensive experience working with businesses within Victoria and nationally.
Lynda has two decades of experience working as regulator with 20 years of experience in multiple jurisdictions including the Commonwealth and Victoria and in workplace relations, building and construction and business regulation more generally.
Lynda and the team at the Victorian Small Business Commission are dedicated to providing much needed support to Victorian small businesses.
Armchair Q&A with the Victoria Small Business Commissioner Wednesday @ 1:54 PM
The CEO Playbook: Winning in Franchising Wednesday @ 9:52 AM
Allison is a commerical lawyer based in Melbourne. She is known for providing practical advice and assistance to her clients.
Allison has a broad range of commercial experience and regularl advises on trade and distribution law and competition and consumer matters. Allison is well regarded for her plain English drafting style and pragmatic approach to dealing with third party negotiations.
Fresh Legal Case Files: Learning from Franchise Legal Battles Wednesday @ 3:43 PM
Joe is the head of Cowell Clarke’s Employment Team in Sydney. Joe has over 20 years’ experience specialising in workplace relations and has considerable expertise in advising businesses and their boards about complex employment problems and challenges.
Joe and his team have extensive experience in achieving commercial outcomes for clients with industrial disputes, enterprise bargaining, redundancies, unfair dismissals, general protections claims, dismissals and separations, discrimination claims, managing long and short term injured workers, workers compensation claims, employee fraud, employee privacy and surveillance, investigations, and the defence of underpayment claims.
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 11:54 AM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 12:24 PM
Franchise Forward: Marketing in a Digital Age Wednesday @ 2:56 PM
Greg Nathan is widely regarded as the global leader in the psychology of franchising. He has been a business psychologist for 40 years and has written several best-selling franchising books including the acclaimed Profitable Partnerships, which has sold over 250,000 copies. Greg has also developed some of the most influential models and tools in franchising including The Franchise E-Factor, The Franchisor Wheel of Excellence and the Franchisee ACE Mindset.
The Franchise Relationships Institute (FRI) was founded by Greg 33 years ago to conduct research and education on best practice franchising, and has now worked with over 550 franchise brands and over 50,000 franchisees to gain evidence based insights into a how franchisees and franchisors can maximise their success. The global impact of this work has been recognised by the IFA who have presented him with the Crystal Compass Award for Outstanding Leadership in Franchising. In 2014, Greg was also inducted into the FCA Australian Franchise Hall of Fame.
Greg’s passion for franchising is infectious and his ability to deliver evidence-based insights in an engaging, down to earth manner also come from his experience as a successful multi-unit franchisee and franchisor executive.
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 11:54 AM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 12:24 PM
Alan Oster is NAB’s Group Chief Economist. Alan joined the Bank in 1992 from the Federal Treasury where he worked for 15 years - his special field being economic forecasting and monetary policy.
He grew up in Newcastle and graduated (with first class honours) in economics from Newcastle University. He also holds a Masters degree in economics from the Australian National University.
Immediately before joining the Bank, Alan was the Senior Adviser in Treasury responsible for economic forecasting and modelling. In 1987 he was seconded for nearly four years as Counsellor - Economic and Financial with Australia’s delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.
As Group Chief Economist, Alan is responsible for NAB’s global economic and financial forecasts. He is also a highly respected and much quoted commentator on Australian and global economic trends and policy issues.
Economic Update with Alan Oster Wednesday @ 9:20 AM
Nick joined BlueRock Finance with over 7 years of experience within the business banking & finance industry (both NZ and Australia). Growing up in New Zealand, Nick completed his Bachelor of Business Management Studies (Hons) majoring in Economics & Finance and then worked with Bank of New Zealand (a subsidiary of NAB).
There he accrued 3 years of experience in residential lending as a Home Loan Executive and became one of the top performing Bankers in the Waikato area. During this time, he established a strong relationship with a brokering firm called LIME Group and was responsible for writing $35m for them on top of his $25m he wrote independently. After this, Nick moved into the SME area of BNZ as a Business Banker and worked with a wide range of SME clients, specialising in loans up to $1m.
Following his move to Australia, Nick began work at Bendigo Bank as a Business Banker managing a portfolio of $95m worth of SME loans. In April 2023, Nick took the leap to join the BlueRock Finance team to help our SME clients find competitive finance using his vast residential and commercial lending experience
Unlocking Funding for Franchise Success Wednesday @ 11:09 AM
Tanya is the CEO Franchise Development at BDC Partners and is a proven senior executive with over 25 years’ experience in both the corporate and franchising sectors. Tanya has worked with some of Australia’s best-known franchise and retail brands across a broad range of industries including pharmacy, convenience, QSR, bulky goods, fashion retail and beauty.
Tanya has worked for relatively small franchisors to help grow critical mass to ensure ongoing success, and for large established franchisors working to remain innovative and responsive to their franchisees and customers.
Tanya has been an active elected member of the Franchise Council of Australia Victorian Chapter for over ten years, serving as Vice-President for six years and now as President. In addition to being a past judge of the FCA Awards, Tanya has recently received her Certified Franchise Executive accreditation, the only internationally recognised accreditation program for franchise executives.
CEO Update Wednesday @ 9:10 AM
As a National Franchise Manager at ANZ Bank, Karan Saxena overseas the development and implementation of franchise banking strategies aimed at driving growth and profitability across the bank’s extensive network of franchise partners. Karan is responsible for developing customised financial solutions tailored to the unique needs of franchise business, helping them achieve their growth objectives.
Unlocking Funding for Franchise Success Wednesday @ 11:09 AM
Having spent many years in the recruitment industry as a Consultant, Manager, Leader, and business owner in both the UK and Australian markets, I understand the pain points businesses face in managing their workforce efficiently. As the Head of Sales & Growth at IWS, I am passionate about empowering businesses to overcome their workforce management challenges.
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 11:54 AM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 12:24 PM
Kerri Wane is the CEO of San Churro, one Australia’s leading and fastest growing franchises and is humbled to lead an extremely passionate group of Franchise Partners together with 2000+ team members who are on a mission to cement San Churro’s place as Australia's most loved and recognised sweet treat experience.
Kerri is passionate about people, purpose, brands and growth and loves to work in transformation, growth, and turnaround environments. She is passionate about franchising, building resilient businesses and helping people break through barriers, whatever they may be!
Kerri was recognised by the Franchise Council of Australia as Franchise Woman of the Year (VIC), 2024 and was runner up in this year's Top 30 Franchise Executives.
The CEO Playbook: Winning in Franchising Wednesday @ 9:52 AM
Vanessa Wilmot is a Director at Geotech Information Services, with over 20 years experience in research and consulting to major national and international brands. Vanessa’s expertise is in data and predictive analytics (including sales prediction modelling) and developing robust network plans for clients to drive more effective, and profitable, strategies. Vanessa has a passion for ‘Big Data’, using data mining techniques to assist clients understand more about their customers or members, consumer travel movements and spending patterns, and who is most likely to respond to various marketing activities. Vanessa is a passionate advocate of women in business, and is the Chairperson for the FCA Women In Franchising committee, as well as being a member of the FCA and a Certified Franchise Executive. In 2022, Vanessa was honoured to accept the FCA’s Excellence in Franchising Supplier of the Year award on behalf of Geotech Information Services.
Panel Sponsor - Women in Franchising Wednesday @ 3:41 PM
As the master franchisor for The Alternative Board Australia, I empower business owners to achieve unprecedented success in both business and life. With a diverse background spanning 20 years in sectors like manufacturing, mining, and consulting, I excel in creative problem-solving, leadership, and operational excellence. Let's work together to turn your business dreams into reality.
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 11:54 AM
Round Table Sessions Wednesday @ 12:24 PM
Fresh Legal Case Files: Learning from Franchise Legal Battles Wednesday @ 3:43 PM
