The Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) recent Canberra delegation has drawn strong praise from Influencer Plus members, with the new Minister for Small Business, the Hon. Anne Aly MP, committing to open and regular engagement with the franchising industry.
The delegation was praised by members as the most successful to date, with participants highlighting the Minister’s openness and determination to ensure that the franchising sector, its businesses, and its employees are listened to.
The program also included meetings with the office of Hon. Sussan Ley MP, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Senator Graeme Sterle, AUSBFEO the Hon Bruce Billson and senior government officials. Delegates joined a luncheon address by the Hon. Andrew Giles, Minister for Skills and Training, at the National Press Club.
The 2025 Influencer Plus Delegation members who lent their support to the delegation were:
- Steve Grossrieder, Group CEO & MD JAX Tyres & Auto
- Karen Geloven, CEO Australasia KIP McGrath
- Richard Thame, FCA Chair
- Karen Bozic, Group CEO craveable crands
- Nic Brill, CEO Poolwerx
- David Mansfield, Managing Director Ascott Australasia
- Marcel Lal, Global COO InXpress
FCA Chair Richard Thame, CEO Jay Westbury, Head of Membership & Partnerships Helen Alfa, and Head of Media and External Affairs LJ Loch also attended.
QUOTE FROM MARCEL LAL, GLOBAL COO INXPRESS AND FCA BOARD MEMBER
“As an FCA Board Member and Franchisor, it was a privilege to be a part of the recent FCA delegation to Canberra, proving to be a highly collaborative and productive time engaging with different areas of federal government to continue promoting and positioning our amazing franchise industry.”
QUOTE FROM STEVE GROSSRIEDER CEO & MD JAX
“It was a pleasure to be part of the recent FCA Canberra Delegation, the calibre of the attendees and the scheduling worked well with a challenging Canberra sitting week. By far the most successful delegation to date.”
QUOTES FROM FCA CEO JAY WESTBURY
“It is extremely encouraging that Minister Aly has so quickly shown such openness and a genuine commitment to working with the FCA and the franchising community. This creates the foundation for a strong and enduring partnership, and I want to sincerely thank our Influencer Plus members who joined the delegation their leadership and direct engagement have helped deliver these outcomes for the benefit of the whole sector.”