New Small Business Champion to advocate for small business

Small Business Minister Leeanne Enoch has today announced Queensland businesswoman and open data advocate Maree Adshead as Queensland’s first Small Business Champion.

Minister Enoch said Ms Adshead’s appointment would provide the State’s small business sector with another strong advocate and return Queensland’s input to the national small business policy table, something that has been missing since the abolition of the Small Business Commissioner in 2012.

The Small Business Champion has an important role to engage federal and state small business commissioners and provide advice to the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council as well as chair the newly formed Better Regulation Taskforce.

“Ms Adshead is a respected advocate of business, with more than 20 years’ professional experience and will be a strong voice for Queensland,” Minister Enoch said.

“As a Queensland self-starter, and having founded her own award-winning businesses, Ms Adshead brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help make Queensland the place for small business to start, grow and employ.

“I am confident Ms Adshead will work hard to ensure the views of the state’s 406,000 small businesses are heard at all levels of government, especially with the Federal Government.

“This is an important appointment for Queensland small businesses, who have not been represented or able to contribute to the national small business agenda since the Office of the Queensland Business commissioner was abolished by the former Treasurer Tim Nicholls in 2012.

“One of her early focus areas will be to demystify innovation and entrepreneurism for small business because, as we know, this is the sector that does it best and has the greatest opportunity for better take up.

“This role is about creating more successful businesses, which will lead to more jobs, more sustainable communities and a stronger Queensland economy.”

Ms Adshead said it was a privilege to be appointed Small Business Champion. She comes to the role after a successful legal career and a reputation for innovation excellence through her work as a start-up co-founder.

In 2012 Ms Adshead received the prestigious Women in Technology ICT Outstanding Achievement Award which recognises the achievements of outstanding women in Queensland’s ICT industries and was the 2015 Patron of TechGirls are Superheroes.

The founding Chief Executive Officer of the Open Data Institute Queensland, Ms Adshead has had industry roles including establishing and chairing the Technology Council of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) and chair of the Queensland branch of the Australian Information Industry Association.

“Having built, run and sustained three small businesses, I bring a wealth of empathy about the realities of small business,” Ms Adshead said.

”My intent is to remain pragmatic and champion only those areas that can make a difference to Queensland small businesses.

“In strong collaboration with industry groups, this role offers small business a stronger voice into the heart of all three levels of government representing Queensland and an accessible channel to affect change for sustained economic growth.”

Federal Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell welcomed the appointment.

“This is an important appointment for Queensland as it provides the state with representation at national discussions with small business commissioners from around the country,” Ms Carnell said.

“I look forward to working with Ms Adshead to strengthen Queensland’s small business sector and ensure their voice is heard on important issues.”

The Small Business Champion is a key commitment under the Queensland Government’s Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy 2016-20.

For more information on Ms Adshead and the Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy 2016-20 go to www.dtesb.qld.gov.au/small-business

Media contact: Daniel Lato 0438 830 201