New partnership for FNQ women in business

Published Tuesday, 11 July, 2017 at 08:00 AM

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

Female business owners in Far North Queensland will soon be able to access support, networking and development opportunities under a new Palaszczuk Government partnership with Cairns Chamber of Commerce and James Cook University.

Announcing the partnership in Cairns today (Tuesday), Small Business Minister Leeanne Enoch said it will deliver an Advancing Far North Queensland Women in Business program.

“Women make a very valuable contribution to the small businesses and regional economies of Far North Queensland,” said Ms Enoch, who hosted a roundtable this morning with Cairns Chamber of Commerce.

“The new program will focus on women across the region to understand their leadership development needs.

“It will provide resources, events, networking, development and partnership opportunities to help women start or grow their own business.

“My Office of Small Business is supporting delivery of the program as part of its Advancing Women in Business initiative, a key component of the Palaszczuk Government’s $22.7 Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy 2016-2020.”

Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the program will combine leadership development workshops, formal mentoring partnership and peer group networking.

“This new partnership will create an unprecedented program for professional development and ongoing support,” Mr Crawford said.

“It will connect participants with each other, and with senior community leaders so they can exchange ideas and gain insights and contacts.”

Cairns Chamber of Commerce CEO Deb Hancock, who attending this morning’s meeting, said: “We are excited to be partnering with the Office of Small Business to advance women in business in FNQ.

“We saw a strong need in our region to support the development of leadership skills for women in business.

“We took the core elements of our successful Emerging Leaders program we developed for young leaders with support from James Cook University, and designed a program to take existing female leaders to the next level of competency.

“The Cairns Chamber will showcase and promote examples of successful women in business. It will provide opportunities to address business management skills gaps and deliver a professional leadership program,” Ms Hancock said.

The program kicks off next month. Applications will involve a self-nomination expression of interest.

A project steering committee will select the successful group of 15 female small business owners who will receive specialist mentoring and skills development, and become part of an exclusive cohort of exceptional female leaders.

More information and details of how to apply will be available soon via the Business Queensland Facebook page <www.facebook.com/businessqldgov> and the Cairns Chamber www.cairnschamber.com.au

ENDS

MEDIA 0438 830 201