Tax Concessions revealed as the main draw card for businesswomen to reduce environmental impact
September 1, 2010
More than two fifths (43 per cent) of Australian business women reported that tax concessions are a key factor in reducing the environmental impact of their business, according to a survey released today by the Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN).
The survey conducted by ABN, a national community of nearly 20,000 businesswomen, is based on the responses of 395 participants and focuses on businesswomen’s views on social, environmental, political and other topical issues impacting women.
According to Suzi Dafnis, Community Director of ABN, minimising environmental impact is a high priority for small business as part of their corporate social responsibility.
“Our survey reveals that 23 per cent of Australian Businesswomen said that education and knowledge is a key factor in reducing the environmental impact of their business and 29 per cent said financial incentives in the form of grants would support them.
Just three per cent of women said penalties would encourage them to minimise their environmental impact.
“Our findings reveal that although minimising environmental impact is a priority for female small business owners, compensation through tax rebates or financial incentives would best assist them to meet obligations. The findings also reveal that businesses could also be better educated about how they can minimise their carbon footprint,” said Dafnis.
Other key findings of the research:
- The highest proportion of participants, more than two fifths [42 per cent] reported that they were not sure if the National Broadband Network would increase their productivity. 31 per cent of women surveyed were not optimistic with just 28 per cent saying they were optimistic.
- The overall confidence of business growth was positive with 23 per cent reporting that they expected their business to increase significantly and 39 per cent reporting that they expected their business to increase marginally.
- Nearly three quarters of Australian business women are using social media as part of their marketing strategy.
- Interestingly, 13 per cent of businesswomen are using social media tools for more than 50 per cent of their marketing initiatives.
The results of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network Quarterly Index were analysed and compiled by Tribe Research. www.triberesearch.com.au . This is the first ABN Quarterly Survey.
It was hosted in June 2010 and is an ongoing research project which will be undertaken by the ABN every quarter.
About the Australian Businesswomen’s Network
The Australian Businesswomen’s Network is the peak organisation supporting women in business to provide them with the skills to start, manage and grow their business. With over 20,000 members, the ABN caters to the largest community of women business owners and entrepreneurs in the country. The Australian Businesswomen’s Network provides training and mentoring for women across Australia. Its advocacy initiative, herVoice, was created in response to numerous requests for the ABN to take a leading role in public policy development, advocacy and lobbying on issues relating to Australian businesswomen and female entrepreneurs. For more information visit: www.abn.org.au
This media release was prepared by Espresso Communications. Espresso Communications prides itself in bringing a distinct flavour to the way they connect with stakeholders and a fresh approach to communications. Espresso Communications fills a gap in the market place by offering clients the breadth of skills of a large agency, without the overheads. Visit their website for more details: – www.espressocomms.com.au or call 02 9909 113.
42 per cent of Australian Businesswomen unsure if the NBN will increase productivity
August 31, 2010
Despite the Government’s plan to invest more than $43 billion to build the National Broadband Network, more than two fifths [42 per cent] of Australian business women reported that they were not sure if the NBN would increase their productivity at work, according to a survey released today by the Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN)
The survey conducted by ABN, a national community of nearly 20,000 businesswomen, is based on the responses of 395 participants and focuses on businesswomen’s views on social, environmental, political and other topical issues impacting women.
According to Suzi Dafnis, Community Director of ABN, increasingly business is being carried out online and therefore small businesses rely heavily on the use of the internet everyday for their business to run smoothly and efficiently and progress new opportunities via the internet.
“These figures reveal that although small businesses rely heavily on the internet it is unknown whether faster internet speeds will actually lead to increased productivity. There is naturally a lot of uncertainty about how the NBN will be rolled out given the election, but the research (which was conducted prior to the election campaign) shows that about a 31 per cent of respondents were uncertain as to how they would apply any benefits, another third (28 per cent) were very optimistic about its impact,” said Dafnis.
Other key findings of the research:
- Tax concessions were reported by more than two fifths of the participants as the main incentive to reduce the environmental impact of their business.
- The overall confidence of business growth was positive with 22 per cent reporting that they expected their business to increase significantly and 39 per cent reporting that they expected their business to increase marginally.
- Nearly three quarters of Australian business women are using social media as part of their marketing strategy.
- Interestingly, 13 per cent of businesswomen are using social media tools for more than 50 per cent of their marketing initiatives.
The results of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network Quarterly Index were analysed and compiled by Tribe Research. www.triberesearch.com.au . This is the first ABN Quarterly Survey. It was hosted in June 2010 and is an ongoing research project which will be undertaken by the ABN every quarter.
About the Australian Businesswomen’s Network
The Australian Businesswomen’s Network is the peak organisation supporting women in business to provide them with the skills to start, manage and grow their business. With over 20,000 members, the ABN caters to the largest community of women business owners and entrepreneurs in the country. The Australian Businesswomen’s Network provides training and mentoring for women across Australia. Its advocacy initiative, herVoice, was created in response to numerous requests for the ABN to take a leading role in public policy development, advocacy and lobbying on issues relating to Australian businesswomen and female entrepreneurs. For more information visit: www.abn.org.au
This media release was prepared by Espresso Communications. Espresso Communications prides itself in bringing a distinct flavour to the way they connect with stakeholders and a fresh approach to communications. Espresso Communications fills a gap in the market place by offering clients the breadth of skills of a large agency, without the overheads. Visit their website for more details: – www.espressocomms.com.au or call 02 9909 113.
Social Media Drives Marketing Strategies for 75 per cent of Business Women
August 30, 2010
Nearly three quarters of Australian businesswomen are using social media as part of their marketing strategy, according to a survey released today by the Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN).
The survey conducted by ABN, a national community of nearly 20,000 businesswomen, is based on the responses of 395 participants and focuses on businesswomen’s views on social, environmental, political and other topical issues impacting women.
According to Suzi Dafnis, Community Director of ABN, social media tools such as Twitter and LinkedIn are firmly established as an important component of a business’ marketing strategy.
“Our survey reveals 41 per cent of respondents use social media for 10 – 25 per cent of their marketing strategy and 13 per cent use it for 26 – 50 per cent of their marketing strategy.
Interestingly, 13 per cent of businesswomen are using social media tools for more than 50 per cent of their marketing initiatives. This really tells us that social media is providing Australian businesswomen with a low cost and accessible means to reach the wider community,” said Dafnis.
Other key findings of the research:
- Tax concessions were reported by more than two fifths of the participants as the main supporter for them to reduce the environmental impact of their business.
- The overall confidence of business growth was positive with 23% reporting that they expected their business to increase significantly and 39% reporting that they expected their business to increase marginally.
- The highest proportion of participants, more than two fifths [42%] reported that they were not sure if the National Broadband Network would increase their productivity. 31 per cent of women surveyed were not optimistic with just 28 per cent saying they were optimistic.
The results of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network Quarterly Index were analysed and compiled by Tribe Research. This is the first ABN Quarterly Survey. It was hosted in June 2010 and is an ongoing research project which will be undertaken by the ABN every quarter.
About the Australian Businesswomen’s Network
The Australian Businesswomen’s Network is the peak organisation supporting women in business to provide them with the skills to start, manage and grow their business. With over 20,000 members, the ABN caters to the largest community of women business owners and entrepreneurs in the country. The Australian Businesswomen’s Network provides training and mentoring for women across Australia. Its advocacy initiative, herVoice, was created in response to numerous requests for the ABN to take a leading role in public policy development, advocacy and lobbying on issues relating to Australian businesswomen and female entrepreneurs. For more information visit: www.abn.org.au
This media release was prepared by Espresso Communications. Espresso Communications prides itself in bringing a distinct flavour to the way they connect with stakeholders and a fresh approach to communications. Espresso Communications fills a gap in the market place by offering clients the breadth of skills of a large agency, without the overheads. Visit their website for more details: – www.espressocomms.com.au or call 02 9909 113.
7 Career Myths about Women
August 24, 2010
By Suzi Dafnis, Australian Businesswomen’s Network
Why aren’t more women in leadership positions? Why is it, despite there being more women in the workforce than men, there are so few at the top of the corporate ladder?
Women on Boards, an organisation that champions the advancement of women into leadership and board positions recently held a breakfast at which this subject was the topic of discussion.
One of the speakers, Catherine Fox, Deputy Editor of Australian Financial Review’s BOSS magazine presented on the 7 Career Myths.
Below are two parts of a video interview in which we explore these myths and look at why they continue to justify the less-than-equitable state of business in Australia.
Part 1
Part 2
And, below you’ll find a summary of her 7 career myths.
See Catherine Fox Speak at Nice Girls Finish Second
Catherine is part of the panel of speakers at the Nice Girls Finish Second debate which will be held in Sydney on Friday, 27 August. Presented by AIM NSW, the event is a light-hearted and irreverent clash of the minds over fine wine and great food with some of Australia’s leading businesswomen (and a couple of men). Call AIM NSW on 1300 551 776 to register, and quote AIMABN when you book to receive a special ABN price. You can find more details here.
7 Career Myths
1. Work hard and you will be rewarded – workplaces are meritocracies
Most of our business senior ranks are men of a certain age. Meritocracies are made up of people who are the best of what they do. While a natural level of talent exists, it’s not across our business.
It remains, though unfair, that:
- Women are often excluded from informal networks within companies
- Women put more importance on building relationships than men
2. The gender pay gap is grossly exaggerated
The gender gap is at 18% and has not changed in 20 years (calculated on hourly earnings of people doing the same jobs). It broadens the further up you go. Part of this is due to the types of work, the roles that women take on as their expertise. 50% of women work in just three areas.
3. Women have children and choose to lose their jobs or lose interest in their careers
This is a handy way of fibbing off problems about gender. US study shows maternity leave takes up only a couple of years for most women. We still don’t have a viable market of party time jobs so you get off the career track, unfortunately.
“The motherhood penalty” is a situation where mothers are rated as less competent, less committed and less favourable as hires. Catherine talked about a US study where applications for senior roles were discriminated against when the applications had two items changed on them. a) the gender and b) the parental status. That is, when the applicants seemed to be women who were mothers they were overlooked as suitable candidates.
4. If women just behaved more like men at work and stopped being so emotional they would succeed.
Not a good piece of advice. And if it had worked, would we not all be doing it? Women are typically penalised for being aggressive.
5. Programs and targets for women in the workplace are unnecessary and unfair
This is informally rife. We don’t have an equal paying field. What we do when we come together (as women) in this way learn how we can support each other.
6. Women are scarce at the top because there’s not enough of them in the pipeline.
60% of women of working age are employed. More women graduates coming out of schools. We need to look at why educated women are not going up in the ranks.
7. Time will heal all
That has not been proven. And, the longer that we fail to see women in leadership positions the more convinced some will be that women are not suitable for those positions.
Advice: Sharpen your pins and puncture the myths. Set the record straight.
Members Provide Support for Women in Developing Countries
August 23, 2010
Over a year ago the Australian Businesswomen’s Network raised funds to support entrepreneurs in developing countries through Kiva, an organisation that provides micro-loans. Members contributed donations through a silent auction and a series of business webinars. We recently reinvested the funds that had been repaid by those who had received our original funding. Here are the stories and profiles of the latest recipients of ABN member support.
I share their stories here to demonstrate the parallel between business owners in all countries. Our circumstances may differ (immensely) but our spirit and our goals are often similar. Education, inspiration and networking and connections are the common elements to our success regardless of our location.
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SAYDA MELANIA – STORE OWNER
Sayda Melania is married and has a small store in her home. Her sales provide her gratification since she has a considerable number of customers and satisfactory income. With the help of her husband, she has been able to move forward with determination, hard work, and dedication. Her loan requested will be granted so that she can buy basic grains, candy, detergents, bread, and cookies. Her wish is to increase the number of customers that she serves. |
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HILARIA – ARTISAN WOOL PRODUCTS
At 42 years old, Hilaria is the mother of two children who are already independent. She works selling artisanal products, which she distributes from her home. She is also learning about the production of these crafts in all their possible varieties so that she herself can create them and increase her profit margins. She began making woven wool products such as sweaters, hats, gloves, etc. Hoping one day to have a store, she plans to learn more about artisanal work and use the current loan to buy artisanal crafts to sell. Her biggest dream is to have and rent out her own store and a mototaxi. |
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LILA – BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Lila, 52, is an enterprising woman who works tirelessly to accomplish her dreams. She is single and lives with her sister in her sister’s home. For 4 years she has been selling beauty products, like her sister. The way she works is that she acquires the products from a well-known cosmetics company and offers them through catalogs to her friends and neighbors. They prefer these products because of their good quality and low price. Part of the advantage she has is that she knows the products well, and can suggest to the customers which cosmetics they should choose, and in this way she earns her customer’s loyalty.
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You can make a donation at kiva.org. Or, if you would like us to invest with Kiva on your behalf contact us at info@abn.org.au and we can include you with our next round of support.
The Australian Businesswomen’s Network community initiatives have raised over $40,000 in donations to support women around the world.
ABN – The Political Parties Respond to Your Concerns
August 19, 2010
By Amy Lyden
With the election days away, many of us are still undecided about who to vote for.
On behalf of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, I recently wrote to the major political parties with the results of our recent poll and asked them to address your major concerns.
As of the 19 August only the ALP and The Greens have responded. Click here for ALP’s response and here for the Greens response. I also received an auto-response email from Tony Abbott’s office saying that they are too busy campaigning to respond to individual requests. However I have taken information, if available, from the Liberal Party’s website on these issues. Click here for more detailed information.
Note to Liberal Party: your site is not mac friendly – test the links!
Update: A response was received from the Liberal Party on 20 August. It will be posted soon.
The ABN Community’s top issues take from our poll are: Small Business Support, Compliance and Reduction in Red Tape, Gender Imbalance on Boards and Childcare Costs. Following is what the ALP, The Greens and The Liberal Party have to say about your concerns. I hope this helps you get clearer about your choice on Saturday.
ISSUE 1 – Small Business Support:
ALP:
- Instant write-off of assets up to $5,000
- Company tax cuts ( from 30% to 29% from July 2012).
- Enterprise Connect – a $50m a year initiative that provides support to SMEs to develop the skills, tools and knowledge to improve their innovation and maximise growth potential.
- BECs – the govt is investing $42m to enhance small business advisory services. Information and advice is available from 36 Business Enterprise Centres (BECs) including developing business plans, supporting growth etc.
- Small Business Support Line was launched in September 2009 and provides advice to small business owners on matters like finance, cash flow management, and marketing advice.
- The govt will be providing over $100m over four years to the ATO to assist small businesses experiencing financial distress to remain viable within the tax system.
GREENS:
- Help with access to finance for small business including a “fixed interest gap loan”
- Opportunities for small businesses through the Greens’ renewable energy policies (they didn’t go into detail on this)
LIBERAL PARTY (from their website):
- Will reduce company tax from 30% to 28.5%
- Will appoint a Small Business Minister to the cabinet.
- Will extend unfair contracts protections currently available to consumers to cover small business.
- Will require that govt departments use tender procedures that do not disadvantage small businesses.
- Establish a dedicated advocate for small business by creating a new Small Business Ombudsman
ISSUE 2 - Compliance / Reduction in Red Tape:
ALP:
- From 1 July 2010, simplification of business-to-government reporting obligations kicks in. These will include online reporting tools which will save businesses around $800m per year.
- From mid-2011, the government’s national business names initiative will establish a one-stop online shop for businesses to register business names and obtain ABNs.
GREENS:
- The Greens are supportive of a small business minister being responsible for identifying in consultation with small business the most effective way of reducing red tape.
LIBERALS:
- Will reduce the compliance burden on small business with minimum effective regulation and by guarding against growth in regulatory burden through the Minister of Small Business.
- Simplified procedures and greater use of technology by the ATO.
- Genuine consultation with the Small Business sector on changes in govt imposed fees and charges.
ISSUE 3 - Gender Imbalance in Senior Management and Boards:
ALP:
Women currently make up 33.4% of Federal Government boards. The ALP will set a target that at least 40% of these boards will be women within 5 years. They will increase the number of women on boards by providing scholarships to women through the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and setting minimum targets for the number of women on Federal Government boards. At this time the government does not support quotas for private sector boards.
GREENS:
Support amending the Corporations Act to require publicly listed companies with annual turnover in excess of $15 million to allocate 40% of board positions to women within five years or risk closure. (wow! – that’s hard hitting!).
LIBERAL PARTY:
There was nothing that I could find on their website that directly addressed this issue. Would love to hear from anyone on this.
ISSUE 4 - Childcare:
ALP:
- Investing $14.4b over the next four years to help with the cost of childcare.
- New standards with a higher carer-to-child ratio.
- Government delivering Australia’s first national Paid Parental Leave Scheme. This will include 18 weeks paid leave at the national minimum wage, currently $570 a week. (for more details please see my previous blog)
- Update 20 August - Yesterday Labor announced a new promise - two weeks paid paternity leave for fathers (worth about $1140).
GREENS:
- Campaigning for six months paid parental leave with superannuation.
- Support the current government’s initiative of a lower carer-to-child ratio.
- Support the establishment of a Co-op Childcare Fund to provide $10m in grants for local, small and medium businesses to collectively establish childcare facilities for their employees.
- Support more publicly funded child care centres in high demand areas and are pushing for fortnightly payments of the childcare rebate (instead of quarterly).
LIBERAL PARTY:
- Will reintroduce indexation of the Child Care Rebate (CCR). This translates into a benefit of around $300 per child per year for parents receiving the maximum amount of the CCR.
- Will have the CCR paid weekly and directly to childcare providers so families don’t have to pay upfront.
- Will reintroduce $12.6m of Occasional Care funding which will provide flexible and part-time access to child care places for unplanned need.
- Will introduce a paid parental leave plan that will provide mothers with six months’ paid leave at the full salary.
Happy Voting on Saturday!
Amy
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY AMY LYDEN
- Businesswomen’s Pre-Election Poll Results Reveal Key Issues for Government to Address in the Coming Election
- Pre-Election Results Reveal the Issues Women Want Government to Act on
- Paid Parental Leave – Article: Maybe Baby: Juggling Home, Work and Family Life.
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Amy Lyden - Advocacy Advisor – Australian Businesswomen’s NetworkAn entrepreneur and specialist in ecommerce and online strategy, Amy has had over 13 years of practical experience in these areas. Launching her first website in 1998 Amy was at the forefront of an online revolution without even realizing it. Within a year this site became and remains today a #1 ranking site and global community of pet lovers that attracts over 4 million visitors a year. This Australia-based business, Bow Wow Meow, now sells product online to over 100 countries worldwide. Amy sold this business in 2007 and turned her energy to the nonprofit sector. Amy is currently the CEO of Australian Scholarships Foundation, an organisation that facilitates scholarships for education and training for people who work in the nonprofit sector. Amy is the recipient of numerous business awards including the 2006 NSW Telstra Business Women’s Awards for Innovation, the 2002 National Telstra Business Award and the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World Grant. Amy is an Ambassador and former Chairperson for the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, an organisation that supports female entrepreneurs. Amy was also invited to serve on the Commonwealth Small Business Council, an initiative by the Federal minister for Small Business. Amy has been profiled in the following books: “Women’s Business, Women’s Wealth” by Amanda Ellis, “Female Entrepreneurs”, by Leiza Clark and “Secrets of Female Entrepreneurs Exposed!”, by Dale Beaumont. Amy is passionate about using technology to connect people globally for positive change.
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Does your business have a Facebook page?
August 9, 2010
Businesswomen’s Pre-Election Poll Results Reveal Key Issues for Government to Address in the Coming Election
August 4, 2010
By Amy Lyden
The Australian Businesswomen’s Network (ABN), a community of 20,000 women in business across Australia, has today released the latest results to a pre-election poll it conducted with members to identify key issues they would like the next government to address.
The top issues identified by the national community of businesswomen are:
1. 50.7% of respondents identified government support for small businesses, including grants and training and education, as the top concern.
2. 46% of respondents identified reduction in red tape and compliance for small business as the second highest concern.
3. Not surprisingly, 35.4% of members identified gender imbalance in executive management and boards as the third highest concern.
“With a vast community of voters, it is important to understand what each party’s policies are towards women and business so that our members can make an informed choice at the polls. The ABN has requested that each of the major parties outline how they will address these important issues, and we are currently awaiting their responses to share this with our members,” explained ABN’s Advocacy Ambassador, Amy Lyden.
The Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s herVoice campaign aggregates the opinions and concerns of its national community and presents those issues to the relevant government contacts. “Individuals in small business don’t have the resources to act on their own behalf to make changes, so ABN is a vehicle for their important voices to be heard.”
Childcare cost/incentives are a major concern for many working mums. 30.8% of respondents ranked tax deductibility or greater incentives for all kinds of childcare, including family day care and nannies, as important. An additional 17.9% identified the cost of childcare as an issue.
Other issues that were ranked as a top concern include the Fair Work Workplace Relations (identified by 27% of respondents), the super gap between women and men (28%) and the lack of aged care options (19%).
A detailed breakdown of the survey is attached. Responses represented top 3 issues identified by businesswomen as important, and therefore, total percentages exceed 100%.
For More Information or Interviews:
Amy Lyden – Advocacy Ambassador, amy.lyden@abn.org.au 0414 745 289
Suzi Dafnis – Community Director, suzi@abn.org.au 0413 704 560
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY AMY LYDEN
- Pre-Election Results Reveal the Issues Women Want Government to Act on
- Paid Parental Leave – Article: Maybe Baby: Juggling Home, Work and Family Life.
- Tony Abbott vs Craig Emerson – Live from COSBOA’s National Small Business Summit, 8 July
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Amy Lyden - Advocacy Advisor – Australian Businesswomen’s NetworkAn entrepreneur and specialist in ecommerce and online strategy, Amy has had over 13 years of practical experience in these areas. Launching her first website in 1998 Amy was at the forefront of an online revolution without even realizing it. Within a year this site became and remains today a #1 ranking site and global community of pet lovers that attracts over 4 million visitors a year. This Australia-based business, Bow Wow Meow, now sells product online to over 100 countries worldwide. Amy sold this business in 2007 and turned her energy to the nonprofit sector. Amy is currently the CEO of Australian Scholarships Foundation, an organisation that facilitates scholarships for education and training for people who work in the nonprofit sector. Amy is the recipient of numerous business awards including the 2006 NSW Telstra Business Women’s Awards for Innovation, the 2002 National Telstra Business Award and the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World Grant. Amy is an Ambassador and former Chairperson for the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, an organisation that supports female entrepreneurs. Amy was also invited to serve on the Commonwealth Small Business Council, an initiative by the Federal minister for Small Business. Amy has been profiled in the following books: “Women’s Business, Women’s Wealth” by Amanda Ellis, “Female Entrepreneurs”, by Leiza Clark and “Secrets of Female Entrepreneurs Exposed!”, by Dale Beaumont. Amy is passionate about using technology to connect people globally for positive change.
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Tony Abbott vs Craig Emerson – Live from COSBOA’s National Small Business Summit, 8 July
July 9, 2010
By Amy Lyden
Greetings from the National Small Business Summit in Brisbane. We had a great day here yesterday and I wanted to give you a quick update on the addresses from the Minister for Small Business Craig Emerson and the Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott.
Minister Craig Emerson:
- Australian economy is recovering from the GFC however many small businesses are struggling because margins are seriously being squeezed. (How many “Sale” signs have you seen lately? Many consumers are not buying unless they are getting a substantial deal – myself included).
- Emerson was selling the government’s reduction in taxes and also the new asset depreciation scheme (ability for businesses to instantly write off assets up to $5k) – see my previous blog on the Budget.
- “The best thing that government can do for small business is to get out of it’s way”. (Hear hear! We welcome less involvement).
- Emerson quoted the ALP as the “low tax party”. Could this be the ALP’s election platform?
Tony Abbott, Leader of the Opposition:
Abbott started his talk by claiming he wouldn’t be “political or partisan”. (This got a few chuckles from the audience and yes, surprise, he was both).
- If elected the Liberal party will appoint Bruce Bilson to the cabinet as Small Business Minister. (This means a greater emphasis on small business within the government.)
- “Small business is the key to a sustainable economy.”
- “We get it when it comes to small business.”
- “Triumph over difficultly embodies the spirit of small business.”
(You’ve been practicing your soundbites, haven’t you Tony? We all liked these.) - On the National Broadband Network (NBN): In theory the Liberal party supports the idea but not the ALP model of a total government monopoly. Abbott wouldn’t discuss the Liberal party’s NBN policy but committed to reveal it before the election. (I hope so – a NBN is CRITICAL to the development and growth of Australia!)
That’s the political update from the Small Business Summit.
For more coverage search Twitter #nsbs.
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY AMY LYDEN:
- Paid Parental Leave Scheme Gets the Go-Ahead
- The Beige Budget – The good and bad news from this week’s lacklustre Budget
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Amy Lyden - Advocacy Advisor – Australian Businesswomen’s NetworkAn entrepreneur and specialist in ecommerce and online strategy, Amy has had over 13 years of practical experience in these areas. Launching her first website in 1998 Amy was at the forefront of an online revolution without even realizing it. Within a year this site became and remains today a #1 ranking site and global community of pet lovers that attracts over 4 million visitors a year. This Australia-based business, Bow Wow Meow, now sells product online to over 100 countries worldwide. Amy sold this business in 2007 and turned her energy to the nonprofit sector. Amy is currently the CEO of Australian Scholarships Foundation, an organisation that facilitates scholarships for education and training for people who work in the nonprofit sector. Amy is the recipient of numerous business awards including the 2006 NSW Telstra Business Women’s Awards for Innovation, the 2002 National Telstra Business Award and the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World Grant. Amy is an Ambassador and former Chairperson for the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, an organisation that supports female entrepreneurs. Amy was also invited to serve on the Commonwealth Small Business Council, an initiative by the Federal minister for Small Business. Amy has been profiled in the following books: “Women’s Business, Women’s Wealth” by Amanda Ellis, “Female Entrepreneurs”, by Leiza Clark and “Secrets of Female Entrepreneurs Exposed!”, by Dale Beaumont. Amy is passionate about using technology to connect people globally for positive change.
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How important will hiring be to your business in the next 6 months?
July 6, 2010
This poll is part of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network commitment to advocate on behalf of its community. The ABN’s herVoice initiative was established by the ABN in 2008 to give our community a voice about issues that impact on its members’ business, lifestyle, interests and wellbeing.
