The SME Conference

The SME Conference is a unique opportunity for Australian small-and-medium sized enterprises to tap into expertise and obtain advice from regional specialists, business leaders and successful exporters brought together to share their knowledge and insights. Expert facilitator, Ms Tamerlaine Beasley, will be the event’s master of ceremonies, overseeing a high profile line up of experts from diverse industry, government and business backgrounds.

By attending, you will also have access to a Marketplace that will run alongside the SME Conference, from 8:30am – 4:00pm. At the Marketplace, you can obtain tailored and practical advice about getting started or expanding in ASEAN. Find out more about the Marketplace, including the government agencies, peak industry bodies and trade promotion offices you can meet with.

With the close of the SME Conference at 4:30pm, delegates will be invited to join us for a networking reception as the sun sets over Darling Harbour.

SME Conference Program

Opening address: Prime Minister of Australia
 

Keynote address

ASEAN's economies are among the fastest-growing in the world, creating tremendous opportunities for Australian SMEs seeking to expand into the region. Ms Holgate and Ms Chua will draw on their wealth of experience to present their outlook for doing business in ASEAN.

SESSION 1

The ASEAN consumer - Market insights

A region-wide perspective of ASEAN brings a sense of scale and opportunity, with a population of more than 637 million people and the economy growing at around 5 per cent each year. The growth of middle class households is driving a substantial increase in consumer demand, and as consumer patterns change, there will be opportunities for Australian exporters in a range of sectors. This expert panel will explore the demographics that are driving ASEAN’s economic growth and identify current and potential future opportunities for SMEs.

SESSION 2

ASEAN - An industry powerhouse

The ASEAN region has mature and emerging market characteristics, and growing integration through the ASEAN Community presents opportunities to access regional value chains integrated into global supply routes. This panel features outstanding speakers to discuss the drivers encouraging growth in ASEAN's manufacturing industry and the opportunities to link into ASEAN's production and distribution chains. This session will focus on the rapid growth in ASEAN’s industrial development to promote a better understanding of the opportunities for SMEs (particularly those in manufacturing, resources and business services) to link into the region’s production chains and benefit from rising levels of infrastructure investment.

SESSION 3

Skills and technologies for the future

Developments in digital technology are reshaping the way that businesses operate which is changing the skills that businesses need their workers to possess. This session will explore the emerging technologies that are reshaping business models and how we work, but also how businesses in ASEAN and Australia are using digital technology to improve their business processes. Another major topic will be the opportunities this creates for Australia’s education and training exporters as ASEAN workers seek to upgrade their skills. Australian education and service providers are also well-positioned to provide in-country solutions that equip students with vocational training and leadership skills.

SESSION 4

Connecting with ASEAN markets

Diverse export opportunities are underpinned by ASEAN’s diversity. Advances are being made in opening and integrating markets to facilitate trade and investment and Australia is a strong supporter of ASEAN’s connectivity. Learn from the experience of Australian SMEs thriving in ASEAN markets and about some of the resources and support available to develop your export strategy. This session will help Australian SMEs seize opportunities and address the challenges of expanding into the ASEAN market, particularly amid deepening integration between the region’s countries as part of the ASEAN Economic Community.

Closing address: Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment

The Hon. Steven Ciobo MP

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment

SME Conference Facilitator

Ms Tamerlaine Beasley
Board member Australia-ASEAN Council
Founder and Managing Director of Beasley Intercultural

Tamerlaine is an expert facilitator with more than 25 years’ experience, enabling collaboration and communication in diverse and global workplaces. She is a member of the Board of the Australia-ASEAN Council for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and founder and Managing Director of Beasley Intercultural, Australia’s premier cross-cultural training and consultancy company. Tamerlaine speaks Thai and has studied Lao and Bahasa Indonesia. 

Tamerlaine leads a team of consultants working across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.  Her clients include global businesses, governments, multilateral agencies and development organisations. Tamerlaine’s keynote presentations, advisory services and training programs are described by clients as ‘transformational’ and ‘game changing’. 

Previous experience includes: coaching and advising leaders in Australia and Asia on cultural capability and global strategy; working with global teams to optimise performance; developing a framework for capability building for APEC; facilitating regional forums for the United Nations; and leading the development of diversity and inclusion programs for the Australian Public Service Commission and the Department of Defence.

Tamerlaine has studied Asian Studies at the ANU, International Business at Penn State University and Thai at Chulalongkorn in Thailand. She lectures at Australia’s leading Universities with a focus on global mindset, cross-cultural leadership and communication.  She is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.