It’s time to get Ahead of the Game

Build your competitive advantage ahead of Queensland’s once-in-a-generation opportunity

Join us in Brisbane for the launch of our statewide ‘Ahead of the Game’ series designed to help businesses across Queensland prepare for a decade of unprecedented growth.

Our state is on the cusp of enormous opportunity: the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games, Rugby World Cups, and the biggest decade of infrastructure investment in the state’s history – plus increasing demand for Australian made goods and services and new ventures driven by digital innovation and the energy transition

By preparing now, businesses can benefit from this increased investment and demand, a surge in visitors, and significant global attention.

Our line-up of expert speakers will share different perspectives on how you can make the most of this momentum. Join us to:

Understand how to position your business for success
Gain practical insights to prepare your business for emerging opportunities

Connect with potential customers, partners, and suppliers and expand your network

Keynote speaker

The Honourable Tim Mander, Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Expert panelists

Our CEO, Heidi Cooper, will lead panel discussion on what businesses need to do to get ahead of the game and make the most of these opportunities. Our panelists include:

· Dan Herbert, Chairman, Rugby Australia and CEO, SSKB

· Dominique Lamb, Director of Community Affairs to the President of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

· Laura Maxwell, Managing Director, Queensland, News Corp Australia

Event details

Date: Thursday 16 April 2026
Time: 12:00pm–2:00pm
Venue: The Boulevard Room, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank

Ticket prices

Single ticket
Business Chamber Queensland member price: $180+gst
Non-member price: $220+gst

Table of 10
Business Chamber Queensland member price: $1,650+gst
Non-member price: $2,050+gst

For members only: Click on 'access code' on the registration page and enter the email address associated with your Business Chamber Queensland membership and hit 'apply'. This will apply member discount. Please contact the Business Chamber Queensland's marketing team at marketing@businesschamberqld.com.au for any assistance. Tickets are non-refundable. Ticket prices are excluding GST. Terms and conditions apply. See here

Meet your speakers:

The Honourable Tim Mander, Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Tim has served as the State Member of Parliament for the seat of Everton since 2012 and is currently in the role of Minister for Sport and Racing, and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games A born and bred Brisbane boy, Tim attended Grovely State School and Mitchelton State High School. He played junior football for the West Arana Hills Rugby League Football Club, and is passionate about living and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Tim is a known local identity through his 20-year career as a leading NRL referee, earning respect for being fair, even-handed and making accurate decisions under incredible pressure. Tim’s political objectives aim to echo his refereeing skills – to win respect, not necessarily popularity.

Dan Herbert, Chairman, Rugby Australia and CEO, SSKB

Dan Herbert is the Chairman of Rugby Australia, appointed in November 2023 after a distinguished playing career that included 67 Tests for the Wallabies and a pivotal role in Australia’s 1999 Rugby World Cup victory. His leadership comes at a transformative time, with Australia having hosted a record breaking 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour and currently preparing to host the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup and 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup - events he has emphasised will drive national high‑performance reform and unlock major economic, tourism and community benefits. Alongside his national sporting leadership, Herbert is the CEO of SSKB, a leading strata management firm he has led since 2017, applying a high‑performance, client‑focused approach shaped by his earlier executive roles at Queensland Rugby. Under his guidance, SSKB has expanded its technology‑driven service model and now manages close to 800 strata communities across Australia.

Dominique Lamb, Director of Community Affairs to the President of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Dominique Lamb has a diverse background in corporate affairs, industrial relations, and not-for-profits. Dominique was previously the CEO of the National Retail Association and a director of NRA Legal. In her role as CEO, Dominique advocated on behalf of 60,000 shop fronts across the country about a diverse range of issues, including but not limited to crime, ESG, youth employment, industrial relations, leasing and tenancy, franchising, and the digital economy. Dominique served as the Queensland Small Business Commissioner from December 2022 until October 2025, where she focused on improving the operating environment for small businesses and reducing the time and cost of resolving disputes. From October 2025, Dominique has taken on the role of Director of Community Affairs for the Brisbane Olympic Games, where she will continue her commitment to community engagement and advocacy. Beyond her professional endeavours, Dominique is deeply committed to social causes, particularly those addressing domestic and family violence and closing the gap in our regional, remote, and rural communities.

Laura Maxwell, Managing Director, Queensland, News Corp Australia

Laura Maxwell is News Corp Australia’s State Managing Director of Queensland. Laura is a highly experienced C-Suite Executive and Board Director with a proven track record of driving sustainable profit and market-share growth with powerhouse brands. Most recently as CEO of Stuff Media Group in NZ and with prior roles of Chief Digital Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME), her experience spans both transformation at large-scale corporations and building digital start-ups such as OneRoof real estate platform. Known for thriving in complexity, Laura excels at strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement and looking for the magic at the intersection of people and technology. Member of the alumni of Otago University, University of Canberra and University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Member of the NZ Institute of Directors and Global Women.

Contact the host of Ahead of the Game: Brisbane Launch