Ahead of the Game: Moreton Bay
It’s time to get Ahead of the Game
Our region is on the cusp of enormous opportunity.
From Brisbane 2032 and the Rugby World Cups to major infrastructure investment, growing demand for Queensland-made goods and services, digital innovation and the energy transition, Queensland is entering an exciting decade of growth.
Here in Moreton Bay, that growth is already creating new opportunities for businesses. Now is a good time to think about how your business can make the most of what’s ahead.
Ahead of the Game Moreton Bay is designed to help you do just that. Choose three practical workshops, hear from business leaders and make new connections, with ideas and tools you can put to work in your business.
Our Ahead of the Game conference creates dedicated time away to plan your next steps, bringing insights, practical workshops and networking opportunities so you can prepare your business for growth. You’ll leave with:
New business connections
Practical ideas and tools you can use in your business right away
Insights from local experts on the opportunities ahead
Event Details
Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026
Time: 8.30am-3:30pm
Venue: Eatons Hills Hotel
Address: 646 Pine Rd, Eatons Hill QLD 4037
Speakers
Jessica Reid Chief of Staff to the President & Director Government Relations - Brisbane 2032
Jessica Reid is Chief of Staff to the President and Director of Government Relations for the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Jessica’s career began in media and communications and has seen her live and work in locations around the world, including Australia, the UK and Asia-Pacific, as a journalist, presenter, editor and consultant to global corporates and government entities. Jessica has worked for state and federal governments, advising Ministers and the NSW Premier. She was the Chief of Staff to the Minister for Home Affairs during the Covid-19 Pandemic, supporting the management of the international border and helping to secure vital medical equipment to Australians. She was thrilled to return to Brisbane - the city that she grew up in - to take up her current role with Brisbane 2032.
Matt Wilson, Co Founder, ProVelo Super League
Matt Wilson turned professional in 2001 with top French World Tour Team la Francaise des Jeux. During his 11 years at the top of world cycling, he built a reputation as one of the sport’s most trusted domestiques and leaders. He helped teammates to multiple World Cup, Grand Tour and Tour de France wins, including a Green Jersey in 2003 with team mate Baden Cooke, as well as winning the 2004 Australian Road Cycling Championships and the 2007 Herald Sun Tour. Due to the reputation he had garnered over a decade in the pro peloton, Matt was offered a position as one of the Sports Directors with the newly created Green Edge Cycling (now known as Team Jayco-AlUla), when he retired from racing in 2012. Matt is co-Founder of the successful Australian Cycling Academy which has the ARA Skip Capital Under 19 Women’s & Men's Teams that compete in the ProVelo Super League and internationally. Matt also Co-Founded a cycling focused talent agency, Arc Sports.
Laura Maxwell, Managing Director, Queensland, NewsCorp 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.
Heidi Cooper, CEO, Business Chamber Queensland
Heidi Cooper is a leading business executive and Chief Executive Officer of Business Chamber Queensland, where she advocates for the strategic growth and sustainable transformation of Queensland’s business environment. In this role, she leads with purpose, driving business success while shaping the state’s economic future through policy influence, stakeholder collaboration and strategic reform. A qualified solicitor, experienced board director and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Heidi has significant expertise in governance, risk and corporate leadership. She is currently a member of the Jobs Queensland Board, Super Member Council Employer Forum, and several government advisory boards.
Event Agenda
8:30am | Registration and networking | |
9:15am-12:00pm | Workshops | Choose three sessions that best suit your business needs (see below). |
12:00pm-1:00pm | Networking lunch | |
1:00pm-2:10pm | Panel discussion | Our expert panel will share insights on the opportunities ahead |
2:10pm-3:30pm | Networking drinks | Meet potential partners, suppliers, and customers. |
Practical workshops
Choose three practical workshops – one from each stream (see details below):
Stream 1 9:15am-10:05am | Stand out in a crowded market: Brand, trust and visibility | Comply to Supply: Provide evidence of sustainability for tenders and supply chains with confidence |
Steam 2 10:10am-11:00am | Tender ready: How to position your business to win | Strategic workforce development: Right people, right time |
Stream 3 11:05am-11:55am | AI and your business: Practical tips to boost productivity and efficiency | Australian Made: Using the Australian Made brand to unlock growth |
Workshop topics
AI and your business: Practical tips to boost productivity and efficiency
Delivered by: mySMB.com Discover practical ways AI can help you to work smarter, improve productivity, and unlock growth opportunities. This interactive workshop will explore real-world applications of AI, helping you identify where it can add value, build team capability and support better business outcomes.
Stand out in a crowded market: brand, trust and visibility
Delivered by: Constant Contact More businesses than ever before are competing for the same customers, contracts, and attention. Many capable SMEs miss opportunities not because of what they do, but because they’re customer value proposition is not immediately clear. This workshop will help businesses clarify their value, build trust, and improve visibility using practical branding and digital marketing tools, making it easier to be understood, found, and remembered in a crowded market.
Strategic workforce development: right people, right time
Delivered by: Business Chamber Queensland Brisbane 2032 will reshape Queensland’s labour market for years to come. This practical seminar helps business leaders understand how the Olympics will impact workforce supply, demand, cost, and capability—and what to do about it now. Participants will gain a clear, structured understanding of strategic workforce planning, how different industries face different risks, and how to move from planning to action. With a strong focus on execution, timing, and real world decision making, this session equips organisations to reduce workforce risk, control costs, and position themselves for success before, during, and after the Games.
Get tender-ready: how to position your business to win
Delivered by: The Fair Co. Big government and major projects create real opportunities for Queensland SMEs - but it’s not always clear what you need to do to get onto supplier panels and win work. Many capable businesses miss out because they’re not ready to tender. Often the best time to meet buyer requirements is before a tender drops so you can say “yes” when the right opportunity arises. This workshop breaks down what buyers look for, tips to get the basics in order, and how to present your business so you can pursue procurement opportunities with confidence.
Comply to Supply: Provide evidence of sustainability for tenders and supply chains with confidence
Delivered by: ecoBiz (Business Chamber Queensland) Queensland is entering a decade of opportunity, with a major infrastructure pipeline, the Queensland Government's target of at least 30 per cent of state procurement spend flowing to local SMEs, and the Brisbane 2032 setting new expectations for how business is won. Across tenders, government procurement and major project supply chains, buyers are asking for evidence of emissions, energy, waste and water performance, and many Queensland businesses tell us they need support to respond. ecoBiz, delivered by Business Chamber Queensland in partnership with the Queensland Government, helps businesses benchmark their utility use, measure their footprint and turn results into credible evidence, positioning them to meet supply chain reporting requests and compete for the opportunities ahead.
Leverage local: use the Australian Made brand to unlock growth
Delivered by: Australian Made Campaign Limited With strong consumer, corporate, and government preference for Australian‑made products, local origin status has become a powerful growth lever. This session will explain the commercial benefits of the Australian Made brand, how to become licensed and use the mark to strengthen your market position, differentiate from competitors, and unlock new domestic and export opportunities. As demand for trusted local suppliers grows, businesses that can clearly prove their Australian credentials will be first in line to win tenders and customers, both here and abroad.
Tickets
Single ticket
Business Chamber Queensland member price: $125+gst
Non-member price: $145+gst
Value bundle of 4 tickets
Bring your team and save:
Business Chamber Queensland member price: $440 +gst
Non-member price: $500 +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
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