NBN Connects with Microsoft

Unlock the potential of AI in your business 

For Queensland business owners, AI presents a valuable opportunity to boost productivity and streamline operations, but with so many platforms plugging AI capability, it’s hard to know where to start. 

94% of small and medium-sized businesses in Australia are already using Microsoft Office 365 in their daily operations, so we're teaming up with nbn and Microsoft to help you leverage built-in AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot. 

At this nbn connects with Microsoft event, certified Microsoft Technology partners will guide you on best practice AI use and provide practical advice on how you can enhance productivity and efficiency across finance, marketing, sales, operations, and HR. 

By automating routine tasks, you can free up time for strategic activities, enhancing your efficiency and giving you a competitive edge. Join this event to see how Copilot integrates with the applications you use on a daily basis. 

Event details: 
Date:  Tuesday 17 March  
Time: 8:30am – 11:00am 
Venue: McCullough Robertson  
Address: Level 11, 66 Eagle Street, Brisbane 4000 

This 90-minute session is designed for business owners and leaders to upskill in AI technology and save time.

Tickets are limited so register now to secure your spot!

Ticket pricing: 
Business Chamber Queensland Members: $55 + GST  
Non-Members $90 + 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

Heidi Cooper, CEO, Business Chamber Queensland

David Pollock, Executive Manager, Stakeholder Engagement, NBN

Dave is the Executive Manager Stakeholder Engagement (Business and Industry) at nbn. He is a management professional with over 30 years extensive global and local experience in both B2C and B2B sectors. Dave has been at nbn for over 9 years, working in Marketing, Channel, Commercial and Corporate Affairs.

Ben Farandas, senior Microsoft Skilling Lead

Ben Farandas is a senior Microsoft Skilling Lead focused on helping Australian Small and Medium Enterprises businesses build digital capability through cloud, security, and AI. Working closely with customers and partners, Ben brings a practical lens to AI adoption—ensuring businesses have the right foundations, skills, and trust to turn innovation into measurable outcomes.

At Microsoft nbn Connect 2.0, Ben shares how digital infrastructure, partner ecosystems, and AI skilling come together to drive productivity, resilience, and sustainable growth for SMBs.

Rishona Elijah, Microsoft Certified Trainer

Rishona is a Microsoft MVP for Business Applications and a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT). Working as a Technology Evangelist, she is driven by her passion for empowering business users to realise the potential of Microsoft AI Solutions. Over the years, she has trained thousands of individuals on Microsoft Copilot, Power Platform, Dynamics 365 and AI agents.

Valentina Lazarevska, AI Adpoption and Enablement Specialist, mysmb.com

Valentina is an AI Adoption and Enablement Specialist, specialising in neuroscience-based strategies that help businesses move from AI confusion to confident implementation. Active in the AI space since 2018 with expertise in prompt engineering and AI agent building, she translates technical complexity into practical action for everyone from executives to frontline workers. Her approach targets the real adoption barriers and moves people from AI hesitancy to AI competence. Working across government, public, and not-for-profit sectors, Valentina is passionate about helping small to medium businesses maximise the value of AI so they spend less time on admin and more time being the expert. She provides proven strategies that transform abstract AI potential into tools your team will use from day one.

Alex Blauensteiner, Strategic Partnership Manager, National Artificial Intelligence Centre (NAIC)

Alex has 25-years of leadership experience in industry, government and research sectors with a strong focus on harnessing new technologies to drive business, social and economic benefits. He currently leads the National AI Centre’s industry partnerships and strategic insights work.