The West Australian branch president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Andrew Ngeow, has been appointed to the board of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) following the resignation from the board of Colm Maguire, Chief Operating Officer of the Guild.
Mr Ngeow said he was pleased and delighted to have been appointed to the board of COSBOA.
"I am excited about this opportunity to help shape the policies and strategies which will ensure the small business sector remains viable and sustainable," he said.
"This is a challenging time and one we must prepare for and face with the confidence that comes from having an organisation like COSBOA supporting all the businesses in the sector.
"COSBOA provides the resources and expertise to ensure small businesses have as strong and influential say in the legislative and regulatory decisions that affect their day-to-day operations and being part of the board is a great opportunity."
Mr Maguire said he was privileged to have had the opportunity to support COSBOA over a very intense period.
"I am immensely proud to have been a part of the work undertaken to transform a relatively small organisation to one that is sustainable, well-staffed and a highly respected advocacy group over the past five years," he said.
"It had a critical role through COVID which I am proud to have been a part of. It was immensely satisfying to have been able to help small business through those trying times."
The National President of the Guild, Trent Twomey, congratulated Mr Ngeow on his appointment to fill the causal vacancy on the board.
"As a small business owner himself, Andrew will bring to the board practical and hands-on experience of the challenges facing this sector," Professor Twomey said.
"His pragmatic and focussed approach to the running of his own pharmacy will provide COSBOA with invaluable insights and practical solutions."
Professor Twomey also thanks Mr Maguire for his work on the COSBOA board.
"Colm has helped steer the organisation through what was undoubtedly one of its most challenges times – the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
"This was a time when small businesses across the country needed COSBOA perhaps more than ever, and it was there for them.
"Colm helped the organisation navigate the turbulent times while never losing sight of the day-to-day business issues which needed to be addressed on top of dealing with the pandemic."
