- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy with the second of three Queensland Small Business Month Expos hitting the Gold Coast today.
- More than 300 attendees are expected to attend the full day expo featuring presentations, panel discussions, workshops and one-on-one support.
- The flagship expos, in Cairns, Gold Coast and Brisbane, will help businesses build resilience and seize opportunities, including those from the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future and a better lifestyle through a stronger economy after a decade of decline under Labor.
The Queensland Small Business Month expo arrives on the Gold Coast today with a packed day of opportunities, insights, and practical support for small and family businesses across the Gold Coast.
The expos during Queensland Small Business Month 2026 are part of the Crisafulli Government's plan to deliver a better lifestyle through a stronger economy.
They end a decade of decline under the former Labor Government where champagne cork popping, red carpet celebrations failed to deliver the tools small and family businesses needed to grow.
More than 300 small business owners are expected to attend today's event to take part in a variety of engaging and interactive sessions on topics such as:
- preparing for unexpected challenges, including business continuity planning and navigating a tough insurance market.
- strengthening cash flow and workforce capability to future-proof businesses.
- empowering women in business through resilience, innovation, and capability-building.
- learning practical ways to adopt AI and thrive in the digital economy.
- unlocking opportunities from the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- becoming visible to government buyers and improving tendering success in Queensland's $35 billion procurement market.
These sessions will be hosted by a range of guest speakers including representatives from National Australia Bank (NAB), and Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, among others.
The Gold Coast expo will also provide small and family businesses with the opportunity to network and connect with industry experts, government representatives, and like-minded business owners to share ideas and build professional networks.
Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the Gold Coast expo would empower the region's small business community and foster valuable connections.
"The Gold Coast expo is a chance for local small and family businesses to tap into tailored support, gain valuable insights, and explore opportunities that can help them succeed in one of Queensland's most dynamic economic regions," Minister Minnikin said.
"Now is the right time to be supporting our small and family businesses whether it's part of the tourism market, the export markets into Asia or the opportunities on the horizon with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
Member for Theodore Mark Boothman said the event would bring together the Gold Coast's diverse business community.
"Gold Coast small and family businesses are the backbone of our local communities and the Crisafulli Government is backing them to grow and thrive by giving them the right opportunities and support," Mr Boothman said.
Member for Burleigh Hermann Vorster said Queensland Small Business Month had come at the right time to support growing opportunities across the Gold Coast.
"From tailored workshops to insights on leveraging opportunities like the Brisbane 2032 Games, the Expo is about creating meaningful connections and providing practical strategies that businesses can take away and implement to strengthen their operations."
Founder and Managing Director of she wear Stacey Head will join The Merrymaker Sisters, for an inspiring conversation on empowering women in business, focused on building capability and confidence to achieve sustainable scale.
"The expos give small business owners something you can't get from a webinar or a podcast," Ms Head said.
"I hope that attendees will walk away with practical, honest insights from a founder who's actually built a business from the ground up."
Partner, Public Sector Advisory at KordaMentha Sean Madigan will also join a panel of industry leaders for the "Resilient by Design" session at the Gold Coast expo, focused on strengthening cash flow decision-making, workforce capability, and insurance to help small businesses build resilience and secure their future.
"The expos give small business owners practical insights and access to trusted advice, helping them make better decisions and respond more confidently to change," Mr Madigan said.
"Attendees will walk away with practical steps they can apply immediately, from improving cash visibility to strengthening cyber protections and building more capable teams."
Queensland Small Business Month also features a range of webinars and online tools designed to support small businesses in regional and remote areas, as well as those unable to attend the in-person expos.
The final expo will be held in Brisbane next week.
To get involved, or find out more about what's on this Queensland Small Business Month, head to business.qld.gov.au/qsbm.
