Small Biz Matters: People, Policy, Purpose ~ Episode #211
Broadcast date: 31st October 2023
Host: Alexi Boyd, Small Business Advocate & Policy Advisor
Guest: Paul Zahra, Chief Executive Officer at Australian Retailers Association
EP#211 ~ The Australian Retailers Association is celebrating 120 years - what makes a successful association last? With Paul Zahra, CEO ARA
Today we welcome Paul Zahra, the CEO of the Australian Retailers Association. It is their 120 year anniversary so we are going to talk about how they represent their 50,000 retail shopfronts throughout Australia. what makes a successful association last? As a national body, how do you balance the policy work across so many different government agencies? And importantly, what do you think will be the focus of small business policy in the next 12 months?
PEOPLE - ARA has been around for 120 years now – what makes a successful association last, through the trials and tribulations of government policy and advocacy work? As a national body, how do you balance the policy work you do across so many different government bodies (local, state, federal)
POLICY - What are the key areas of policy that the ARA focusing on at the moment? Are there some issues that occupy much more of your time and are more complex and how do you determine as the CEO where the focus areas are at any one time? What do you think will be the focus of small business policy in the next 12 months?
PURPOSE - Tell us a little bit about how you personally moved into the world of advocacy and why you’re so passionate about looking after small business retailers?
Paul Zahra is a leading figure of Australian retail having worked in the industry for 40 years including in senior executive and non-executive roles and as a company advisor. He has previously held senior leadership positions at Target, Officeworks and at David Jones where he was the CEO and Managing Director.
Paul leads the team at the Australian Retailers Association – Australia’s oldest, largest and most diverse retail body, representing a $400 billion sector that employs one in ten Australians.
To find out more go to: https://www.retail.org.au
EP#229 ~ The Franchise Code review - what does a review mean for small businesses in the sector?
EP#228 ~ Environmental, Social, Governance. How can policy makers reduce the burden of ESG reporting on small businesses?
EP#227 ~ Sandy Chong One of the most influential industry leaders. What drive these advocates?
EP#226 ~ Why should Regional, Rural and Remote communities be front and centre of small business policy planning? We ask a passionate thought leader.
EP#225 ~ Big Tech sometimes plays the smallbiz advocate but do they really represent the small business voice?
EP#224 ~ How do economists influence policy inside and outside of government?
EP#223 ~ Resilience in Action - how a thriving refugee business builds on a foundation of struggle to continue to overcome business hurdles and success.
EP#222 ~ Translating policy into practice: What do the new Industrial Relations laws mean for your business?
EP#221 ~ The Intuit GetConnected Conference Smallbiz Learnings: AI, Advocacy, Advisors and Open Banking
EP220 ~ What is the role of .au Domain Administration in the digital space and how does this affect small business?
EP219 ~ Digital Identity is coming. So what does this mean for you and your small business?
EP#218 ~ What is the future of small business advocacy in 2024 and beyond?
EP#217 ~ The tech StartUp world seems the darling of government industry policy. But is that the reality?
EP#216 ~ ATMS knows about health, women, the economy, and micro business. How do they represent small business across so many policy areas?
EP#215 ~ ACCAN, who is the organisation fighting for small business people’s rights in the telecommunications industry?
EP#214 ~ How does ABS’ powerful data lead to informed policy for small business?
EP#213 ~ How bookkeepers advise their small business clients and how ICB advises Government
EP#212 ~ Highlights from Xerocon 2023 ~ What will be the impact of AI on the Fintech industry and small business?
Welcome back to Small Biz Matters!
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The emPOWERed Half Hour
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
Aligned Money Show
Gorse Culture PODcast : The H.R. Detective Agency!
HCI Leadership Revolution
The Ramsey Show
Planet Money