IPA announces forum, pushes for boost to SME productivity

Unless Australia arrests its flagging productivity, the economy will continue to decline, putting our standard of living at risk for generations to come, according to the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).

Productivity growth has continued to decline over the past 15 years, and while the IPA has had some successes through its Australian Small Business White Paper, the organisation has now organised a forum to push for a more concerted effort to boost SME productivity. 

“We will hold a special forum through the IPA Deakin SME Research Centre to focus on addressing this dire economic predicament,” announced IPA chief executive Andrew Conway.

“In doing so we will be calling on Australian and international expertise, particularly from the US, to explore the creation of a sustainable ecosystem for SMEs. This will be based on the five integral pillars of: financial capital; innovation; regulation; trade and internationalisation; and human capital.

“While some say that small business is the engine room of the economy, we believe that is an understatement; we believe that small business is the whole factory, plant and equipment. Unless we stoke the fire beneath it, our future generations will suffer the consequences.”

The Small Business: Big Vision event will take place on 4 and 5 September 2019.

Keynote speakers include Michael Sukkar, Minister for Housing and Assistant Treasurer, and Kate Carnell, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.

International speakers include Eugene Cornelius jnr, senior adviser to the USA’s Office of International Trade at the Small Business Administration; Dr Winslow Sargeant, managing director of S&T and former chief counsel for advocacy appointed by and reporting direct to President Obama; and senior vice president, International Council for Small Business.