US experts to present at major IPA Deakin productivity conference

The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) has engaged senior adviser to the Office of International Trade at the US Small Business Administration (SBA), Eugene Cornelius jnr, to present and co-facilitate a major conference focusing on Australia’s flagging productivity. 

Aside from addressing the current dire economic predicament, the Small Business: Big Vision event, being run by the IPA Deakin SME Research Centre on 4 and 5 September 2019, will push for a more concerted effort to boost SME productivity. 

“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," said IPA chief executive Andrew Conway. 

Speakers bio

Eugene Cornelius jnr was responsible for the establishment of the SBA’s Office of International Trade and previously, as deputy associate administrator of that office, overseeing four program divisions: Federal and State Trade; International Trade Finance; International Affairs & Trade Policy; and Administration & Operations.

In addition to his SBA role, Mr Cornelius has accepted a one-year detail with the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), with headquarters in Washington, DC.

Mr Cornelius will be joined by fellow American, Dr Winslow Sargeant. Dr Sargeant is ICSB’s president elect and managing director of S&T. Previously, he was the chief counsel for advocacy appointed by and reporting direct to President Barack Obama. Dr Sargeant was also a managing director at a Madison, Winsconsin-based capital firm, Venture Investor LLC.

Mr Cornelius and Dr Sargeant will form part of a large line-up of talented presenters at the Small Business: Big Vision event being run by the IPA Deakin SME Research Centre 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. 

Other international speakers include: Professor Charles Matthews, University of Cincinnati, 2017-18 Fulbright US Scholar, US; and Diah Yusuf, entrepreneur, business consultant, vice president ICSB, Indonesia.

Details of the program can be found at:  www.publicaccountants.org.au/events/smallbusinessbigvision

Media are welcome by emailing wayne.debernardi@publicaccountants.org.au