Council of Small Business Organisations Australia
COSBOA was founded in 1977 and was incorporated in 1979 as a public company limited by guarantee. COSBOA has a proud history of strong advocacy on small business issues ranging from taxation and workplace relations, through to competition law and retail tenancy.
We were created by people who believed that small business needed a voice that was not also representing big business – as a result, the Council of Small Business Australia is now the country’s peak body exclusively representing the interests of small businesses.
Our goals are to:
• Promote and support the development of small businesses in Australia;
• Advocate advancing the interests of small business in Australia, including through policy change and regulatory reform;
• Foster an increased awareness and understanding of the role of small business in Australia amongst public servants and elected government officials, larger businesses, the media and the general community.
We engage our members and provide opportunities for them to influence outcomes affecting their business, and their industry. We act as a conduit for information from our members to Government and other organisations, and vice versa.
A key activity for us is to facilitate introductions between member organisations and businesses with relevant customers, suppliers, service providers, and regulators. Communication is the foundation of any good relationship, and we endeavour to be an active conduit for information.
Tel: 02 9431 8646
Website: https://www.cosboa.org.au/
Profiles
Peter Strong
I am the CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA). My council has given me the responsibility to lobby the federal government, public servants and key small business stakeholders on all issues to do with small business people. That includes B2B contract law, improved access to financial support, understanding health issues for the small business people (that’s right we are people too) who employ so many other people, competition policy and fairness, workplace relations and just generally support the removal unnecessary red tape and legislation. We have succeeded in getting changes to B2B contracts, have had an effects test introduced into the area of competition law and also had the creation of the national Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman’s role created. There is still plenty to do but just how do we keep up with change?
Mark McKenzie
Mark is the CEO of the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association - the national industry association representing the interests of the fuel wholesale and fuel retail industries in Australia.
A senior professional with formal qualifications in Civil/Transport Engineering and Business (MBA), Mark holds a variety of positions on Australian government, not-for-profit, and Industry Boards & Advisory Committees in addition to his employment with ACAPMA.
Mark is the current Chair of the Board of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) and an appointed member of the Australian Research Council's (ARC) Advisory Committee - continuing his engagement in the Australian business and innovation agenda.
