SMBs - Australia’s engine room

ARA CEO Paul Zahra sat down with The Hon Bruce Billson, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman to discuss all things SMB. Bruce’s work in Cabinet and stint in retail as an arts and crafts store owner have primed him for his current role. His genuine commitment to seeing the sector thrive stems from his vision that small business truly is the engine room of the economy and Bruce, we’ve discovered, is their biggest champion.   Paul and Bruce discuss:  His career from retail to cabinet minister to now  Behind the scenes as the champion for small and family business  Issues Bruce and his team tackle on the daily  Bruce's approach to the sector’s challenges, pre and post Covid  Why the ‘family’ part of small business in Australia is so special  Supporting mental health Sage advice to business owners as we embrace the new normal  Exciting times on the horizon – what’s in store? ABOUT THE ARA:  The Australian Retailers Association is the oldest, largest and most diverse national retail body, representing a $360bn sector which employs 1.3 million Australians and is the largest private sector employer in the country. Learn more: retail.org.au/  Learn more about American Express: https://www.americanexpress.com/au/merchant/accept-amex-cards.html