Mark Warren - Commercial Manager NSW/ACT, Australia Post

Mark Warren joined Australia Post in 1993 as NSW Manager, Delivery Support Group, and was soon promoted to Delivery Manager NSW/ACT. In 1998 he was appointed as Retail Manager NSW/ACT, where he focused on delivering greater customer satisfaction and improved business performance for Australia Post’s retail network.

In his role as Manager Commercial NSW/ACT, Mark draws on his vast experience and strong customer service skills.

Mark’s aim is to help consolidate Australia Post’s position as a world-class communications network by strengthening customer relationships and delivering leading-edge solutions, including e-commerce and technology-based initiatives that will set new international benchmarks.

Janine Ricketts - Executive Director of Small Business Development,

NSW Department of State and Regional Development

Janine Ricketts is Executive Director of Small Business Development in the New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development.

In this role she is responsible for business services for small and medium enterprises, supported by the NSW Government, from start-up through to exporting. She manages a group of around 60 people who are based both in New South Wales and in the State’s overseas offices.

The Department’s programs cover assistance for start-up, business expansion and to assist companies new to exporting.

Margy Osmond - Chief Executive

NSW State Chamber of Commerce

Margy Osmond was appointed Chief Executive of the State Chamber of Commerce in 2001, after several years as Chief Operating Officer. She was a member of the NSW Police Minister’s Advisory Council, chaired the State Government’s Ministerial Taskforce on Fraud and was recently appointed to the NSW Industry Skills Forum.

Margy established the Sydney 2000 Olympic Commerce Centre and, as a result, the Chamber has marketed its Olympic business expertise to over 30 countries.

Margy's background is in politics, corporate affairs and government relations. Appointed in 1988 as Advisor to the NSW Minister for Business and Minister for Local Government, she became Chief of Staff for the NSW Minister for Business and Regional Development in 1993.

Caroline Ralphsmith -  Head of Marketing,

NRMA Insurance

Caroline Ralphsmith joined NRMA Insurance in October 2003 as the Head of Marketing following a career in marketing that has spanned both the agency and client sides of the industry, roles in management consultancy and running her own small business. 

At Citibank, she was responsible for the launch of Visa and MasterCard into the Australian market. She then moved to J Walter Thompson as a manager of the direct marketing team. Caroline then transitioned into management consultancy working with strategy firms Mitchell Madison Group and McKinsey & Company.

After six years of consulting to firms in the US & Australia, Caroline moved out on her own and launched her own venture: Australia's first internet-based small business marketplace, Bizmarket.

Peter Switzer - Small Business Editor,

The Australian

Peter Switzer is the small business editor for The Australian newspaper and a regular money, business and economics commentator for ABC radio. Formerly an academic economist with the University of New South Wales and holding a Master of Commerce degree from that university, Mr Switzer is a highly regarded economic forecaster. He is also the host of Talking Business for the Qantas ‘on air’ in-flight service.

The author of a number of best-selling books, Peter has written weekly columns in The Daily Telegraph, The Sun Herald and The Weekend Australian for nearly 20 years. He also owns the small business magazine Better Business.

Peter Switzer has twice been runner up in the Best Current Affairs Commentator award for the radio industry.

Matt Davey - Deputy Managing Director Mobile

and Director Small Business

Matt Davey was appointed to the position of Deputy Managing Director Mobile and Director Small Business in March 2003.

Matt was responsible for establishing Optus' Small Business division and manages the team, Australia-wide, day to day.  Prior to this, Matt was Director, Consumer Sales, responsible for all of Optus Mobile’s retail channels including, Optus World, premium dealers and Optus Mobile Direct.

In addition, Matt holds board positions for Optus subsidiaries: RSLCom, C2One and PPS and Virgin Mobile.

Matt has also held the positions General Manager Consumer Sales and Retail Marketplace Manager. Matt originally joined Optus in August 1996 as State Manager for Optus World.

Between 1984 and 1996, Matt worked with Caltex Oil in a range of sales and sales management positions.  During this time with Caltex, Matt worked on the merger team between Caltex and Ampol and post merger was the State Manager for Victoria and Tasmania.

Matt has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Melbourne University.