Small Biz Matters: People, Policy, Purpose ~ Episode #246Broadcast date: 3 Sep 2024Host: Alexi Boyd, Small Business Advocate & Policy AdvisorGuests: Guests, CEOs and leaders in Regional Australia at the Regional Australia Summit The appeal of regional living is here to stay for thousands of metro movers, requiring new thinking and action on how the services, housing, and skills landscape will develop to meet this ongoing demand across the country. Important economic and social transitions are underway, and regional Australia is at the frontline of this change. That’s the focus of the 2024 Regional Australia Institute’s Regions Rising National Summit and exactly the right platform to tackle the critical policy issues for regional Australia. Small Biz Matters was lucky to be invited, interviewing speakers, experts and leaders on their thoughts about their people, policy, and purpose for in particular, small business. The program featured engaging addresses from the nation’s politicians, inspiring thought leaders and changemakers. A series of panels and concurrent sessions addressed the key pillars of RAI’s Regionalisation Ambition – a framework to ‘Rebalance the Nation’, telling the stories of regions’ challenges and success stories, and providing a wealth of knowledge to help drive change in communities and businesses. It was a solutions-focussed, nation building event bringing together thought leaders across all sectors of government, industry, academia, and most importantly regional communities. We interviewed: Liz Ritchie CEO Regional Australia Institute Hon Kristy McBain MP Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, leader for Nationals in the Senate John Cleland, CEO Essential Energy Sam Dimarco , GM Regional & remote nbn Hacia Atherton CEO empowered women in trades Let’s have a listen to their thoughts on the regional Australia’s People, Policy and Purpose!