OPINION: Business forums have a terrible habit of turning out to be a glorified ‘talkfest’ or ‘love-in’ with accomplished speakers articulating their message to a choice audience.

You therefore have to hope this is not the case when the Douglas Shire Council hosts the Douglas Business Forum at QT Resort from 12 noon to 5:00pm on Thursday, November 12.

The expectation is that many of the 1,500 plus businesses in the shire will endorse the opportunity and are able to find the time to attend the event. And in the words of Mayor Julia Leu, “gain insights on marketing and tourism, diversity and innovation and business development and investment”.

“The Douglas Business Forum represents an unprecedented opportunity for local businesses to gain meaningful insights into how they may be able to maximise their opportunities, grow their business or diversify,” she said.

If the recent annual general meeting of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce is anything to go by, there is no guarantee of a solid attendance. The AGM attracted fewer than 30 people with poor representation from the business community.

This was a significant meeting as the chamber is desperately seeking to increase its membership and obtain pro-active support from the businesses. 
But this week’s forum may spark the necessary interest. And credit must go to the organisers for dishing up an appealing smorgasbord of speakers, who will no doubt provide appropriate take-home messages.

The forum will bring together local business leaders and industry experts from around Australia including facilitator Paul Fagg, Economic Development Manager for the Far North Queensland Office of the Department of State Development; internationally-respected economist Ross Garnaut; and keynote speaker Sarah Buckler, the Acting Deputy Director-General for Strategy and Engagement with the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The other speakers are Bill Cummings of Cummings Economics; Jayne Gray from the Business Skills Fund; and Advance Cairns’ Mark Matthews.

The list of panellists include Tara Bennett, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree; Sheena Walshaw, Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours; Tony Baker, Quicksilver Group; Linc Walker, Walkabout Tours; Justine Murray, Daintree Naturals; Reina Patrick, Harrisons Restaurant; Phoebe Kitto, HR Dynamics; Leigh Ratcliffe, Sheraton Resort; Mark Hober, Daintree Saltwater Barra Fresh Fish Farm; Hayden Slattery, Mackay Sugar; entrepreneur, Wendy Morris; and agricultural leaders Don Murday and Bill Phillips-Turner.

And you can’t question Mayor Leu when she says:  “To have so many successful business leaders in the one room in the Douglas Shire is a real coup. I’m proud Council has been able to facilitate such a worthwhile endeavour for our local business community.

“The forum promises to be a fountain of knowledge covering the most critical aspects of business development.”