Family Business Association proudly presents the Family Business Insights State Conference hosted in New South Wales on Thursday, 30 October 2025.
Immerse yourself in this half-day premier event as you connect, share and grow with your New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory family business peers.
Throughout this unrivalled conference program you will be inspired by high calibre speakers and a keynote presentation. You’ll gain valuable insights as they delve into a range of impactful topics designed to support and elevate the family business journey.
Family Business Excellence Awards
This year we will also be announcing and celebrating your local Family Business Excellence Awards winners over lunch before the program begins.
Session 1: Behind the Brew: Insights from Glenn Cooper AM
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Glenn Cooper AM |
Join us for an engaging session with Glenn Cooper AM, former chairman and fifth generation member of Australia’s iconic Coopers Brewery, as he shares lessons from decades of leadership at the helm of one of the country’s most successful family-owned businesses.
With deep expertise in marketing and governance, Glenn will explore how Coopers has maintained its independence and values while navigating market shifts, generational change, and growth. He’ll share insights into building a brand that resonates across generations, managing the delicate balance between family and business, and implementing governance structures that support both continuity and innovation.
Whether you're a next-gen leader or a long-standing family business owner, Glenn’s storytelling and experience offer practical strategies and inspiration for sustaining success in a competitive and ever-changing landscape.
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Session 2: (TBC)
Session 3: Next Gen Voices: Inheriting Legacy, Shaping the Future
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Josh Kerfoot |
Bruce Cousins Director, Pilecom |
Stepping into ownership of a family enterprise you didn’t build—but are now entrusted to lead—is a complex and deeply personal journey. In this candid session, a group of next-generation leaders will share what it’s really like to inherit not just a business, but a legacy.
We’ll explore the emotional and practical realities of taking the reins: from grappling with the "gift" of wealth and responsibility, to redefining success beyond net worth—towards net impact and purpose. Together, we’ll unpack how to honour the values of past generations while finding the courage to evolve them, what it takes to lead authentically, and how to navigate the delicate shift when the older generation begins to step back.
This is a conversation about ownership, identity, and the future of family enterprise—told through the eyes of those who are shaping it now.
Session 4: Tales of the Pacific: Not Always Smooth Sailing
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Allison Haworth |
In this compelling and deeply personal session, Allison Haworth shares the remarkable story of her family’s iconic business—Captain Cook Cruises—and the many tides of change she and the family have navigated over the years.
Rejoining the family run enterprise after returning from Hong Kong, Allison reflects on the highs and lows of working within a multi-generational business. She’ll take us behind the scenes of complex family dynamics, the challenges of navigating change, and the emotional journey of succession planning—including the eventual sale of the business during her parents’ declining health.
With insight and candour, Allison will also speak about the continuation of Captain Cook Cruises Fiji—now under her direction—as she and her siblings faced the impacts of their father’s passing, generational transition, and the upheaval of COVID-19. Now through the post COVID phase in Fiji, Allison will share insights of the journey of the business through technological, operational, and sustainability-focused change, while holding onto the values and legacy at the heart of the family’s story.
This session offers invaluable lessons on resilience, reinvention, and leadership in the face of personal and professional transformation.
Program Outline
Please note: Program is subject to change.
Networking Drinks
Networking drinks will round off the celebrations, so we hope you will stay for this wonderful opportunity to connect with other members.
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Conference and Family Business Excellence Award Lunch Registration
Registration includes the seated two-course lunch, afternoon tea and post-event networking drinks and canapes.
Early bird pricing ends on Thursday 18 September.
* Prices include GST.
Venue
The Conservatory Marquee boasts stunning trackside views and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, creating a sophisticated and inviting atmosphere.
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Please contact our office on 1800 249 357 or at events@familybusiness.org.au if you have any questions or require assistance with your registration.
For information regarding cancellation and substitutions, please click here.
