Family Business Association proudly presents the Family Business Insights State Conference hosted in Victoria on Thursday, 9 October 2025.
Immerse yourself in this half-day premier event as you connect, share and grow with your Victorian and Tasmanian 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.
Meet the Speakers
MC - Tony McManus
Host "Australia Overnight" at 3AW Melbourne
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| Glenn Cooper AM Former Chair, Coopers Brewery |
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: Dangerous Discussions
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| Patrycja Slawuta Founder, Unlab |
Join world-renowned behavioural scientist Patrycja Slawuta as she guides us through the art of restoring love and affinity in conversations that matter most. Drawing on over a decade of scientific research combined with expertise in hypnosis, NLP, and mindfulness, Patrycja will share practical insights into breaking down shame, guilt, and limiting beliefs that hold us back.
Discover how embracing these “dangerous discussions” can transform your family dynamics and unlock new levels of trust and connection.
Session 3: Next Gen Voices: Inheriting Legacy, Shaping the Future
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| Amanda Greer General Manager Business Development Stainless Steel Wire & Mesh |
Lea Boyce, |
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.
Facilitated by Lea Boyce, this is a conversation about ownership, identity, and the future of family enterprise—told through the eyes of those who are shaping it now.
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Session 4: Beyond Bloodlines: Navigating Leadership as a Non-Family Executive
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| Rexine Jones CFO and CIO Hansen Yuncken |
As family businesses grow and evolve, there often comes a time when bringing in non-family executives becomes essential to access the skills, objectivity, and external perspectives needed to support long-term success. These leaders can play a crucial role in driving innovation, enhancing governance, and supporting succession planning—while navigating the unique dynamics of family ownership.
In this session, Rexine Jones, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer at Hansen Yuncken, will share her experience as a senior non-family executive within one of Australia's largest and most respected family-owned construction companies.
With a career spanning the construction, engineering, and transportation sectors, Rexine has held senior roles at Aurecon, Bombardier Transportation, and BOC. She began her career at Qantas in 1992, where she negotiated industrial agreements across Australia’s airports. Since joining Hansen Yuncken in 2021, she has been instrumental in shaping the company’s financial strategy and leading its digital transformation.
Hansen Yuncken is one of Australia's leading privately owned construction companies, established in 1918. With over a century of experience, the company is renowned for delivering major commercial, industrial, health, education, and infrastructure projects across the country.
Drawing on her extensive leadership journey, Rexine will offer insights into what makes a successful non-family executive, how to build trust and alignment with family business owners, and the importance of values-driven leadership in a legacy business.
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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 28 August.
* Prices include GST.
Venue
Q Events provides a warm and inviting function space on Queen Street, surrounded by the vibrant energy, iconic laneways and historic charm of Melbourne's CBD.
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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.
