Southern Gold Coast
Chamber of Commerce

A casual morning bringing together business owners, local councillors, state and federal representatives over coffee and pastries.

Whether you’re looking to expand your professional circle, celebrate the year’s successes, or simply enjoy great craft beer in good company, this event is the perfect way to wrap up the year.

Dress in your holiday best or come as you are – just bring your business cards and good cheer. Let’s toast to new connections and a successful year ahead!

Running a small business in 2026 is genuinely tough.
Fuel costs are squeezing your margins. Payday super lands on 1 July. ATO debt is a reality for more businesses than anyone is talking about publicly. Supply chains remain under pressure and finding and keeping good people has never been harder.
You don’t need another event that simply acknowledges the problem. You need one that actually helps.
That’s exactly what Winning Work is.
Presented by the Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce in partnership with RDA Gold Coast, this relaxed seated luncheon brings together senior government representatives, industry specialists and funding bodies in one room, on one afternoon, over a genuinely good lunch at one of the Southern Gold Coast’s most beautiful venues.

The Panel
A focused, conversational panel featuring senior specialists and elected representatives tackling the issues hitting Southern Gold Coast businesses hardest right now, including fuel supply and cost pressures, workforce relations and employment regulations, ATO obligations and payday super readiness, procurement and tendering opportunities, and small business grants and funding.
No jargon. Just practical, honest answers to the questions you are actually asking.

The Activation Tables | Your Grant Hub
This is where the afternoon gets genuinely valuable.
A curated series of activation tables gives you rare, direct, face to face access to the government agencies, funding bodies and specialist advisors that can make a real difference to your business. Think of it as a Grant Hub where you can sit down, ask the hard questions and walk away with contacts, resources and next steps you can act on immediately.
Tables will cover areas including small business support programs, grants and funding opportunities, state and federal government programs, procurement and tendering, energy costs and sustainability, export advice and funding, training and workforce development, and regional investment and business growth support.
These are conversations that would normally take weeks to arrange. On 22 May, they are all in the room with you.

Who Should Attend
If you own or lead a small or medium business on the Southern Gold Coast and you are feeling the pressure of the current environment, this afternoon is for you. Whether you are chasing funding, navigating ATO obligations, preparing your business for payday super, trying to hold onto your team or simply wanting to know what support is actually available right now, Winning Work is built to give you real answers and connections you can use immediately.
Open to Chamber members and the broader SME community. Everyone is welcome.

Tickets are opening soon so save the date so you don’t miss out!

The Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce is excited to present the 2026 Masterclass Series, a collaborative offering in conjunction with Southern Cross University, designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of our members. This series aims to address the key challenges faced by businesses today and provide practical solutions through expert-led sessions.

Program Overview:

There will be 4 sessions held on campus at Southern Cross University, with networking opportunities at the start of each session to foster connections among participants.

These free sessions are open to all Chamber members and their teams and will be delivered on campus at SCU, with time built in for connection and shared learning.

Session Details:

Session 3 | Wednesday 3 June 2026
Smart Moves in Tough Times: Strategies for Stability Amid Economic Change

Global uncertainty is increasingly shaping how businesses plan, invest, and manage risk. This session offers practical, evidence‑based insights from policy, markets, and the energy transition to support confident decision‑making in business.

Dr Shahzad Alvi is a Teaching Associate and researcher at Southern Cross University with a strong focus on the practical side of innovation, economic development, and the energy transition. His work sits at the intersection of policy, markets, and real-world implementation, with a particular interest in how economies transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy systems.
Alongside his academic role, Shahzad is a Senior Consultant at Synergies Economic Consulting Pty Ltd, where he works on renewable energy systems and energy-related economic analysis. In this role, he supports industry, government, and other stakeholders with evidence-based insights that inform investment decisions, policy development, and long-term strategy.
Shahzad has published extensively in leading international journals, with more than 30 peer-reviewed articles across energy economics, sustainability, cities, and environmental assessment. His work addresses practical challenges, including reducing carbon emissions, financing the energy transition, adapting to climate change, and supporting sustainable economic growth.

NOTE: Members please login to reserve tickets