Anne Nalder – CEO and Founder

I have been actively involved in business since 1991, a journey I continue to find immensely rewarding. As an entrepreneur, I value the independence to make strategic decisions, foster creativity, and shape my own direction.

My greatest passion lies in my work with the Small Business Association of Australia, which I founded in 2010 and officially launched in 2011. As Founder and CEO, I am committed to being a genuine voice for small business, reducing the rate of business failure, and promoting world class best practices.

My career spans both employment and entrepreneurship, and I consider myself fortunate to have held roles driven by passion rather than necessity. As an employee, I served in the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF) and worked in broadcast media with Channel 6 Mackay and Channel 7 Rockhampton. I later spent a decade with Trans Australia Airlines (now merged with Qantas), where I discovered my passion for event coordination and management.

During my time in the airline industry, I was involved in organising and delivering major events, including concerts featuring international artists such as Kiss, Elton John, and Fleetwood Mac, as well as productions like the Australian Ballet and numerous golf tours.

In 1991, I began my entrepreneurial journey with a business focused on the Japanese market, later transitioning into my own event management company, an area that remains a core passion. My work has encompassed all aspects of event management, from concept development through to execution.

I have also held significant leadership roles, including becoming the first female President of The Southport School Foundation and the first female Chair of its Board of Management. During my tenure, I contributed to the expansion of the TSS breakfast program, introduced three merit based half scholarships for preparatory students to support their senior education, and oversaw the planning and completion of the Centenary Centre, a multi million dollar, multi purpose indoor and outdoor sporting facility.

Throughout my career, I have contributed to numerous committees, boards, and advisory roles. Most recently, these include:

– Committee member of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner’s Small Business Industry Roundtable
– Committee member of The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASFBEO) Advocacy Group
– Committee member of ASIC’s Registry Business Advisory Group
– Committee member of Marinus Link’s Consumer Advisory Panel
– Past Committee member of Energy Queensland’s Network Pricing Working Group
– Past President of The Southport School Foundation and Past Chair of The Southport School Foundation Board of Management