GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
Looking to start your own biz or take your existing one to the next level? With over 200 events presented by more than 70 event partners, October Business Month (OBM), has got you sorted.
WORDS RITA HORANYI
SMALL TO MEDIUM sized local businesses are often about more than just turning a profit. Frequently the backbone of their communities, they respond to the needs of locals and bring people together, all while keeping the economy ticking along.
For those starting out or trying to grow their company, navigating the complexities of running a business while meeting its demands can be challenging. Cue October Business Month – your chance to connect, network, learn, and soak up advice on almost any aspect of business management.
Peter McMillan is the Principal of Arafura Data, a Darwin-based company that helps businesses connect their data to stories and insights. He attended OBM in 2024, prior to starting his new venture, and found it invaluable.
“I got massive value out of OBM – attending informative sessions, engaging with presenters, and networking with other attendees ... It was an incredible opportunity for me to learn how to be successful in business ... I was hugely impressed by the range of sessions, breadth of topics, and quality of presenters.”
With a bumper program spanning from Alice Springs to Arnhem Land, OBM 2025 is informative and inspirational, and explores the theme ‘Playing to Our Strengths.’ Three key sub-themes focus on digitalisation, workforce, and resilience.
Exciting highlights in the program include special events with two stellar keynote speakers – Carolyn Creswell, founder of the hugely successful Carmen’s Kitchen, and Simon Griffiths, CO-Founder and CEO of Who Gives a Crap, a profit-for-purpose company that donates 50% of profits to build toilets in the developing world.
Creswell speaks at two inspiring events in Darwin and Alice Springs, sharing her journey of how she took Carmen’s Kitchen from a $1,000 muesli company to a global brand. She says success ultimately boils down to resilience.
“I won Telstra Business Woman of the Year in 2012, but I entered it for 16 years in a row. I try to say to people ... you’ve just got to keep plugging away and keep at it, keep persevering.”
In addition to connecting into the theme of resilience, Creswell is also set to discuss one of her big new interests – Artificial Intelligence.
“I’ll talk about how I personally use it and how I think it’s going to transform all of our work in such a positive way.”
With local Territory Success Stories also sharing their inspiring journeys at keynote speaker events, this year's OBM offers a bounty of opportunities to help you reach success.
October Business Month
WHEN WED 1 OCT – FRI 31 OCT
INFO obm.nt.gov.au
