It's time to get ambitious and get to know Woden

An initiative of the ACT Government, the Woden Business Showcase invites you to discover some of the amazing businesses and community organisations that make the Woden Valley a wonderful place to work, shop and live.

Friday 4th October: Free Workshops

Where: Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden

9:00 am – 10:30 am

Kicking off this free two-day event is the Festival of Ambitious Ideas on Friday, 4 October.

This popular event is presented by Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre and highlights Woden’s strengths as a health and community services hub. It provides a snapshot of some of the inspiring CEOs, founders, inventors and innovators working on interesting projects in the area.

The Festival of Ambitious Ideas follows the Ignite format where 13 speakers have only five minutes each to present their ideas and ‘ignite’ the audience.

Fast-paced and fun, in a little over an hour, the audience is treated to a range of different ideas and perspectives. From presenters challenging us to think about how we keep sick kids connected, to improving the lives of those with mental illnesses and considering #Whatif? What if an exoskeleton designed for NASA had applications for health and wellbeing here in Canberra? What if VR or AR gaming tools, re-engineered for use in nuclear power plants and city-wide utilities designs, could be used to design the next generation of patient services at Canberra Hospital?

11:00 am – 12:30 pm

From inspiration to action, the next offering in the jam-packed program is focused on the Woden business community. Putting Innovation in Business under the microscope, this workshop will explore practical techniques to evolve your business cost-effectively and efficiently, no matter whether you are just starting out, have a growing side-hustle or have been in business for a number of years.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

The Women in Business lunchtime networking event looks at the importance of resilience, building a strong support network and taking time out for yourself. It’s a great opportunity to rejuvenate, connect with other women and renew your sense of purpose.

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

The final event on Friday, 4 October is a Panel of Experts delivered by the Canberra Business Chamber exploring some of the top challenges and opportunities facing businesses in the Capital Region.

Dr Michael Schaper, CEO of the Canberra Business Chamber and former Deputy Chair at the ACCC and the ACT Small Business Commissioner, has a long track record in working, advising and advocating for business in the capital region and at the national level. He is joined by Graham Baxter, the CEO of the Southern Region Business Enterprise Centre, and Renessa Gray, Workplace Relations Manager at the Chamber.

Saturday 5th October: Community Picnic

Where: #WodenExperiment, Woden Town Square

On Saturday, 5 October between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm the Woden Business Showcase, in conjunction with Floriade in the Suburbs, will be hosting a Community Picnic at the #WodenExperiment, in the transformed Woden Town Square. This playful space with its sun lounges, table tennis table and children’s nature play areas will be a colourful mix of market stalls, music and performances, as well as art and craft workshops suitable for all ages. Bring the family and be surprised and delighted as you explore some of the small businesses and community organisations in the area, like Woden Community Services, that you might not have known about.

Help us celebrate spring and come and experience a small taste of what Woden has to offer.

Find more information visit Woden Business News. This is a free event suitable for all ages.