 Barbara has supported
the ‘tiny’ end of small business since 1995 when she coined the
word ‘Micro’ and defined it as employing 5 or less. She founded the
Micro Business Network (MBN) with 12 members and grew the
association to nearly 20,000.
(Left)
Bruce Bilson launching a new web site for the Micro sector with
Barbara and web designers
In 2007
Barbara founded Home Based Business Australia (HBBA)
www.hbba.biz and Marketing
Communications Executives International (MCEI) www.mcei.org.au Barbara has sought the
support of celebrities and politicians to support the work she does
with the Micro and HBB sector of the community.
YOUTH
 Barbara was a dedicated
secondary Art teacher for over 20 years. She was renowned for
running lunch time workshops where she encouraged students to
further their creative interests by treating them as ‘fellow
artists’. Barbara has developed
Biz-in-a-Box with the support of the Victorian Government and the
Telematics Trust, to encourage students to develop their own micro
businesses as an alternative career path. It is now available to
start up businesses and has proven to be very
successful.|
(Above)
The Victorian Minister for Small Business, the Hon Louise Asher
(centre) with Barbara, Mentone Grammar head staff and VCTA
representative at the launch of Biz-in-a-Box
Barbara
toured rural Victoria to present her business workshops and
seminars; such townships as Wangaratta, Shepparton, Bendigo,
Ballarat, Geelong and Ararat have all experienced her unique
methods of presentation, where she ‘talks the language of the
ordinary people’.
 Barbara instigated the
Australian Micro Business Awards to recognise and reward the sector
for their achievements. She also instigated the MCEI Marketing
Awards where businesses of all sizes can be rewarded for their
marketing strategies.
(Left)
Jodie Ensor of Mud Drum with Peter O'Connor and John Kirkhope with
her trophy and prize as the 'Australian Marketer of the
Year'
ASSOCIATIONS
 Barbara, together with
Jack Wu, established the Marketing Communications Executive
International Association to offer an International network to the
small business sector in Australia. In their second year, Barbara
and Jack went to Tokyo and put forward a bid to host the bi-annual
World Congress in Melbourne. They won the bid and had 95 businesses
from Geneva, Brussels, Osaka, Nagoya and Taipei spend a week in
Melbourne attending a number of business events
(Above)
International Presidents of MCEI from Osaka, Brussels, Geneva,
Tokyo and Australia at the Tokyo World Congress
|
