FORMER Minister for Small Business Bruce Billson has been appointed the new API Independent Chair, succeeding Tyrone Hodge.
Billson was appointed independent director in April this year.
He is a current member of the ACCC’s Small Business and Franchise Advisory Committee and was the Executive Chairman/Independent Director of the Franchise Council of Australia from 2016-2018. He retired as an undefeated seven-term member of the Australian House of Representatives in 2016, including as Minister for Small Business between September 2013 to September 2015.
API CEO Amelia Hodge said: ”Bruce’s extensive experience in government, franchise models, banking and small business innovation, combined with his background in competition policy and law reform, will contribute strongly to the continued success of the property profession in anticipating opportunities and adapting to contemporary challenges.”
Billson’s portfolio of interests include being an independent non-executive director for SME ‘challenger’ lender, Judo Bank.
He is founder and principal of policy advice/advocacy and strategic communications/ stakeholder relations firm, Agile Advisory; Special Counsel to Royce Communications; Director of Small Business & Enterprise at Deakin University’s Business School; Chair of the Deakin/IPA SME Research Centre Advisory Council and member/chair for several private business advisory committees.
Billson succeeds Tyrone Hodge, who had been API’s National President and Chair since 2015.
Hodge said Tyrone Hodge has made an extremely important and valuable contribution to API and its national agenda.
“He will continue as a director and will also continue to chair API Board subcommittees.
“Tyrone’s leadership has taken place during an exciting period of transformation and change at the API,” Ms Hodge said. “We thank Tyrone for his passion, extraordinary commitment to and deep knowledge of our API community and broader national and international property profession.”
