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MARK FERNANDEZ
Certified Franchise Executive CEO, FranchisingWA

From Our CEO…

We are excited to announce the FranchisingWA Australian Franchise Conference 2023 will be held on Wednesday 13th September 2023 in sunny Perth, Western Australia.

Our theme this year is ‘Franchising Renaissance’.The French word, Renaissance, means Rebirth. Drawing inspiration from this pivotal time in history, we will explore the future of Franchising in this new era of rebirth.

We will discover how to ‘Connect. Grow. and Reset.’, embracing where You may be on this journey in building a more sustainable franchise business.

Is it time to connect or re-connect with the people around us? After all, our people are the most important ingredient in our business that enables us to grow.

How do businesses reset in the midst of so much change? Does today’s version of success look different than before? What are successful brands doing to re-build their system and become top of their sector?

Following the conference, we will be hosting our FranchisingWA Gala Awards Night. The Gala Awards Night is a culmination of our 2023 Industry Awards wherein we will announce the winners and celebrate their success over a 2-course meal, live music and dancing.

Let’s share this journey through the FranchisingWA Australian Franchise Conference 2023 and Gala Awards Night to each take home gems of information and recognise outstanding achievement for those in the WA franchising community.

We have a fantastic program aimed at not only educating but networking with the Australian Franchising Community.

I look forward to catching up with you there!!



Mark Fernandez
Certified Franchise Executive
CEO, FranchisingWA

Conference Speakers

Dean McAskil

Dean has nearly 30 years’ experience in shopping centre and retail property management, marketing and the leasing industry in Western Australia and Australia.

Starting as an onsite hands-on Shopping Centre Manager, by the year 2000 Dean was the Director Retail Property Services for Knight Frank, responsible for the management, marketing and leasing of what was the largest shopping centre portfolio that has possibly ever existed in Western Australia. This role included regional and sub-regional shopping centres such as Lakeside Joondalup, Belmont Forum and Midland Gate, as well as more than 30 neighbourhood convenience centres. Dean was responsible for reporting to large corporate institutional owners, as well as many private investors. In that position he managed more than 50 professional staff and approximately 100 technical and contract staff, this often included more than 10 direct reports.

At the beginning of the 2000’s Dean started his own consultancy practice providing advice to retail property users, including major brands like RAC, Zamels Jewellers and Price Attack. He stopped counting long ago, but Dean estimates in his career he has administered, negotiated or documented in excess of 3,000 retail leases.

This unparalleled depth of market experience, from representing the small retailer at the coal face to asset management of major retail properties, gives Dean an extraordinary perspective of every aspect of the retail leasing transaction, making his advice invaluable

Dean McAskil

Dean McAskil

Retail Property Consultant BDA Expense Reduction Analysts
Mick Keogh

Mick Keogh was appointed to the ACCC in February 2016, and then as Deputy Chair of the ACCC in 2018, with responsibility for Small Business and Agriculture.

Mick’s role at the ACCC includes involvement in a range of committees including the Competition Exemptions, Enforcement, Compliance and Product Safety, Mergers Review and Electricity Markets Board, as well as oversight of the small business, franchising and agriculture units of the ACCC.

Mick has a long and diverse history of involvement with the small business and agriculture sector, including periods of employment as a business consultant, and in advocacy and advisory roles to policymakers and governments. He has also chaired a number of Commonwealth Government inquiries and Ministerial advisory boards. He is currently a member of the Commonwealth Government’s Emission Reduction Assurance Council, and a Board member of the Food Agility Co-operative Research Centre.

From 2003 to 2018, he was Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute, an independent policy research institute that conducted research into strategic policy issues of importance to Australian agriculture and regional Australia. Mick continued in that role until his appointment as Deputy Chair of the ACCC in June 2018.

Mick was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2015. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science, both obtained at the University of New South Wales, and a Doctor of Applied Science (honoris causa) from Charles
Mick Keogh

Mick Keogh

Deputy Chair - Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Expense Reduction Analysts
Mark Fernandez

Mark is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and brings over 25 years of senior management experience in franchising and strategic thinking to our team and to your business. This valuable experience ranges across many business models including multi-international companies and local Western Australian systems. Mark has been influential across a number of key industry sectors, including Retail, Manufacturing, Transportation, Childcare, Shipping and Hospitality.

As a growth strategist, Mark specialises in delivering solutions that perhaps haven’t been considered or given enough attention. He brings clarity in determining the way forward and as a natural problem solver he takes a keen interest in teaching clients how to focus on solutions rather than getting caught up in the many day to day challenges that they face. His passion lies in instilling a strong culture of best practice and service excellence with all his clients and stakeholders.

Mark is a Lean and 6 Sigma Practitioner and an Accredited Consultant/Facilitator of DISC Advanced Psychometrics. Mark is a Keynote speaker, MC, Motivational Presenter and Panel Facilitator. He has presented at industry / corporate conferences and various expos and aims to not only educate through speech but to entertain as well. Currently I am a Committee Member of the ACCC Small Business and Franchising Consultative Committee.

In summary, Mark brings many valuable lessons and skills to the table – all of which are available to assist you to grow and improve your organisation’s leadership and profitability.

Mark Fernandez

Mark Fernandez

Certified Franchise Executive CEO – FranchisingWA Expense Reduction Analysts

FranchisingWA Australian Franchise Conference Program

  • Wednesday

    13 September 2023

Welcome:

11am - 12pm

Registration


12pm

Entrée Served


12pm - 12.10pm

MC – Welcome and Conference Open Mark Fernandez CFE, CEO, FranchisingWA


12.10pm – 12.15pm

Event Sponsor Address


12.15pm – 12:40pm

Keynote Speaker :
Carlos Antonius, CEO – Chatime


Session Title: 'Relevancy of the franchise model during economic turbulence'

Session Description: “How is the Franchise Model relevant in this current economic outlook? What does the future look like for Franchising? Carlos will be exploring these questions, drawing from his industry experience as CEO of Chatime. This is a whirlwind keystone event, not to be missed.”


Session 2:

1.25pm – 1.50pm

Keynote Speaker :
Mick Keogh, Dept Chair –
ACCC - ‘Franchise Sector Update’


Session Title: 'Franchise Sector Update'

Session Description: 'Mick will give an update on current issues in the Franchising Sector.'



1:50pm – 2:15pm

Keynote Speaker :
Nikki Richardson,
Director of Franchise Operations APAC –
Guzman y Gomez –
‘On the Couch with Fernandez’


Session Title: ‘On the Couch with Fernandez’

Session Description: ‘In this we will walk through some of the key challenges that we have faced and how we have ‘pivoted’ the business plan to be sustainable’



2.15pm – 2.20pm

WAWIF

WA Women in Franchising -
Carolyn Meighan, Special Counsel -
HHG Legal Group


Session Title: 'Hear from WAWiF For Franchising WA Women in Franchising'

Session Description: ‘In this session, hear from the WA Women in Franchising (WAWiF) Committee. This is a support network to enhance business skills and create stronger family relationships in women in franchising roles with WA.’


2.20pm – 2.35pm

Refreshments Break (15 min) – Afternoon Tea


2.35pm – 3.00pm

Keynote Speaker :
Dean McAskil
Retail Property Consultant BDA
‘Commercial Property: Where are we at?’


Session Title: ‘Commercial Property: Where are we at?

Session Description: I will update the WA market conditions for commercial retail property, it’s not always about rent.



3.00pm – 3.30pm

Franchisor Panel –
“FAC’s - Why have them?”

Carlos Antonius, CEO – Chatime

Nikki Richardson, Director of Franchise Operations APAC – Guzman y Gomez


Session Title: FAC’s (Franchise Advisory Councils) Why Have them?

Session Description: We will explore the use of having FAC’s and how to get the best out of the group. We often don’t use them very well. Ask our panellist why they believe in them so much and what’s the longer term value to the brand.



3.30pm – 3.55pm

Expert Franchising Panel – ‘Ask the Experts’
Joe Lazzara, Partner – Thomson Geer Law, John Dorazio,
Director – SW Accountants & Advisors, Chris White,
Finance Specialist – BDA Capital, Dean McAskil,
Retail Property Consultant – BDA


Session Title: ‘Ask the Experts’

Session Description: 'Bring your questions for our panel of franchise experts from the Law, Finance and Accounting Industries who have worked with franchises for years.'



3.55pm – 4.20pm

Keynote Speaker :
Diane Wilcox,
CEO and founder -
The charity The Magic Coat Foundation -
‘Overcoming Obstacles and Exhaustion to Make A Difference’ -


Session Title: ‘Overcoming Obstacles and Exhaustion to Make A Difference’

Session Description: Everyone has their own obstacles to overcome, and everyone is on their own journey but what does it take to push through and become someone that can truly make a difference?

Di Wilcox will share her story and the strategies she effectively used to turn a simple idea into a charity that is helping thousands of children and their families here in Western Australia and around the world.



4.20pm – 4.30pm

MF to close Conference -
Door Prizes and Conference Wrap Up


Conference Close:

4.30pm - 5.30pm

Networking Cocktail Function

Gala Awards Night

6.30pm - 12.00am

Celebrate the winners of the FranchisingWA Industry Awards

Session Info

Speaker Company Logo Session Title Session Description Session Time

Mick Keogh, Deputy Chair - Australian Competition & Consumer Commission

Franchise Sector Update

Title:

Franchise Sector Update


Description:

Mick will give an update on current issues in the Franchising Sector.

1:25pm-1:50pm

Nikki Richardson Director of Franchise Operations APAC – Guzman y Gomez

“On the Couch with Fernandez"

Title:

“An energetic, commercially motivated executive with extensive credentials...


Description:

‘In this we will walk through some of the key challenges that we have faced and how we have ‘pivoted’ the business plan to be sustainable’.

1:50pm-2:15pm

CEO and founder, The charity The Magic Coat Foundation - Diane Wilcox

‘Overcoming Obstacles and Exhaustion to Make A Difference’

Title:

‘Overcoming Obstacles and Exhaustion to Make A Difference’


Description:

'Everyone has their own obstacles to overcome, and everyone is on their own journey but what does it take to push through and become someone that can truly make a difference?''

Di Wilcox will share her story and the strategies she effectively used to turn a simple idea into a charity that is helping thousands of children and their families here in Western Australia and around the world.

2:35pm-3:00pm

Carlos Antonius - CEO, Chatime

“Relevancy of the Franchise Model during Economic Turbulence"

Title:

“An energetic, commercially motivated executive with extensive credentials...


Description:

“How is the Franchise Model relevant in this current economic outlook? What does the future look like for Franchising? Carlos will be exploring these questions, drawing from his industry experience as CEO of Chatime. This is a whirlwind keystone event, not to be missed.”

3.55pm – 4.20pm

Our Sponsors

For Conference Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact us at admin@franchisingwa.com.au or call us direct on on 08 9228 9812

Terms and Conditions

Full refunds are available 20 days prior to the event. A refund valued at 50% of the ticket price can be issued 10 days prior to the event. Any notice less than 10 days will result in no refund for cancellation.

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