OUR PURPOSE
Why All-Cultural Business Matters
Together, our team combines expertise in business development, community engagement, innovation, and strategic partnerships — united by a commitment to creating a thriving ecosystem for multicultural businesses in Melbourne.
Economic Growth
Multicultural small businesses contribute significantly to the economy by creating jobs, fostering innovation, and stimulating local economies. Supporting these businesses can lead to broader economic growth.
Diverse Markets
These businesses often cater to niche markets with unique products and services, which can attract a diverse customer base and meet the needs of various cultural communities.
Innovation and Creativity
Multicultural businesses bring different perspectives and ideas, which can lead to innovative products and services that benefit the broader market.
Community Development
Small businesses are often at the heart of their communities. Supporting multicultural businesses helps strengthen community ties and promotes local development.
Cultural Preservation
Multicultural businesses often preserve and promote cultural traditions through their products, services, and practices. Supporting these businesses helps maintain cultural diversity and heritage.
Employment Opportunities
These businesses provide employment opportunities within their communities, often offering jobs to individuals who might face barriers in the mainstream job market.
Economic Equity
Many multicultural small business owners face systemic barriers, such as limited access to capital, resources, and networks. Providing support helps level the playing field, promoting economic equity and inclusion.
Resilience and Sustainability
Diversifying the types of businesses in an economy makes it more resilient to economic downturns. Multicultural small businesses add to this diversity and sustainability.
Social Capital
These businesses often build social capital by fostering networks and relationships within and between cultural communities, enhancing social cohesion and mutual support.
Positive Role Models
These businesses often build social capital by fostering networks and relationships within and between cultural communities, enhancing social cohesion and mutual support.
Who We Are
Our advisers have diverse and interesting backgrounds and have either owned their own small business or worked in an organisation that has had strong links to small business. We are extremely passionate about the role that small business plays in the economy and carry out their advisory work. We acknowledge that it can be difficult, lonely and at times, financially worrying to run a small business.
The ultimate goal is to deliver tangible value in every endeavor. Whether through strategic guidance, coaching, or mentorship, we ensure that our efforts translate into actionable implementation. Success for small businesses is not just a destination; it’s an ongoing journey.
If you have specific needs or goals in mind, it’s always a good idea to discuss them with the service provider to see how they can best assist you.
Have more questions in your mind?
These businesses often build social capital by fostering networks and relationships within and between cultural communities, enhancing social cohesion and mutual support.
Executive Directors
The experienced leaders guiding Oz Biz Network’s mission to empower multicultural entrepreneurs across Australia.
Ross Jennings
Founder and Managing Director, Oz Biz Network
Ross brings over 48 years of senior leadership experience across major infrastructure projects at local, state, and federal levels. As Founder and Managing Director of Oz Biz Network, he empowers small business entrepreneurs from diverse cultural backgrounds, bridging cultural gaps in commerce and helping multicultural businesses thrive across Australia. His work is guided by five core pillars: Leadership, Engagement, Integrity, Performance, and Vision.
Sally-Ann (Aikman) Lawrence FGIA
Executive director
Sally Lawrence is a governance and risk specialist who bridges the gap between legal frameworks, behavioral science, and practical boardroom realities. Her expertise centers on helping boards and executives make more effective decisions by integrating legal grounding, systems thinking, and human-centered insights that traditional governance approaches often miss.
Professional Focus Her work spans governance, risk management, and director education, where she helps organizations navigate complexity while strengthening board effectiveness. She specializes in embedding behavioral insights into decision-making processes, organizational resilience, and regulatory compliance strategies.
Andy Tran
Executive director
Andy is an Executive Leader with a proven track record across sectors including Information Technology, Construction, Government, and Services. A former refugee, he has built a remarkable career through resilience and dedication. In his role at Interscale — an industry leader in IT services specialising in construction and cybersecurity — he drives business growth while remaining deeply committed to community leadership. He serves as Secretary of SICMAA, Vice President of the Vietnamese Australian Professional Network, a member of the Regional Advisory Council at the Victorian Multicultural Commission, and a board member of AfriAus Care. A small business owner himself, Andy is also passionate about mentoring and supporting emerging entrepreneurs.
Ready to grow your business?
Join a network that understand your story. Get access to the right tools,
mentors, and community today.
Ready to grow your business?
Join a network that understand your story. Get access to the right tools,
mentors, and community today.