News & Articles

This is your opportunity to WIN a $5,000 scholarship to the Icehouse Owner Manager Programme. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply today.

National Family Business Day, Friday 19 September 2025, is just over a month away, so let's make make some noise and celebrate the family business sector! We have created a dedicated National Family Business Day website filled with resources, including social media images and videos, posters, key statistics, family business stories and even cupcake toppers. Everything you need to spread the word and celebrate.

We spoke with FBA member, Katie Lai, to learn more about her family business, her experiences as a second generation business owner and some major milestones at Golden Bakery.

Burnout is commonly experienced by Australian workers, with new Beyond Blue data finding it’s the country’s young people and parents who are most at risk.

The team at ANZ share nine ways to have more productive workplace conversations when you are in business with family.

We spoke with Margery and Erica from the Residential Lift Co. to learn more about their family business — the manufacturing company behind RESiLIFT®: Australia’s pioneering through-floor residential lift.

We spoke with the team at Blackman Recruitment to learn more about their family business, which is grounded in shared values, strong relationships and a genuine commitment to people first recruitment.

We spoke with Jane Diver behind the Diver Group to learn more about their family business, driven by a simple desire to offer reliable, high-quality plumbing and heating services to community.

We recently spoke with Signs Inc. founded by the late Terry Slattery and his wife, Diane. Their family-run business has grown with purpose, creativity, and a whole lot of passion. Today, nearly 50 years on, their daughters Breanna and Lauren lead the way, alongside the company’s first non-family CEO, and backed by a dedicated team that love what they do.

We recently spoke with Nicola from N. V. Professional Cleaners who made a life-changing decision to leave Italy and start his own business. What started as a solo venture has now become a family business, with his sister joining three years ago.

Learn more about the family behind Westview and Bestbar, delivering steel products and manufacturing solutions that support construction projects across Australia.

We spoke with Jordana Ashcroft O’Sullivan, General Manager, and the recent winner of our Emerging Leader in Family Business Award 2025, about the family business Fore Design + Flex Planning. Fore Design is a multi-disciplinary residential and commercial design practice delivering end-to-end solutions for projects spanning a diverse range of sectors, scales and applications. Flex Planning provides specialised, independent planning support toward achieving council approvals for all project sizes and types across South Australia.

We spoke to the team at Kate McLean Homecare, to learn more about the family business. Founded in 2002 by Aimee's mother-in-law, Kate, the business provides in-home care for elderly, convalescing, palliative and post-operative clients throughout Auckland.

We spoke with Wren Spence from Motor Brand Design, a second-generation family business with over 25 years in the creative industry known for our “Refreshingly Upfront” approach to building unstoppable brands, to learn more about the family business.

We spoke with Sally, Peter and Divinia Eather from Eather Group to learn more about their family business - a transport and earthmoving company based in Western Sydney that has become recognised for providing sustainable solutions to traditional construction issues

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, David Harland from FINH answers the question, "How can we ensure a smooth transition of leadership in our family business?"

We spoke with Pam Bagworth, owner of Academic Group, to learn more about the family business. Since starting in 1986, Academic Group has helped over 100,000 students and worked with many schools to enable students to achieve academic success.

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, Jonathan Coles answers the question, "How can we accelerate our business growth?"

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, Matthew Bartemucci from Hood Sweeney answers the question, "How do we create wealth outside of the family business, so the next generation doesn’t have to support us when we’re ready to exit the business?"

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, conflict management advisor, Iain Spear answers the questions, "Can family conflict be resolved / managed?", "Do you think we will ever get back to normal – just be able to have dinner together successfully?"

We spoke with Helen Kay from Rise Legal to learn more about her family business with husband, Oliver Kay - a commercial law firm specialising in business sales, franchising, and business protection.

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, Shelley and Müge answer questions around family disputes and transitioning leadership.

A powerful new partnership between business growth organisation Icehouse and Family Business Association aims to strengthen collaboration, networks and training for New Zealand’s family-owned businesses.

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, Annette Bonnett answers the question "What should we be doing to prepare the next generation to be involved in the leadership of the business?".

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, Kirstin Stewart answers "What is a family office?"

The Jackson Russell team provide a summary of the relevant parts of New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the key takeaways from the Court’s decision in this landmark conviction and sentence of former CEO.

Brad Scott, Founder and Managing Director of Australia’s first independent Multi-Family Office, EWM Group, discusses the risks involved in not preparing the next generation for the roles and responsibilities that lie ahead in a family business, and the recommended steps to take.

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, Shaun Madders answers “How much is my business worth?” “How do I sell it?”, “Who will buy it – family or someone else?”, and finally, “How much tax will I pay?”.

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, Carolyn Baker answers "How can I pay less tax?"

We spoke with Shari Westlake from Cosmostyle to learn more about their family business specialising in custom made Curtains, Blinds, Shutters and Awnings.

This International Women's Day, we are proud to celebrate the incredible women in family businesses. In this special Q&A article, we bring you the voices of nine extraordinary women in family business from various industries across Australia and New Zealand. They share their experiences, offer advice, and provide insights on how we can empower the next generation of female leaders. Their responses are powerful, offering great advice whether you are an aspiring family business leader, a woman in family business looking for some guidance, or simply interested in learning from their experiences.

Listen to FBA CEO, Catherine Sayer discussing the 2025 Family Business Barometer Survey on the Business Essentials Daily podcast, as well as sharing FBA's advocacy activities to support the family business sector.

Just released: The Family Business Barometer Report 2025 explores the evolving landscape of family businesses, highlighting their vital contribution to the global and national economy, and examining the various factors that influence family businesses' success and sustainability through generations. This latest report explores what's keeping family businesses awake at night, the factors that drive success, barriers to growth, long-term goals and government policy opportunities.

Meet Purple Giraffe, a South Australian marketing consultancy that partners with businesses to conceive, plan and implement effective marketing strategies. Established in 2014 by Lynda Schenk, an experienced marketing professional who saw a need for outsourced, flexible, and cost-effective marketing solutions that operate like an in-house marketing resource. Purple Giraffe works with you, one on one, to create marketing and sales programs that are aligned to your business objectives.

Family businesses are unique. They’re built on a foundation of legacy, relationships & shared purpose. But despite these strengths, many family businesses struggle when it comes time to hand over the reins to the next generation.

ANZ Private’s Chief Investment Office (CIO) recently released their 2025 Global Market Outlook - previewing 2025 and how the CIO is positioning investment portfolios for the period ahead. View a summary of this year’s publication.

Following an extensive review, the Law Association of New Zealand (TLANZ – formerly ADLS) released the revised Deed of Lease – Seventh Edition 2024 (Deed) and Agreement to Lease – Sixth Edition 2024 on 25 November 2024. This is the first time the form of deed of lease has undergone such an extensive review since 2012, and the revised Deed includes a number of amendments which reflect the changes in law and practice over the past 12 years.

Stewardship Asia Centre conducted a research study of 200 successful and enduring family businesses. From their survey responses they distilled the following traits of successful family businesses – Purpose, Community Awareness, Long-Term View, Trustworthiness, Adaptability, Social Responsibility and Care for Employees.

Founded in 1999, TPT Group was established by Mike Marr with his wife Terese after he left his comfortable corporate desk job to pursue a business he passionately believed in. TPT Group focuses on the growth and development of a portfolio of entities in key business sectors such as electronic security, information technology, finance & leasing, and commercial-industrial property by providing governance, strategy, systems, and capital to allow the businesses to fulfill their market potential. 25 years on, TPT Group has founded 10 new start-up businesses, acquired 15 others, and founded 2 charities.

In Ask the Advisor, we put your questions to the experts. Our FBA Family Business Accredited Advisors answer frequently asked questions from family business clients for your benefit. Responses are from trusted professionals who understand the ins and outs of family business. In this Ask the Advisor, Michael Watts answers a FAQ on ESG in family business.