Alan Kohler and Sally Auld to speak at Northern Rivers economic breakfast

BY TIMES NEWS GROUP

BUSINESS NSW will bring two of Australia’s leading economic commentators to Ballina next month for its fourth annual Northern Rivers Economic Breakfast.

Financial journalist Alan Kohler and NAB chief economist Sally Auld will headline the event on March 19 at the Ballina RSL Club.

Business NSW Northern Rivers regional director Jane Laverty said the breakfast is designed to translate national economic conditions

into what they mean for businesses in the region.

“Alan Kohler and Sally Auld bring an authoritative national perspective that business leaders trust, and in today’s world trust in knowledge shared is an imperative,” Mrs Laverty said.

“It is also equally important to understand how those forces play out on the ground in regional communities like the Northern Rivers particularly through workforce, health and business conditions.”

Auld will open the program with an outlook on inflation, interest rates and business confidence.

Kohler will examine broader structural challenges including housing, productivity, artificial intelligence, climate change and policy settings.

Luke Elias, director of Healthy North Coast, will present regional health data and its implications for

workforce participation and long-term planning.

The program will conclude with Business NSW head of economics and policy Nathan Wallwork presenting findings from the organisation’s first quarter business conditions survey.

Mrs Laverty said combining national economic analysis with regional data provides clearer guidance for local businesses.

“By layering national economic insight with regional data and lived business experience, this breakfast provides a clearer picture of where our economy and economic environment is heading and what regional businesses need to prepare for,” she said.

The event will run from 6.45am to 9.30am on Thursday, March 19 at the Ballina RSL Club auditorium.

Tickets cost $85 for members and $95 for non-members, with registrations required.