Society information

The Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand Ltd (SEAANZ) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to the advancement, development and understanding of small enterprise within Australia and New Zealand. Founded in Sydney in 1987, SEAANZ is dedicated to research, policy development and the dissemination of ideas relating to entrepreneurship and small business management for the small to medium enterprise (SME) sector within the Australasian region.

The New Zealand chapter of SEAANZ was formed in 1991 and incorporated in 1994. Our journal, Small Enterprise Research, commenced publication in 1992. It remains today the only dedicated small business journal in the Australasian region.

SEAANZ became an affiliate member of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) in 1992. Established in 1955, the ICSB was the first international organisation dedicated to the promotion, growth and development of small businesses at the global level. The ICSB draws together a wide cross-section of academic researcher, educators, policy makers and practitioners, who specialise in the field of SMEs.

In 2013 SEAANZ became a member of the Asia Council for Small Business (ACSB). Established in 2013, the ACSB is a regional council of affiliates of the ICSB. It includes ICSB Korea, ICSB China, ICSB Taiwan, ICSB Singapore and SEAANZ.

Vision

The vision of SEAANZ is to be recognised as the most respected source of knowledge and information on small enterprise research, policy and practice in Australia and New Zealand.

Mission

The mission of SEAANZ is to serve as a hub and connection point for communities of practice across Australia and New Zealand that are engaged in research, education and training, support, policy and practice in the field of small enterprise.

Objectives

The objectives of the Association as taken from the SEAANZ Constitution are to advance the development and understanding of small enterprise by:

• Furthering the development of scholarship, education and research in small enterprise and enterprise management, including encouraging the application of research findings;
• Identifying and developing proposals for programs to meet small enterprise needs;
• Communicating and disseminating ideas and information on small enterprise and promoting their discussion by the holding of conferences, publishing material and other appropriate means;
• Liaising, including affiliating, with other associations or bodies with similar objectives;
• Making representations and/or providing commentaries to Government or to other bodies on any matter relevant to the Association; and
• Doing all such other things as are conducive or incidental to the attainment of any of the above objectives.