The new role is an extension of the Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant and program, delivered by the Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) and the Brisbane Business Hub (BBH), with Mrs Madden tasked with supercharging the program’s impact and leveraging the expertise of women in business beyond grant recipients and alumni to empower Brisbane’s entire business community.

A respected entrepreneur and mentor, Mrs Madden will lead a dynamic calendar of mentoring, learning and networking opportunities, featuring the city’s most experienced and connected women business leaders and entrepreneurs, and open to all.

Every session in the series will feature women business leaders and entrepreneurs as mentors, speakers, and facilitators, sharing their expertise to help build business growth and impact.

The program kicks off on Tuesday, 18 November with an expert mentoring session, featuring Mrs Madden, along with Katie Martel, Founder and Director of Croft PR, Olivia Muir, Brand Consultant and Strategist at Olivia Muir and Sharon Phillips, Founder and Managing Director of Sales 2 Success.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner welcomed Mrs Madden’s appointment as another example of the city’s commitment to backing local business.

“Brisbane is proud to be Australia’s most small-business-friendly city, with programs that help entrepreneurs grow, invest and succeed,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Fleur has earned a reputation in Brisbane's business community as a confident leader who lifts others up and helps them achieve their goals.

“Through this appointment, we hope to connect even more women with peers and mentors and help even more people turn great ideas into thriving businesses that help power our city’s economy.”

Entrepreneur Fleur Madden, Brisbane's inaugural Women in Business Champion said she was proud to support the Lord Mayor and BEDA in making Brisbane the best place in Australia for women to start and scale businesses.

"Having been in business myself for 23 years in Brisbane I truly understand the unique challenges women in business in our city face and I am committed to laying new foundations for success, as well as introducing programs that eliminate barriers, build community and open doors." Mrs Madden said.

"Brisbane is filled with capable, smart and ambitious businesswomen and I am thrilled to officially champion them on their journey and provide opportunities for them to accelerate, connect and grow."

To find out more or book a place in the first Women in Business Champion mentor sessions on Tuesday,18 November – open to all Brisbane business owners and professionals – visit https://businesshub.brisbane.qld.au.