Eddie Griffith (pictured), chair of the Affiliation for Business Resilience and Turnaround (ABRT) and managing partner of AdvIQ, has been named the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia's (COSBOA) 2026 National Small Business Champion.
The award was presented at the COSBOA National Small Business Summit Gala Dinner, recognising individuals or organisations that have made a significant contribution to the success, sustainability and wellbeing of Australia's small business sector.
Griffith has spent more than 25 years working to improve outcomes for small businesses in financial distress, promoting a business rescue model focused on early intervention and long-term viability rather than defaulting to insolvency.
Through ABRT, a COSBOA member organisation, he has worked alongside COSBOA and other peak bodies on policy issues spanning Payday Super, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing reforms, and small business tax protections. His advocacy has also fed into regulatory action against operators targeting vulnerable small businesses, lending weight to broader industry discussion around business resilience.
Beyond policy work, Griffith's leadership has also had a direct impact on business owners' wellbeing: under his leadership, ABRT has become Beyond Blue's highest-referring organisation to the NewAccess for Small Business Owners program, underscoring the link between financial pressure and mental health outcomes for business owners and helping ensure support is available before a crisis point is reached.
COSBOA chief executive Skye Cappuccio said Griffith's work had reframed how the sector approaches financial hardship.
"His work has helped shift the conversation from business failure to business rescue. He has been a strong advocate for early intervention, practical support and better policy outcomes, while recognising that the wellbeing of business owners is fundamental to the success of their businesses," Cappuccio said.
Accepting the award, Griffith credited the broader network of organisations supporting small business owners through difficult periods.
"Small business owners are some of the most resilient people in our country, but resilience should never mean facing every challenge alone. Seeking help early can make all the difference," he said.
Griffith added: "I am proud that through ABRT, our work alongside COSBOA and many other organisations, we have been able to help more viable businesses recover, protect livelihoods, and support the wellbeing of the people behind those businesses."
COSBOA said this year's nominations reflected the strength and breadth of individuals and organisations working to support small business owners nationally.
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Photo by Jodi Weisz/Event Photos Australia.
