More than 260 business professionals from all over the South Pacific were trained through workshops and presentations from around 35 speakers at the Seventh-day Adventist Business Professionals Convention 2019 at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, Queensland (June 4–6).
The event was organised by the South Pacific Division (SPD) with help from Risk Management Service and Avondale Business School. Participants came from various professional disciplines including administration, business managers, Information Technology representatives, accountants, human resources and more. The General Conference Leadership Department also contributed funding for the event.
The convention focus was professional development, networking and collaboration for business professionals in the church. Participants appreciated the opportunity to build connections across the division with people in similar business roles within the church.
“The Business and Professionals Convention offers an opportunity to inspire, motivate, and enable people to serve better,” said Juan Prestol, treasurer and CFO of the General Conference. “It also allows for networking and mutual support. I certainly encourage it.”
Adventist Media’s commerical manager Jean Tiran saw the convention as very beneficial. “[It was] a great opportunity to gain an understanding on how the church works in the SPD.”
SPD treasurer Rodney Brady ran a workshop called “The ambiguous church” that unpacked the nature and legal structure of the church, and why the church structure has been set up the way it has, as well as comparing biblical principles with corporate law.
Mr Tiran said the workshop helped him understand the church better as someone who has come from a commercial business into a church role.
The next convention is planned for June 2022.
