Matthew Addison has left the role of chair at the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), with the advocacy group to announce his replacement next month.
Addison, who became a COSBOA director in 2020 and stepped into the chair position in 2021, departs the position at the conclusion of his six-year board term.
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Speaking to SmartCompany following the transition, Addison called it a “great privilege” to serve the small business community through what “continues to be a very tough environment” for SMEs.
“I leave my term as chair of COSBOA with the organisation in an extremely strong position,” he continued.
“It is strong financially. Its membership is strong and dedicated. The team has very competent experts in what they do. And Skye Cappuccio, as CEO appointed earlier this year, is doing an excellent job.”
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In a statement from the organisation, Cappuccio said Addison leaves the role after “guiding COSBOA through a period of significant change”, and building its stature as a “leading national voice” on small business issues.
His tenure coincided with the winding down of COVID-19 support measures, a raft of industrial relations reforms and, more recently, significant tax changes announced in the 2026-27 federal budget.
Addison served as COSBOA’s representative in the 2025 Economic Reform Roundtable, and oversaw an organisation submitting small business views on policies stretching from non-compete clauses to climate-related disclosures.
“While we haven’t agreed with everything from either side of the political spectrum, and either party when they’ve been in government, we work with all parties of government to advocate for small business and endeavour to get some impact,” he said.
During his time as chair, COSBOA received millions of dollars in taxpayer funding to operate the Cyber Wardens cyber security program, which ran until September this year.
The end of Addison’s tenure also comes amid the recent card surcharge ban, and controversy over the ATO’s since delayed decision to cease accepting credit cards from November 1.
COSBOA drew attention for its initial response, which acknowledged why the tax office wanted to cease credit card payments, and called on the ATO to take a practical, flexible approach to the ban.
Other business representative groups took a more hardline approach, publicly urging the government to intervene.
Ultimately, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government intervened in the ATO ban timeline after discussions with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar.
Addison said COSBOA had engaged with government and tax office stakeholders, arguing the ATO decision gave small businesses using credit cards too little time to prepare.
“We may not have been seen in the media as heightened as some other voices, but I can assure you, we were having those same conversations,” he said.
Addison is also the founder and executive director of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, a position he plans to retire from this month.
New-look board takes shape
Addison’s departure from the chair position was formalised on Wednesday at COSBOA’s 2026 annual general meeting, which also welcomed a new-look board.
Treasurer of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society Christine Pope, former CEO of Master Grocers Australia Jos de Bruin, and CEO of the Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association Wes Lambert also departed as COSBOA directors.
Lambert told SmartCompany he is keen to work with the new-look board as an active member of COSBOA.
“Restaurants and cafes are top of the news cycle, for migration, surcharges, and trusts,” he said.
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“We will stay at the top of the news cycle, and we’ll continue to advocate.”
New directors elected to the board include:
- Anja Pannek, Chief Executive Officer, Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia,
- Ben Kearney, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association, a returning member of the board,
- David Bushby, Chief Executive Officer, Commercial & Asset Finance Brokers Association of Australia,
- Fiona Beamish, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Hairdressing Council,
- Martin Stirling, Chief Executive Officer, MGA Independent Businesses Australia.
Pharmacist Andrew Ngeow was re-elected as director.
Ngeow and the newly elected directors will serve alongside the continuing directors: Massage & Myotherapy Australia CEO Ann Davey, Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn, and Xero eInvoicing lead Simon Foster.
“With a strong Board and the continued support of our members, COSBOA remains focused on advocating for practical policies that help small businesses thrive, invest, employ and grow,” said Cappuccio.