Next Level 2026, the Technology Service Provider (TSP) conference hosted by SMBiT Professionals on 23–24 July 2026 at the Western Sydney Convention Centre, will feature a keynote from Dr Sherman Chan, Chief Economist at the Australian Property Institute, Lecturer in Economics at UNSW and Principal at Sherman Chan Economics. Ahead of the event, we asked her to set the scene on the economy TSPs and their clients are operating in, without giving the keynote away.
One word: complex
Asked to sum up the economic environment Australian businesses are navigating in a single word, Dr Chan did not hesitate. “Complex. That would be the one word I use,” she said. “And that’s because businesses are often seeing mixed signals in the economic environment right now. And the primary goal of my presentation is to help businesses interpret what is going on so that they can make informed decisions.”
The next 18 months: smooth or turbulent?
On whether the period ahead will bring calmer waters or more turbulence, Dr Chan said the answer lies largely with businesses themselves. “Whether the next 18 months is going to be smooth or turbulent really depends on how individual businesses navigate uncertainties. Navigating uncertainty is now the new norm,” she said. “If you’re running a business during good times or during challenging times, there are always risks and opportunities. So whether you thrive or struggle depends to a large degree on how you manage risks and take advantage of opportunities.”
Don’t lose sight of the opportunities
Dr Chan said one of the biggest risks is letting negative sentiment obscure what is still possible. “Businesses often get nervous when most people are talking doom and gloom, and then they miss the opportunities that are still present,” she said. “In my presentation, I will frankly highlight what I see as being challenging and, also more importantly, what I see as growth opportunities that are still around. And I hope businesses won’t lose sight of the opportunities.”
Why economics matters to every TSP
For technology service providers who tend to think of economics as something that affects their clients rather than their own business, Dr Chan offered a reframe. “Everything in the economy is interconnected, regardless of the nature of your business or how you choose to run your business,” she said. “Take the interest rate outlook, for example. Even if the business has no debt and therefore they don’t have to worry about high interest rates increasing their loan repayments, they’re still exposed to the impact of interest rate changes because their customers are affected. So it is important for all businesses, regardless of your size or the industry you’re in, to still pay attention to the economic environment.”
Having worked across government, consulting and industry, Dr Chan said that breadth shapes how she reads what is coming. “It certainly helps to translate government messages or policy changes into language that businesses understand,” she said. “Whenever I get the opportunity to speak with government, I’m also able to then highlight the business perspective. So it’s helpful in that regard, in terms of being that translator.”
A taste of what’s to come
Pressed for a preview, Dr Chan kept her cards close but left the TSP audience with an encouraging note. “I’ll be really cautious of this one because the focus of my presentation is to really help them demystify the current economic environment,” she said. “So the one thing I would say is that the TSP sector is one that I consider to be best positioned to thrive under the current economic trends.”
Dr Sherman Chan takes the keynote stage at Next Level 2026.
Registrations are open now. For tickets, the full agenda, and sponsorship details, visit https://nextlevel.smbitpro.org/.