- LinkedIn is 23 next Tuesday May 5th: This is a major milestone as the platform transitions from a legacy resume site to where your business reputation matters.
- The boss-friendly social network: LinkedIn has become the "acceptable" version of Facebook in the office. SME and "mum and dad" businesses can now leverage professional access to clients via social media during working hours without the stigma.
- SME Mental Health: With 97% of Australian businesses being SMEs, groups like Local Link provide vital peer support. Studies consistently show small business owners are at high risk of mental health issues because the weight of the business usually sits solely on the founder’s shoulders.
- Event Details: Local Link Melbourne: Modern Selling with Susan Canny is on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Southbank, Melbourne. Buy tickets from locallinknetworking.com.au/events.
ATTENTION MELBOURNE MEDIA – FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
30 April 2026
Future-Proofing SME Businesses with AI:
LinkedIn APAC Director headlines first Melbourne event for SMEs as LinkedIn Turns 23
May 5, 2026, marks 23 years since the launch of LinkedIn, which has evolved from a digital resume site into a global business networking powerhouse. To mark the occasion, Certified LinkedIn Strategist, Kylie Chown is bringing her business networking event, Local Link, to Melbourne’s SME business community on 9 June 2026. Attendees will hear from Susan Canny, APAC Director at LinkedIn, at the Pan Pacific Hotel on Southbank, where she will reveal how SME businesses can leverage AI.
The event marks the Melbourne debut of Local Link, a business networking community established six years ago. providing business leaders with a structured environment to replace traditional small talk with high-value industry insights. Melbourne native, Ms Canny, manages major organisational accounts across the APAC region and will lead a deep dive into modern selling, customer trends, and the practical application of data to strengthen buyer relationships in a digital-first world.
Kylie Chown said the event comes at a critical time as businesses grapple with high levels of digital noise.
“In the 23 years since LinkedIn launched, the way we connect has changed fundamentally. Business owners and leaders are looking for more than just another digital seminar. They want to know how to align their online presence with real-world growth. Bringing Susan Canny to Local Link enables us to offer the kind of high-level expertise usually reserved for enterprise boardrooms.”
Susan Canny’s talk at the Local Link event is designed specifically for founders and leaders who value in-person connection over high-volume networking. To maintain the quality of conversation, entry to the event at the Pan Pacific Hotel is strictly ticket-only and capped at 50 attendees.
Register at locallinknetworking.com.au/events.
Local Link is an in-person event focusing on practical learning and professional development. Local Link is then continued online via Local Link Connect, which brings members together for one-on-one LinkedIn strategy training with Kylie Chown, industry expert insights, and access to a library of private learning and connection recordings, tools, and resources, alongside strong visibility opportunities
-ENDS-
Download broadcast-quality video and radio soundbites of business owners at Local Link events here.
For more video, go to Kylie Chown’s YouTube channel. Kylie explains the power of LinkedIn on video here
About us:
About Local Link: Established in Brisbane, Local Link is a premium networking community focusing on thoughtful conversation and professional learning. It provides business leaders with a structured environment to replace traditional small talk with high-value industry insights. Learn more at https://kylies-community.mn.co/
Contact details:
Local Link Founder, Kylie Chown, is available for interview. Please contact Shan Harvey, from Infront PR on 047 6666 117 or [email protected].
