IBBA chairman visits AIBB conference in Cairns as broker ties deepen

IBBA Chairman Jim Parker traveled to Cairns, Australia, this month to speak at the 2026 AIBB National Conference and compare notes with Australian brokers on education, transactions and deal prep. The visit underscored growing collaboration between the U.S. and Australian business brokerage communities.

Why it matters: - The visit points to closer ties between two business brokerage groups that work in different markets but advise owners on the same core sale decisions. - Cross-border exchange can shape how brokers prepare businesses for sale, value companies and match buyers with sellers. - Both associations see value in sharing practices as business brokerage becomes more professionalized internationally.

What happened: - IBBA Chairman Jim Parker traveled to Cairns, Australia, this month at the Australian Institute of Business Brokers' invitation. - Parker joined Australian brokers and association leaders at the 2026 AIBB National Conference. - Parker delivered the keynote, “The Pre-Market Edge: Turning Preparation into Profit.” - The visit gave members and leaders of both associations a chance to exchange ideas about business brokerage, professional education and transaction practices in Australia and the United States.

The details: - Parker drew on 25 years of experience selling privately held companies in his presentation. - Parker said brokers in both countries face different regulatory environments, financing markets and transaction practices. - Parker said brokers in both markets still help owners answer the same basic questions: whether a business is ready to sell, what it is worth, who the right buyer is and how it should be positioned. - Simon Bedard, president of the AIBB, said Parker’s visit made a strong impression on the association’s membership. - Bedard said Parker’s presentation was extremely well received and praised his generosity, knowledge and enthusiasm. - Parker said the exchange was a two-way learning experience, not a one-way export of U.S. practices. - Parker said Australia has outstanding business brokers and that he saw ideas there that made him think differently.

Between the lines: - The trip suggests both groups are looking beyond conference speaking and toward a longer-term professional relationship. - Parker framed the partnership as practical, not ceremonial, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for business owners. - The comments from both leaders signal that international broker networks may matter more as owners seek better preparation and stronger deal execution.

What's next: - Parker said he hopes the Cairns conference will be seen as another step toward a stronger relationship between the AIBB and IBBA. - Future exchanges could further align education and best practices while preserving differences in each country’s market and rules. - The two associations appear positioned to keep building shared learning around how businesses are prepared, marketed and sold.