The Launceston Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with The Examiner, will present Kennett in Conversation on April 27.

Chamber executive officer Neil Grose said Kennett would be speaking about entrepreneurship and the Hawks’ ongoing partnership and commitment to Launceston.

But he said the outspoken Hawthorn football boss would be interesting whatever he had to say.

“He’s definitely going to be worth listening to,” Mr Grose said.

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The lunch will also feature ANZ Bank general manager of business banking Isaac Rankin.

Rankin will speak about the role banks play in regional communities and how it shapes business.

“Mr Rankin will speak on the potential for regional economies such as Launceston to further develop its economic growth potential,” Mr Grose said. 

The business lunch will be one of the keynote events the Launceston Chamber of Commerce holds throughout the year.

Mr Grose said the event was open to all business people, whether they were members of the chamber of not.

He said it gave people the opportunity to network, which was important in a regional community like Launceston.

“It is extremely important to network in Launceston, it leads to all sorts of opportunities,” he said.

The Hawthorn Football Club has a special bond with Launceston that started in 2007 when the club committed to playing four games a year at the then-named York Park stadium (now UTAS stadium).

During the partnership the Hawthorn Hawks have won four premierships.

Mr Grose said the event was timed ahead of the first Launceston game of the premiership season.

Hawthorn will take on St Kilda at UTAS Stadium on April 28. The game kicks off at 7.25pm.

Mr Grose said hopefully by then both St Kilda and Hawthorn would be more equal on the AFL ladder, which would draw a bumper crowd to Launceston.

Kennett is the Hawthorn Football Club president and former Victorian Premier.

Kennett in Conversation will be held on April 27.

The event will be held at the Tramsheds, Inveresk, from noon. Cost is $95.