New 2020-21 Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce committee

‘We will continue to be a strong voice on advocacy issues that affect small business in our region as well as delivering networking opportunities and educational workshops’

Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce committee members for 2021-22: Madeline Connors, Vicki Smith, Geoff O'Connor (President), Maree Sturdy, Katie Duncan, Scott Jamieson, Cathy Sullivan (Secretary), Sarah Miotto (Vice-President) and Liz Dent (Treasurer). Picture: Fiona Kroll

Three new faces have been voted in for the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce’s 2021-22 committee, with all current executive committee members retaining their positions.

At a buoyant annual general meeting, chamber president Geoff O’Connor said he was thrilled to continue on in the lead role and “really bring to life all of the groundwork we’ve done in the past year”.

“Our focus post COVID has been on internal governance and laying the foundations for the

coming 12 months,” he said.

“We will continue to be a strong voice on advocacy issues that affect small business in our region as well as delivering networking opportunities and educational workshops that will benefit all local businesses.”

More than 40 member businesses heard from industry leaders, such as Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson and GW3 CEO Kylie Porter, at the AGM as they delivered updates on key business, industry and tourism activity.

Ms Porter spoke of new and exciting economic development across key strategic areas such as aquaculture, aerospace and biofutures.

“The future of sugar isn’t what we add to our tea and coffee, there is a real opportunity to be

a major player in bio-refinery and we’re seeing great movement for our region in this space,”

Ms Porter told the audience.

Resource Industry Network general manager Dean Kirkwood echoed Ms Porter’s positive sentiment by detailing the impressive rise of coal prices in 2021 and the role of the resource sector in driving the Covid-19 recovery on a global scale.

Members also heard the latest from Mackay-Isaac Tourism’s tourism development manager Chrissy Evangelou who impressed upon the audience the importance of promoting our region and the tourism offering we have.

“Promoting our region as a tourism destination is something everyone should be a champion

of. We are all in tourism,” Ms Evangelou said.

The new chamber committee is encouraged by the sense of confidence shared at the AGM

and is keen to leverage this for the benefit of members and businesses across the region.

The 2021-22 management committee comprises: President – Geoff O’Connor (SBB Partners),

Vice-President – Sarah Miotto (Spannerman Autocare), Treasurer – Liz Dent (DGL

Accountants), Secretary – Cathy Sullivan (Mount Pleasant Centre), Madeleine Connors (NE

Food | The Dispensary), Scott Jamieson (Enlightened Financial Solutions), Vicki Smith

(Concept Consulting), Maree Sturdy (Treadwell Tyre Service) and Katie Duncan (McKays

Solicitors).