At today’s Annual General Meeting, the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry continued to build upon its recent transformation.
In his President’s Report (see below), Allan Milostic reported on activity and future plans for the Chamber’s strategic pillars of advocacy, membership, and business education having spent the last year bedding down new Chamber operations and communications.
The Chamber also announced a new Board for 2024-25.
Following the AGM, a lively and informative conversation took place with two 2024 Whitsunday Business Award winners — Hall of Fame appointee and Most Outstanding Whitsundays Service Provider Judy Porter of Shiift, and Most Outstanding Whitsundays Retailer, Patrick Atkins from Airlie Beach Crew Clothing Co.
Introducing the 2024-25 Chamber Board
Photo credit: Daniel Heggie/Mackay and Whitsunday Life
Introducing the Board:
- President Allan Milostic (LiveLife Pharmacy Airlie Beach)
- Vice President Vacant
- Secretary Megan Taylor (Kapow Interactive)
- Treasurer Fiona Erquiaga (Smooth Sailing Finance Consulting)
- Jannah Baker (Scallywag Fabrication)
- Emily Harvey (Filby’s Motors)
- Anthony Nobilia (Airlie Beach Executive Services)
- Asher Telford (Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association and SeaLink)
We sincerely thank immediate past Board members Gus Walsgott, Annette Neil, Kim Porter and Melinda Louise Hutchings who stepped down this year due to competing priorities — we are grateful for your significant contribution to Chamber’s direction and activities.
The Board will be once again supported by our Chamber Liaison Dr Julia Evans with specialist government and advocacy advice from Richard Evans. Together, they bring over 30 years’ experience in executive leadership, strategy, advocacy, member education and engagement, and operations in state and national peak industry associations.
President’s Report
At today’s AGM, the 2023-24 President’s Report was received:
Following developments last year – merger with the Proserpine Chamber of Commerce and new five year strategic plan – our focus this year has been to bed down new foundations — communications and internal operations – so the Board can turn its attention to more strategic matters of our key pillars of advocacy, membership, and business education.
Our advocacy activity this year included opportunities for local and state government candidates to meet and address business community concerns, being appointed to the Council’s newly formed Economic Development Advisory Group, establishing regular knowledge exchange briefings across all levels, as well as joining conversations with Chambers of Commerce from Brisbane and northern Australian.
Looking ahead, in the new year, we will be convening a Chamber Advisory Group – a strategic think tank that will shape a range a Chamber initiatives such as the federal election, regional economic development, workforce availability and productivity, and our Whitsunday Business Conference. Additionally, a special Prosperine Committee will be formed to address specific issues and ideas.
We’ve seen our membership base increase to 180 spanning all industry sectors. Together with Tourism Whitsundays, we launched the new and historic joint membership offer and have expanded the range of exclusive services and opportunities available to members.
In the new year, we expect to see increased growth and membership engagement as we strive towards our goal of 300 members by December 2025.
Our final strategic pillar is business education. In 2024 we launched the inaugural Whitsunday Business Conference and experimented with a mix of webinars, pop up Chambers, and breakfast events.
We will be launching our 2025 business event calendar in the coming weeks which will include the full day business conference and quarterly Chamber meetings with occasional special events occurring throughout the year.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Board members for their time and expertise – Gus Walsgott, Annette Neil, Kim Porter and Melinda Louise Hutchings who have stepped down this year due to competing priorities; to Megan Taylor, Jannah Baker, Anthony Nobilia, and Fiona Erquiaga for their continued support and contribution, and to our new Board nominees who will bring fresh perspectives.
Allan Milostic
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