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Microsoft® Office 365, SharePoint®, and Lync™ are registered trade marks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. 28958TEL Office 365 A4 Ad 4.indd 1 10/09/12 3:44 PM The Hunter Business Chamber Report on Hunter Business Contents President’s Message Board of Directors A STRONG CEO’s Report ECONOMY DRIVEN Organisational Structure BY A BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT The Work of the Chamber LEADS CHANGE. Financial Performance Members of Committees Members of the Chamber Photographs by AJM Photography YEAR IN REVIEW 2011/12 | 1 Leading Business Our region is underpinned by a very strong and diverse economy, driven by a business community that proudly leads change across a range of areas. The past 12 months has presented many challenges and successes for business in the Hunter and the Chamber has been at the forefront of providing support and action when needed as well as facilitating and celebrating the wins with our community. International market conditions have placed considerable pressure on some businesses and we acknowledge the need to help those organisations respond in environments where influences are beyond their immediate control but have significant impacts for their own employees as well as their supply chains. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT The Chamber has worked closely and as part of a lead team, to provide assistance to Hydro Aluminium at Kurri Kurri after it SETS THE announced a future closure and immediate job losses, to minimise CHAMBER APART the impact to the many employees, contractors and suppliers who IS ITS CAPACITY have contributed to the Plant and its community. TO UNDERSTAND While providing support to and meeting members’ needs, the CHANGE AND Chamber has been hard at work developing solutions based approaches to issues of regional significance including defence TO ADJUST and its related sectors, as well as issues around skills shortages SO THAT THE across a number of industries. BEST POSSIBLE The Hunter is home to great business knowledge and expertise SUPPORT SYSTEMS and the Chamber invites and encourages participation by those ARE PROVIDED TO specialists who can help us gain greater understanding of our regional capability and needs. In relation to the defence sector, MEMBERS. the Chamber has been able to appoint a specialist to the Board of Directors and this knowledge and influence is already providing some great gains for planning in this area. I would invite you to read more about the work the The Chamber has also been active in matters of importance to Chamber has been involved all members, working to identify measures to address skills gaps in over the past financial year in the region. The formalisation of a long-standing and valued and would also like to take relationship through a Memorandum of Understanding with Hunter this opportunity to thank TAFE, has meant a more proactive approach to work in this area, the Chamber employees, for the benefit of small and large Hunter based businesses. committee members and my fellow board directors for A closer relationship with our 40 local chambers of commerce has their continued hard work and also been developed to provide more effective ways for Hunter commitment to the Chamber Business Chamber, and NSW Business Chamber as needed, to and the Hunter Region. assist with local issues that may benefit from a more collaborative approach and we look forward to further success with this Richard Anicich program. President 2 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2011/12 YEAR IN REVIEW 2011/12 | 3 Membership that represents a region Over the past year the Chamber, together with our larger members have worked to identify ways in which the wider business THESE COMPANIES community can benefit from their collective and individual GENEROUSLY strengths. SUPPORT MANY The Hunter Business Chamber established a three tier corporate ACTIVITIES FOR membership. FELLOW CHAMBER As at 30 June 2012 the “Leader” group comprised NIB Health MEMBERS AND Funds, Centennial Coal, Coal & Allied (Rio Tinto), Newcastle THERE IS NO Permanent Building Society, ORICA Mining Services, Telstra, QUESTION OF THE Tomago Aluminium, Cobbora Holdings and Xstrata Coal. VALUE OF THEIR Our “Gold” members include Ausgrid, Austar Coal Mine, Eraring CONTRIBUTION Energy, Hunter Water Corporation, Macquarie Generation, Newcastle Newspapers, Arrium, Pacific National Coal, Port FOR OTHERS. Waratah Coal Services, The Kloster Group, the University of Newcastle and Wests Group Australia. Joining these organisations at a “Silver” corporate level are AGL Hunter Gas Project, Ampcontrol, City of Newcastle, Dart Energy, Forgacs, Greater Building Society, Hunter Valley Training Company, McCloy Group, NBN Limited, Newcastle Port 4 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2011/12 Corporation, QR National Coal, Saddington Building Supplies, Sparke Helmore Lawyers and Hunter TAFE. An alliance between the Chamber, Newcastle City Council and Hunter TAFE won a $1.2 million Energy Efficiency Information Grant that will help Hunter based small to medium businesses save money on their energy costs. There is already a substantial degree of impact from increasing energy costs on Hunter businesses and our region has historic reliance on energy hungry industries. The grants were established to deliver information from trusted sources to small to medium business and community groups. In 2011 the Hunter Business Awards took a significant step in its long term history and attracted a record number of 40 finalists. This set a scene for further growth in 2012 with even greater interest from sponsors and entrants in what has become Australia’s most prestigious regional business awards. These awards are part of a structured program through which the Chamber helps its members advance their business strategies. Closely aligned are the regular Mining, Infrastructure and Business Development Forums that the Chamber hosts. These events provide opportunities for members to gain valuable insights and learnings from the many business leaders and specialists we are pleased to have as guest speakers. The Chamber welcomed two Member Liaison Officers to our team who are working with members, particularly the small business sector, to provide fast and efficient connections to other members, services and events. It is a service that we are extremely proud to provide. In 2011/12, more than 60 events were held, attracting more than 4,800 people. Events such as the New Member’s functions and the My Business is Your Business series continue to highlight the depth of the Chamber’s membership. In the following pages of this report we outline how the Chamber and business has responded to the events and activities during the 2011-2012 financial year. There are many complex issues surrounding business and the regional economy and I am pleased to be part of a Chamber that continues to find new ways to support the growth of our members and the wider business community. Kristen Keegan CEO YEAR IN REVIEW 2011/12 | 5 The Chamber Board of Directors The members of the Chamber elect a Board of Directors to set policy and direct the affairs of the organisation. The elected directors are able to appoint directors who in their opinion add particular knowledge, skills and experience in areas that are important to members. The elections occur every two years and were last held in October 2010. Board members as at 30 June 2012 are listed below. Richard Anicich (President) Viv Allanson John Quaife Partner, Sparke Helmore CEO, Maroba Living Communities General Manager Aviation Solutions, BAE Industries Alan “Ross” Taggart Katie Brassil (Senior Vice President) Group Manager, External Colin Scott Managing Director, Affairs, Centennial Coal Managing Director, Taggart Partners Frontline Hobbies Jason Pauling Bob Hawes (Vice President) General Manager, Hunter Jonathan Vandervoort President, Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Hunter Business Charlestown Valley Coal Chain Coordinator Limited Brett Derwin Ian Pettigrew (Immediate Past President) Managing Director, Pettigrew Bradley Wilson Business Development Family Funerals Managing Director, AOK Manager, Commonwealth Bank Health Pty Ltd 6 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2011/12 YEAR IN REVIEW 2011/12 | 7 The Chamber has long had a successful system of committees and task forces Chamber through which members’ issues are addressed. The Committees are: Committees • Defence Industry Committee: Chairperson Richard Anicich and Deputy Chair John Quaife • Regional Infrastructure DEFENCE Committee: Richard Anicich Sparke Helmore Lawyers Chairperson Bob Hawes, Dusko Bajic Abigroup Contractors Deputy Chair Gillian Geraghty Eddie Bernard Hunter Economic Development Corporation • Awards and Honours Gerry Bobsien University of Newcastle Committee: Ray Bowen Newcastle Airport Chairperson Brett Derwin Neville Boyes SMEC Australia Pty Ltd • Business Development Sub-Committee: