The Year In Review 2012-2013 The Hunter Business Chamber Report on Hunter Business Contents Leading Business 2 A STRONG Representing a Region 4 ECONOMY DRIVEN The Chamber Board of Directors 6 BY A BUSINESS Chamber Committees 7 COMMUNITY THAT Staff 9 LEADS CHANGE. Year In Review Highlights 2012 - 2013 10 Financial Performance 12 The Work of the Chamber 13 Advocacy and Collaboration 14 Networking The Events 16 Value for Members 18 Corporate Members 19 Member Directory 19 Photographs by AJM Photography YEAR IN REVIEW 2012/13 | 1 Leading Business The Hunter is home to some of the most remarkable and innovative organisations and leaders and it is this talent that has served our region well over the past 12 months despite challenging business conditions. The staff and Board of the Chamber have worked exceptionally hard to foster this knowledge and creativity to create greater opportunity for growth and development of business in the Hunter. Enjoying a strong relationship with the NSW Business Chamber, we have also continued to build on the ability to advocate for business through strength in numbers, ensuring a united approach to state-wide issues of significance. There is no doubt that less than optimal market conditions have prevailed in the past year and with little control over some of the contributing external factors business has had to turn its sights to those areas where influence could be brought to bear. The Chamber takes its role in this process very seriously and has been at the forefront of driving greater collaboration and thought leadership across a number of industries and issues. This has included areas such as infrastructure planning, urban revitalisation, regional planning, the defence industry and the Too Big To Ignore 2 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2012/13 campaign in the lead up to the approaches across a wider range of challenges. We are proudly recent federal election. building a strong reputation as a preferred source of knowledge and collaboration across all levels of government. With the most diverse regional economy in the country comes This year has seen unprecedented growth in the Chamber’s 127 great responsibility to advocate year history, largely due to the development of an alliance program for the many and varied needs with many of the local chambers throughout the Hunter region. of the region with a balanced Strength in numbers and speaking with a united voice can only and informed approach. The assist in helping the Hunter thrive, for the good of all. Chamber proactively partners in this approach by engaging The Board remains committed to ensuring its strategic direction with members and other meets the ongoing and changing needs of our wide member base and I have been proud to work with a very dedicated team stakeholders who possess of individuals who represent small and large business in our the expertise and knowledge community. They bring not only an evident passion for the success necessary to help guide its of the Hunter but also a wealth of knowledge and experience. direction. I know I speak on their behalf when I say that we look forward to The development in late 2012 the next 12 months at the Chamber with great enthusiasm and of a Policy Manager role at the optimism for what lies ahead for our business community. Chamber has strengthened our ability to more strongly Richard Anicich focus our efforts on advocacy President and solutions based YEAR IN REVIEW 2012/13 | 3 Representing a Region The Hunter Business Chamber has much to be proud of over the last year and a great deal to look forward to for the next 12 months. With the support of our members we have continued to grow and together have developed a long list of achievements that have brought benefit to both our business community and region as a whole. Even in the face of significant economic challenges across most industries, member numbers reached more than 1200 at the end of the financial year, demonstrating a very strong belief in unity and the strength of numbers. This was increasingly evident as we launched the Local Chamber Alliance Program and joined with the national chamber movement to embark on the ‘Too Big To Ignore’ Campaign. This campaign created a platform and opportunity for small business to engage with government on key issues affecting its growth and sustainability. As the recipient of the second largest Energy Efficiency Information Grant awarded nationally, the Chamber was also proud to join with its partners, The City of Newcastle and Hunter TAFE in officially 4 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2012/13 launching the Energy Hunter The 2012 Business Awards continued to live up to its reputation program in April this year. as an event not to be missed with more than 500 people filling the Even in its early months the room to celebrate the success and achievements of more than 45 program began delivering finalists across a range of categories. wins for SMEs across the region, developing knowledge Partnering with some of our corporate members, the Chamber also streams and solutions that has hosted the regular series of Business Development Forums as well helped create real savings and as Mining and Infrastructure lunch series. These events provide efficiencies. We will continue significant opportunity for guests to hear from key speakers on a to roll this program out across range of issues affecting the mining industry and supply chain as the whole of the Hunter. well as infrastructure planning and priorities. During the year, the The Chamber continues to work closely with all its members in Chamber hosted more than identifying opportunities to support the growth and sustainability 50 events with more than of business across the region. The following pages of this report 5000 attendees from New outline some of this critical work the Chamber has engaged in Member and My Business over the past 12 months and we look forward to continuing these is Your Business functions efforts in the year ahead. to our Corporate Member Roundtables and the highly Kristen Keegan anticipated Business Awards CEO dinner. YEAR IN REVIEW 2012/13 | 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 2012. Board members as at 30 June 2013 are listed below. Richard Anicich (President) Katie Brassil Fred Haynes Partner, Sparke Helmore General Manager, External Affairs, Executive Manager – Mining & Centennial Coal Construction, WesTrac General Manager – Equipment Management Solutions, WesTrac General Manager – Training Institute, WesTrac General Manager - Civil & Mining, Alan ‘Ross’ Taggart WesTrac (Senior Vice President) Gillian Geraghty Managing Director, Project Director, APP Corporation Taggart Partners Ian Penfold NSW Business Chamber Board Representative Peter Harvey Ian Pettigrew General Manager – Partnerships (Vice President) & Community, Variety, The Managing Director, Children’s Charity of NSW – Pettigrew Family Funerals Newcastle Region John Quaife General Manager Aviation Solutions, BAE Industries Brett Derwin Bob Hawes (Immediate Past President) General Manager, Hunter Business Development Executive, Development Corporation Commonwealth Bank Tim Ryan Partner, AltusQ Jennifer Lyons Vivienne ‘Viv’ Allanson Owner, Pride Dry Cleaning & CEO, Maroba Living Communities Laundry Jonathan Vandervoort Executive General Manager, Whitehaven Coal 6 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2012/13 Chamber Committees The Chamber has long REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE had a successful system Richard Anicich Sparke Helmore Lawyers of committees through which members’ issues are Dusko Bajic Lend Lease addressed. Dan Barrow McCullough Robertson Lawyers Eddie Bernard Hunter Economic Development Corporation The Committees are: • Defence Industry Len Blakeney MBA Committee: Ray Bowen Newcastle Airport Chairperson Richard Anicich Nev Boyes SMEC Australia Pty Ltd and Deputy Chair John Quaife Scot Brown JBA Planning • Regional Infrastructure Jim Clarkson Opus International Consultants Committee: Mark Cleary Business Insider Chairperson Bob Hawes, Frank Cordingley Newcastle City Council Deputy Chair Gillian Geraghty David Crofts David Crofts Consulting • Awards and Honours Belinda Crosbie Moray & Agnew Solicitors Committee: Brett Derwin Commonwealth Bank Chairperson Brett Derwin Michael England AECOM • Business Development Sub-Committee: Greg Essex RTA Chairperson Ian Pettigrew Gillian Geraghty, Deputy Chair APP Corporation The list of member companies Ian Guy Vipac and individuals who have Barry Hancock GHD generously given their time, Bob Hawes, Chair Hunter Development Corporation energy and skills to serve on these committees follows. Rebecca Johnston Newcastle Port Corporation The Board again thanks them Andrew Justice Andrew Justice on behalf of the business community of the region. Patrick Kaluski Keystone Lawyers Kyle Loades Auto Advantage Matthew McNamara McNamara Adams Rob Monteath Monteath Powys Pty Ltd Keith Morgan Mountain Industries Paul Muir Coffey Projects Paul Murphy Churchill’s Carpets Jon Novoselac AECOM Ian Pedersen Pedersen Engineers David Rose DWP Suters Patrick Smyth APP Corporation Rosemary Thomson University of Newcastle Mark Waugh Better Transport Futures Pty Ltd YEAR IN REVIEW 2012/13 | 7 DEFENCE INDUSTRY Richard Anicich, Chair Sparke Helmore Lawyers Salena Avard Singleton