President Report
Presidents report to the 2025 AGM
I am privileged to lead a progressive and relentlessly positive Chamber board. There is representation on the board across many sectors and I believe the Chamber is well served by these passionate and talented volunteers. The board is refreshed each year at the AGM and I thank everyone who has served over the past year and make special mention of Geoff Rice who stepped away after a long tenure, having made significant contribution. Also, our Past President Glenn Tasker who when in the chair, navigated the early stages of CEO succession.
Recent times have presented us with opportunities and the necessity to embrace change.
Bryce Heard tendered his resignation as Chamber CEO and, with the best interest of the Chamber at heart, gave us extended notice. That enabled the board to put a good process in place to find his successor. It is testament to the Chamber’s standing in our business community that the recruitment attracted significant interest and a high calibre of applicants. It has been a pleasure to onboard Melanie Short into the role. Mel has arrived into the seat with ambition, alignment, and focus and is off to a great start, building on the strong foundation that Bryce established during his tenure.
There is requirement for us to amend our Constitution in line with the revised Incorporated Societies Act. The board have put considerable thought into this work and have guided the drafting of a new Constitution with the support of our partner Tompkins Wake. This has provided the opportunity to consider best fit for the organisation. Drafted changes include a reduction in the size of the board, description of designation of Chamber officers from elected or co-opted seats, and the reduced requirement for audit.
Our Chamber team continue to deliver high calibre events and member benefit opportunities. It is a very full and demanding calendar to deliver on and we should acknowledge their hard work. Networking and connection events, the Regional Business Partner program, the Leading employer Group careers connections, and of course the annual Tompkins Wake Business Awards are shining examples of the value the Chamber delivers to the Business Community.
The Chamber functions with the support of members, targeted government agency funding, and our valued partners and sponsors. Thank you for your investment towards fulfilling our purpose. The annual accounts represent a stable and healthy position thanks to the mindful approach of our management with assistance from our board including Frank Zhou representing our banking partner Westpac.
An important piece of work that began almost 2 years ago is defining the Chamber’s Vision for Rotorua. This has had significant time investment by the board and the Chamber team. The key elements of this vision provide some much-needed focus for us as a city and business community. The presentation has recently had a refresh to update our initial mahi which had targeted influencing the Rotorua Lakes Council’s long term plan.
The Chamber’s vision piece is a tool we use to amplify the voice of business in Rotorua. Focus on the key elements has led to constructive engagement with key organisations including NZTA, BOP Regional Council, Rotorua NZ, Toi Ohomai, The University of Waikato, and Rotorua Lakes Council. With these connections, and resulting collaboration, we will look to strategize actions and objectives to push our case for Rotorua business. The pressures on the economy and tightening of central government expenditure require us to advocate strongly to maximise our position and compete nationally to ensure Rotorua isn’t only a great place to visit but a fantastic place to live, invest, and do business.
Global events and our national economy influence and impact businesses of all types with a myriad of challenges. The Chamber is here to support. We encourage engagement and participation so together we are strong, it’s true that you get out what you put in. Our resilience provides the opportunity for us to support the community as employers and contributors to the local economy, those benefits cannot be overestimated. We should be proud and celebrate the role business plays in sustaining our vibrant city – Rotorua by Design.
Ka nui te mihi
President