New leaders predict chamber change

John Van Klaveren
GEELONG’S peak business group will embark on an era of change, according to its new leadership.
Recently appointed executive officer Greg Rowe and president Jim Walsh plan to focus on reinforcing Geelong Chamber of Commerce’s relationships with other organisations around the region as well as boosting membership.
“There have been times when there’s been an uneasy working relationship between key organisations in the region but we’re coming into a period of working very well together,” Mr Walsh said.
“We’ll re-look at old assumptions and consider our priorities as we go through a change in focus. Geelong is on the cusp of opportunities and there’s a positive feeling in business sector.”
Mr Walsh is finance director at Geelong’s Godfrey Hirst. Mr Rowe was previously director of marketing and business development at KPMG Management Consulting.
Mr Rowe said the chamber of commerce wanted to be “more member-oriented”.
“I’ll go out and talk to businesses at the coalface and leave the strategic vision to the board.
“We want to refresh the benefits and make membership more attractive.”
Long-serving executive officer Lawrie Miller formally retires this Friday after 15 years at the helm of one of the region’s key business organisations.
The chamber has a membership of around 700, of which 95 per cent are small-to-medium enterprises.
Mr Rowe said looming state and federal elections would present him with opportunities to act on his shared passion with Mr Miller for “pushing Geelong along”.
“We’ll be out in support of the Geelong business sector – I’ve been amazed at the number of world-class businesses here,” he said.
Mr Walsh said the chamber would use Geelong’s Armstrong Creek urban growth area as leverage to increasing membership
“Development has been done piecemeal in the past but Armstrong Creek is an example of how it can be done properly,” he said
“Part of our job in working closely with G21, the Committee for Geelong and the city will be to help develop the employment base.”