New start for chamber

A new plan, new goals and a new leader are the focus for the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s six-year aim to get back on track after a tumultuous 2018.

The business group, which last year went through three chief executives and a president, revealed its 2019-2024 strategic plan last month, with goals to encourage more events, fill vacant shops and improve public transport into town.

The chamber is already into its new chief executive selection process and will soon begin narrowing down its field of 24 candidates.

Short-listed applicants will be interviewed by a selection panel which includes City of Albany chief executive Andrew Sharpe, pictured.

The final contenders could be asked to present to the full ACCI board, outlining their approach to delivering the chamber’s new strategic plan.

The organisation is understood to have been put under the spotlight during the revamp, to the point leaders questioned whether the ACCI still served a purpose in 2019.

The feedback they received from members was that it did.

The ACCI then established a six-part strategy to guide the next six years.

The strategy includes playing a direct role in policy decisions; helping business owners build capacity and skills; developing closer relationships with governments; and doing more to support partnerships between businesses.