5 minute read
Alex Glen-Holmes - Business Voice
BUSINESS VOICE
with ALEX GLEN-HOLMES
PRESIDENT PORT MACQUARIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
March saw another very busy month especially with International Women’s Day and also March being Small Business Month. There were many events in the area and as this column goes to print the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association are hosting Jon Dee for a boardroom lunch on 30th March. Jon is a social entrepreneur, philanthropist, campaigner and advocate for the small to medium business sectors. You may also know Jon from hosting Sky News “Smart Money”, founding the charity Planet Ark, DoSomething and the international charity Rock Aid Armenia to name a few. On Tuesday 22nd March we hosted the Luminosity Youth Summit launch for their 2022 Conference which will be held 27th29th July. Hard to believe that this year will be the 10th Anniversary of Luminosity and to celebrate they are bringing back some of their past incredible speakers. These will include past Wauchope locals Allison Langdon from 60 Minutes and the Today Show and Nixi Killick, an internationally renowned designer, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki always a favourite and Dr Jordan Nguyen a truly brilliant Biomedical Engineer just to name a few. The Summit offers opportunities to our leaders of tomorrow. If you would like to sponsor a young person to attend this fantastic opportunity please contact our office. Part of our purpose at Chamber is to provide Education platforms to help improve and grow your business. On 14th April we have the amazing Stacey Morgan presenting “Are you Nurturing or Neglecting your Customers?” Customer service is something as a business community we constantly strive to improve. Stacey shares some practical ideas to improve your customers’ journey, streamline your processes and increase your profitability. Imediately following the breakfast meeting we will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting for members to vote on two items: adopting our new constitution; and to change our name from Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce to Business Port Macquarie. With everything that our businesses have been through in the last few years it is a perfect opportunity to update, renew and maintain relevance to our business community. Chamber Board members recently attended a Strategic Planning day where we revisited our Vision and strategic priorities. Our purpose, “to foster a sustainable, profitable and vibrant business community”. This is supported by the four pillars ‘Connection’, ‘Advocacy’, ‘Support’ & ‘Membership’. To ensure that we are meeting these goals I intend to continue with my meet with business for one-on-one coffee catch ups to see how we can help you. Please feel free to call me on 0414 772 771 to arrange a suitable time. I would love to buy you a cuppa! Over the past month the Chamber has also had a number of meetings with Council and Councillors regarding the disbanding of committees and meeting with the now defunct Town Centre Master Plan Committee to see how we can all work together to ensure that the planned projects for Town Green are all completed. We have also commented on the recent Draft Infrastructure Strategy, Joint Integrated Transport Network Plan & Regional Integrated Transport Strategy. We are hopeful that we will soon see these documents on public exhibition as they are vital to the future sustainability of the region. Our combined Charity Golf Day with Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is 11th April. If you would like to take part on the day or sponsor a hole please call our office on our new number 0422 562 300 or go to our website at www.portchamber.com.au You can register as an individual or in groups of 4. Come join the fun! Finally, don’t forget to join our Chamber Chats Facebook group. Get involved in the conversation and let us know about your business. Have a great month Alex
Our chance for change in Cowper
Carolyn ‘Caz’ Heise has set her sights on becoming the first woman and the first Independent to be elected as the Member for Cowper. She wants to return power to the people and secure a better future for everyone.
Caz Heise is no stranger to working hard to meet challenges head on.
She moved from Tamworth to Bellingen after leaving school and had her daughter Elora and son Issac while working in the social services sector and studying to become a registered nurse.
A passion for further education led her to eventually gain a Master of Business degree.
Caz has served as the North Coast Manager for Mission Australia and the Director of the The Mid North Coast Cancer Institute.
She was managing a multi-million dollar budget and thousands of staff as the Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Coffs Harbour Health Campus when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2019.
She is now cancer-free and serves as a non-paid director on the board of the Cancer Council of New South Wales.
Caz says her decision to run as a community Independent candidate was actually quite easy.
At the core of Caz’s election campaign are the concepts of respect and fairness.
“The lack of respectful political leadership is why many people don’t feel they are equal, valued or have the same opportunities to thrive.
“ We need political leadership which shows real respect for women, for First Nations people, for our elderly, disabled and disadvantaged, and for those who are different.
“We need politicians who respect science, transparency and honesty, and we need decision making based on facts, fairness and merit rather than party political gain.
“We need to restore integrity to politics to eliminate the waste, the lies, rorts and favours for rich mates which is now par for the course.
“As a nurse and senior health manager, Master of Business and board director I know how to fix our health, aged and disability care systems, address climate change, support seniors and families, grow business, create real new jobs and uplift women.
“I want to do what needs to be done because it’s the right thing to do.” Because I have chosen not to be supported by a party I’m not constrained by party politics and nor am I a puppet to big industry. I answer only to the Cowper community and to my conscience.
www.caz4cowper.com.au
Authorised by Carolyn Heise, Independent Cowper Pty Ltd. 65 Hickory Street, Dorrigo, NSW 2453.
