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<strong>March</strong> <strong>2024</strong> BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 3 A FRESH FACE FOR > SPECIAL REPORT TAURANGA CHAMBER > From page 1 Shaping local business Lunam noted the Chamber had a drive to be a part <strong>of</strong> helping shape economic, and in turn, social outcomes for Tauranga’s community. He told <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Plenty</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>News</strong> that – especially over the past four to five years – he had seen quite a lot <strong>of</strong> transformation at the back end <strong>of</strong> the chamber. “The new board is tasked with taking that drive to a new base, which is where it needed to be.” Tauranga <strong>Business</strong> Chamber chief executive Matt Cowley said the make-up <strong>of</strong> the board reflected the business community, with good representation <strong>of</strong> small, medium and large businesses. “Despite the pandemic, previous boards have overseen improvements and investment across the organisation, while keeping the finances in good order,” he told the <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Plenty</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>News</strong>. “The business landscape is fast-changing,” he said. “Jamie and the new board are focused on helping businesses overcome challenges and spotting opportunities.” Building business Tauranga is unusual in New Zealand in having two organisations that share many <strong>of</strong> the same objectives in supporting the business community. The two are generally seen as cooperating well. There is also a significant crossover <strong>of</strong> people involved in both organisations. Todd Muller, who recently retired as a National Party MP for the <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Plenty</strong>, has assumed the role <strong>of</strong> chair <strong>of</strong> Priority One. He told <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Plenty</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>News</strong>: “The Chamber plays a significant role in this city and I have followed its efforts closely since I sat on the board in the late 1990s. “As chair <strong>of</strong> Priority One I am impressed with how the two organisations can effectively advocate and provide services to their respective members without tripping over each other,” he said. “In my view that talks to the maturity and real hands-on city-wide business experience that exists across the two organisations. I see the chamber as being great for SME networking and core capability building <strong>of</strong> individuals and teams within business.” Lunam said the Chamber probably would not see a lot <strong>of</strong> fundamental change at this stage as a lot <strong>of</strong> the transformation had already been done. The Chamber had surveyed members making sure they knew what they wanted, he added. “We’re going to build that into the strategic plan for the coming five years. It’s about knowing what you’re good at, and what you’re less good at.” Muller said that Priority One provided leadership on the strategic challenges <strong>of</strong> the Western <strong>Bay</strong> region as a whole. “This sees a strong focus on infrastructure, innovation, skills and global talent,” he said. “But <strong>of</strong> course, as is the nature with our connected city, both organisations have influence in all those areas, it’s not a hard delineation <strong>of</strong> duties and nor should it be.” Continuing evolution Lunam noted that Chamber chief executive Cowley had grown Jamie Lunam in his role. He said that his own aspirations included seeing Cowley continue to evolve. “The members I believe need to see more <strong>of</strong> him, especially in that local advocacy space,” said Lunam. “Now is the time for us to really step up that advocacy. One <strong>of</strong> the terms we keep using is ‘not just making noise, but making change’ – instead <strong>of</strong> just having an option on how can we alter the course <strong>of</strong> this.” He noted that his own recent career at Freshpac Systems had seen him involved in situations where the writing had been on the wall on some issues and outcomes were needed – but there was initial uncertainty about what the outcomes would be. “Now [the Chamber] thinks it knows what is happening, it needs to be recalibrating. There’s a lot <strong>of</strong> motivation out there and confidence is building all the time.” As to his new role at James and Co and chairing the Chamber, Lunam said: “Our strategic work [at Freshpac] had come to a conclusion, we’d gone through a lot <strong>of</strong> change and it was time for me to move on and do the things I’m best at.” Take control <strong>of</strong> your future. Now is a good time 0800 225 999 It’s All About C<strong>of</strong>fee! 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