The year 2024 has been an exciting and
transformative period for the Chamber
Connect Committee. We experienced some
significant changes, starting with leadership
transitions and culminating in a complete
rebranding that redefined our goals and
focus.
At the start of the year, we saw a leadership shift as Shonia stepped down, and Josie Grady took on the role of Chair. Under Josie's leadership, the committee entered a new chapter with a fresh vision.
For the first few months, we operated as the Tamworth Junior Chamber and organised some successful and engaging events. In February, we hosted the "Vines and Dines Long Table Lunch" at Tangaratta Vineyards. With Southwell Property as the sponsor, it was a memorable day in the sun, with around 65 attendees enjoying great food and conversation. Learning a lot from our guest speaker Brooke Southwell.
In May, we followed up with our "Starting and Exceeding in New Business" event, in partnership with Home of Strength. This event attracted 43 attendees and was a valuable platform to talk business with two young entrepreneurs from Tamworth. The discussion offered insights into the challenges and opportunities of starting a business, providing much-needed advice and inspiration to those in the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey.
In July, we made one of our biggest changes to date—rebranding from the Tamworth Junior Chamber to Chamber Connect. This rebranding was a strategic decision to move beyond age-based membership and focus on growing as a networking hub within the Tamworth Business Chamber. This change has expanded our scope and opened new opportunities for collaboration, engagement, and growth.
As part of our new direction, we launched our "Business After 5" (BA5) monthly series, designed to bring members together for networking while showcasing the host businesses. Our inaugural BA5 event in July, hosted by Apollo Engineering, was a huge success, drawing 113 attendees. Apollo Engineering provided insight into their business operations, creating meaningful connections between local businesses and potential collaborators. The following BA5 events were equally successful, with PRD Tamworth then at and Acacia Park, in collaboration with Inland Technology and GJ Gardiner and Bluedog Fences, hosting the next three.
This new BA5 series has been instrumental in fostering stronger ties between the members of Chamber Connect and the wider Tamworth Business Chamber, creating a more unified and dynamic business community.
In addition to our events, there were some
noteworthy changes within the committee.
Dale Macdonald stepped into the role of
Secretary, George Powell became Treasurer,
and Miller Lloyd was appointed as Marketing
Officer.
We also welcomed Maddy Hubbard from
Partner Now, Stephanie Smith from Tamworth Shoppingworld, and Cody Pollard from Hanlons (who has since stepped down due to increased work commitments).
Katherine Sherrie moved into the Main Chamber Committee, while Jenna Rice (Harrington), Hannah Wright, and Luke Macdonald left the committee after making a lasting impact during their tenure.
We owe much of our success to the continued support of the Tamworth Business Chamber Board, Operations Manager Kate Spradbrow, Events Coordinator Abbey Geyer, and the broader local business community.
As we look ahead, we are excited about the future of Chamber Connect and the opportunities that 2025 will bring—not only for our committee but for the entire Tamworth business community.
Together, we are building something special, and the future is bright.
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