A group of four business people have decided to stand for election to the Board of the Orange Business Chamber to revitalise business representation to help Orange reach its full commercial potential for the benefit of both business owners and communities alike.

Richard Hattersley, Jack Evans, Amanda Spalding and Daniel McGregor are four people from varying age groups, varying experience and varying types of business backgrounds, all with a common passion to see a strong Orange for all – thriving business, thriving community, thriving city!

They met through Put Orange First and share the desire to make Orange a vibrant place to work and do business. 

Put Orange First has been meeting with numerous stakeholders around town in recent months, firstly, to identify who does what when it comes to making our city a great place to live, and secondly, to gauge the mood around town.

Jack Evans said ‘the constant feedback is that Orange is lacking a business chamber that is as proactive as the likes of Dubbo and Cowra in our region, and many other like-minded chambers across the country.

Many voices have said that they would like to see a chamber that has more events, communicates more, advocates effectively for the local business community and is more visible within the business community and the community at large. There is a need for new leadership and a new focus for the Orange Business Chamber’. 

Amanda Spalding said ‘It is important that groups around Orange with similar objectives, all work together.  That includes having an Orange Business Chamber that effectively represents the local business community.’

Daniel McGregor said ‘the current board has done some good things, but now is a good time for an injection of new blood and new energy to build on that good work, so we are putting our hands up for election to the board at the upcoming Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 18 September, with a view to reinvigorating the business chamber.’

Richard, Jack, Amanda and Daniel have ideas to drive the reinvigoration of the chamber, based on research of what other business chambers are doing well including:

• Ensure our Business Chamber promotes, supports and encourages its members

• Stage regular ‘After 5’ events to facilitate more networking between local businesses

• Stage an occasional long lunch with a recognised guest speaker

• Overhaul the annual business awards

• Provide more transparent and effective advocacy on behalf of the local business community

• Establish regular engagement with Orange City Council, Orange 360 and other stakeholders

• Provide a stronger voice in local media and social media

• Create a new business chamber website

• Seek feedback from members regularly

• Develop a creative marketing plan to better promote Orange as a place to shop and do business

How to vote for change?

Richard Hattersley said: ‘If you would like a more proactive Business Chamber in Orange, then we’d love to have your support at the election at the Orange Ex-Services Club on Wednesday 18 September at 5.30 pm. To be eligible to vote you must be a member of the chamber, so if you’re not already a member, but see value in what our chamber can become, then we urge you to join now and come along to cast a vote for Orange on 18th September

To join the Orange Business Chamber go to https://www.orangechamber.com.au/