Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Motto	Working for business. Working for Victoria.
Formation	1851
Type	Non-profit organisation
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Key people	Mark Stone, Chief Executive
Website

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the peak body for business in the Australian state of Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients. Founded in 1851 with headquarters in Melbourne, the influential employer group is focused on leading business into the future by providing policy leadership, information, representation, training and networking opportunities.

As a major shareholder of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Victorian Chamber plays a critical role in policy development at both state and federal level. Campaigns centre on securing practical and direct gains for Victorian business in areas including workplace relations, taxation, regulation, infrastructure and skills.

With an annual turnover of $40 million, the Victorian Chamber employs around 220 staff across its Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Wodonga and Traralgon offices.

History

The Victorian Chamber was founded as the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce in 1851. It was Victoria’s first business organisation. The Chamber’s members – bankers, accountants, financiers, merchants, importers, lawyers, ship owners and agents, manufacturers and stock, share and product brokers – sought to advance trade and commerce and make Melbourne one of the world’s great free ports. It helped to establish the Melbourne Harbour Trust and Marine Board.

In October 1986, the Chamber changed its name to the State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Victoria), which merged with the Victorian Employers’ Federation to become the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) in 1991, serving Victoria’s small and medium enterprises.

In November 2015, the Victorian Chamber underwent a rebrand and name change to the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in line with rebrand of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, demonstrating a commitment to a common national purpose through a shared identity and voice.

In 2013, the Victorian Chamber re-established the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, which specifically caters for Victoria’s leading corporations across all sectors of the economy.

Core divisions

Policy and advocacy - including formal submissions to government arising from Policy Taskforces and quarterly member survey
Industrial and workplace relations - including member helpline and representation at the Fair Work Commission
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Apprenticeship Services - founding member of Apprenticeship Support Australia (2015)
Registered Training Organisation – including a range of nationally recognised qualifications and short courses
Global Services- including trade documentation, import/export consultancy, Victoria-Jiangsu Business Placement Program and China e-Commerce Platform
Membership Services - including Connect member benefits programs
Events - including popular series' such as Women in Business
Sustainability consulting – including commercial solar viability assessments
OHS consulting – including incident investigations and advice on Workers’ Compensation
CCI Lawyers
Melbourne Chamber of Commerce (MCC)
Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC)
Victoria Events Industry Council (VEIC)

Key personnel

President – the Hon Mark Birrell was elected President in 2013. He is also Chairman of Infrastructure Australia, Regis Healthcare and the Port of Melbourne Corporation.
Chief Executive – Mark Stone was appointed in 2011, following leadership roles at Tourism Victoria and Parks Victoria.
Chief Operating Officer – Sally Capp joined the Victorian Chamber in 2015, following senior roles with KPMG and the Victorian State Government.
Chief Financial Officer - Craig Bell joined the Victorian Chamber in 2012 following roles in top-tier investment firms in both London and Melbourne.
Executive Director, Policy and Advocacy - Bryce Posser joined the Victorian Chamber from CPA Australia in 2015.
VTIC Chief Executive – Dianne Smith joined VTIC in January 2012 after more than 20 years in the tourism industry.^[1]

Publications

Business Excellence – quarterly Victorian Chamber and MCC member magazine
Tourism Excellence – quarterly VTIC and VEIC member magazine
Survey of Business Trends and Prospects – quarterly results booklet
Latest policy papers: Strengthening the Competitiveness of Victoria's Higher Education Sector,^[2] Regional Victoria Means Business,^[3] Reforming the Victorian Vocational Education and Training System, Small Business. Big Opportunities^[4]

References

^ About the Victorian Chamber. Retrieved 12 November 2015.

External links

Company site: http://www.victorianchamber.com.au

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