President’s Welcome
Dear Members and Friends,
Wow, 2025 is shaping up to be our biggest year yet! We recently celebrated International Women’s Day with our largest breakfast to date, featuring an inspiring keynote from Christine Finnegan, CEO of Tasmania JackJumpers. A huge thank you to all our IWD event sponsors who made this event possible.
Our first “What’s on Your Plate” roundtable breakfast last month highlighted several challenges facing businesses. While the Reserve Bank’s recent decision to lower the cash rate is a welcome relief for small businesses, high operating expenses and difficulties in finding suitable staff continue to weigh heavily. The growth of new business start-ups has also significantly slowed for regional areas outside of Hobart, highlighting the need for more robust support for entrepreneurship and business innovation. Key issues such as infrastructure, freight, housing, transport, skills, and renewable energy projects are among the economic challenges and priorities for Devonport’s key industries and businesses.
In preparation for the upcoming Federal Election, we recently had the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Opposition Leader, the Hon Sussan Ley MP, who also serves as the Shadow Minister for Women, Industry Skills and Training, and Small and Family Business. We discussed various initiatives to support and empower businesses in our community, and we are grateful for Sussan’s dedication to understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by small business owners.
In terms of upcoming events, we have a range of new, exciting initiatives coming up to support our members. At the end of the month, we will be hosting our first Regional Economic Outlook with the University of Tasmania’s Vice Chancellor Rufus Black along with the Deputy Premier and Treasurer, The Hon Guy Barnett where members will gain valuable insights on the key economic issues.
Last week we also announced two new major events – the Tasmanian Business Conference and Women in Business Summit, a first for Devonport. Taking place on May 15 and 16, 2025, these groundbreaking events are poised to have a significant impact on the local economy. Both events are expected to attract over 450 delegates to learn from influential leaders, innovative thinkers, and local experts. The first two keynote speakers have been announced: Michael McQueen, a globally renowned futurist, and Dr. Catriona Wallace, ranked as the most influential woman in business by the Australian Financial Review. Read More Here.
Lastly, mark your calendars for a huge month ahead with several major events attracting large crowds, including Ten Days on the Island, the Devonport Motor Show, and the Australia Rowing Championships. The Australian Rowing Championships are expected to attract over 6,000 participants, visitors, and spectators to North West Tasmania, providing a significant boost to our local economy. We encourage all businesses to consider their opening hours and how they can benefit from an increase in visitation to our region. Keep an eye on What’s On Devonport for more upcoming events.
I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events and encourage you to reach out to our volunteer Executive Members if there is anything you would like to discuss to support you to do business in our community.
Best regards,
Claire Connelly
President
Media Releases
Welcome to our Newest Members
Welcome to our new members joining our growing network. We’re thrilled to have a diverse range of members from various sectors and now represent over 150 businesses and individuals in our community.
Regional Economic Outlook Luncheon
Join us for the inaugural Regional Economic Outlook Business Luncheon, where business leaders, decision-makers, and industry experts come together to gain insights into the economic landscape ahead.
Rufus Black, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Tasmania, will deliver an Economic Outlook, exploring the key trends shaping our region’s future.
Following the presentation, a Moderated Q&A discussion will feature Rufus Black along with the Deputy Premier & Treasurer the Hon. Guy Barnett MP, and DCCI President and TCCI Board Director, Claire Connelly, offering diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Don’t miss this chance to stay informed, ask questions, and connect with fellow business professionals as we navigate the economic road ahead.
Regional Economic Outlook LuncheonBusiness Breakfast with Sam Marshall, NBN
Great things are happening in our area – Devonport can now access NBN’s full fibre for the first time.
Join us for our March breakfast where special guest – Sam Marshall, Regional Development and Engagement Manager for NBN Local, will talk about the essential and exciting updates to the local NBN network changes within our community.
This informal breakfast is the perfect opportunity to network, share insights, and collaborate with fellow business leaders.
Book NowNew Members, Marketing & Mingling!
Join us for a digital ready conversation with Kingthing hosted by Storktalk.
Limited Tickets: This is a networking event not to be missed!
Book NowSave the Date – Upcoming Events
Add these events to your calendar now to ensure you don’t miss out!
Business Security Briefing with Tasmania Police
Wednesday, 16 April 2025 | 7:00am – 8:30am
paranaple Convention Centre, Devonport
Hear from Tasmania Police on contemporary business security methods and how to implement safeguards for your business.
Tasmanian Business Conference and Women in Business Summit
Thursday & Friday, 15 and 16 May 2025
paranaple Convention Centre, Devonport
These events will provide a unique platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration, fostering regional business growth and supporting the Tasmanian business community.
Visit: https://tasbusconf.au/ for more information and tickets.
Early bird pricing ends 5pm 28 March 2025.
For more information, check our website here!
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Contact us for more information, mail@dcci.org.au
