As business awaits next week’s State Budget, the latest feedback from our members is that regained confidence post-pandemic has waned in the face of tough economic conditions.

We have one hot off the press today! We are incredibly proud to announce that the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been named as one of four finalists in the 13th World Chambers Congress (WCC) 2023 Competition in the Best Gender Equity Project category for our Chamber Change (Women in Business) program.

In a boon for Melbourne, the City is set to welcome more than 14,000 Rotary members and participants from more than 120 countries and regions around the world for the 2023 Rotary International Convention.

As we approach the budget season, we are in continuing discussions with the State Government to ensure business remains positioned to provide the growth the State needs. I expect those meetings will continue over the next few weeks as well.

Businesses have an opportunity to promote awareness and inclusion for Australians with low vision or blindness who use Guide Dogs.

Increased cost of living is the number one issue facing many Australians today. It’s also likely affecting the emotional and financial wellbeing of your employees.

Pitcher Partners Business Radar report has shown that business leaders may overestimate their organisation’s preparedness for a cyber-attack or data breach, potentially leading to underestimation of the risks they face.

On Tuesday, we reflected on the sacrifice that generations of Australians and New Zealanders have made to protect our way of life. Hundreds of Anzac Day commemorations took place across the State to honour the Anzac spirit; it felt to me as if that spirit was particularly prominent this year, perhaps it was heightened among Victorians because of the war in Ukraine and global instability.

With post-pandemic hybrid work here to stay, Melbourne Chamber member Swinburne University of Technology has identified a ‘2023-defining trend’ beyond working from home.

Melbourne Chamber member Port of Melbourne (PoM) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will lead to the development of greener shipping solutions and export opportunities for Victoria.

Melbourne has been chosen to host the inaugural Asia Pacific (APAC) Offshore Wind and Green Hydrogen Summit from 29-31 August.

It certainly feels like the year continues to accelerate, and I hope you are doing what you need to ensure your business is in good shape.

I hope you all had a wonderful and safe long weekend. It was certainly great to have a break, and hopefully some of you can enjoy extra time with your children as we enter school holidays.

People analytics presents a significant opportunity for businesses. Those with the systems in place to collect data and use it to inform their decision-making can optimise talent programs, close skills gaps and improve business performance.

We saw Melbourne at its best over the weekend as we played host to a Melbourne-record Formula One crowd of more than 440,000 people at Albert Park.

Late last year, the Federal Parliament passed significant amendments to the Fair Work Act to have companies remove pay secrecy provisions within employment contracts, among other workplace amendments.