COVID-19 intensified the challenges faced by government and private sectors in delivering policy outcomes that balance public health, economic development, sustainability and social cohesion. Founded during the pandemic, York Park Group manages such complex issues and reputations through research, strategic communications and political counsel.

Welcome to our first edition of Victorian Chamber News for 2022. We know that staff shortages, supply chain issues, isolation requirements, density limits and lack of accessibility to Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) continue to cause difficulty and stress and the Victorian Chamber team is working hard to ensure your voices are heard and practical solutions can be found.

If you were lucky enough to get in a break over the school holidays, you would have noticed the crippling effect that Covid-19 is having on our small businesses across the state.

Each year, around this time, I enjoy taking a few moments to reflect on what transpired in social media marketing over the last 12 months — and how businesses would need to adapt to keep growing through social media.

The Victorian Chamber, in partnership with the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR), is proud to today announce the winners of the inaugural Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards.

It’s the report that you helped us create, and one that might well sharpen the focus on what Victoria needs to do to be the best state to operate a business in. I’m very proud of to release the Cost and Ease of Doing Business in Victoria Taskforce Report.

The Victorian Chamber has vast expertise in business development for Australian entities seeking to expand into Asia and vice-versa, conducting market research and feasibility studies, developing market entry strategies, implementing business plans and much more.

Providing exceptional food services and retail management at many large-scale venues and attractions across the globe, it’s likely Delaware North has been behind the scenes of a recent event you have attended or a tourist destination you have visited.

Great news this week with several positive developments to set us on a cracking pace for our state’s COVID-19 recovery.

Most large Financial Services Industry (FSI) organisations have technology landscapes that have developed organically through multiple waves of architectural influence and as a result, significant technical debt. In this context, technical debt is the aggregate cost to resolve end-of-life/support risks, security vulnerabilities, exponentially increasing cost-of-ownership and an inability to service contemporary market demands.

The Australian Government’s lead cyber security agency, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), has encouraged organisations to urgently review their systems in light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Victorian Chamber encourages members to explore SME Connect, an initiative from national science agency CSIRO, which connects local small-to-medium businesses with Australia's research sector and facilitates innovation-driven partnerships through funding, support and resources.

Pat McCluskey and Pat Boland founded ANCA (formerly Australian Numerical Control and Automation) in 1974. Today it is a thriving business headquartered in Melbourne with more than 1,000 employees and a world-leading manufacturer of computer numerical control (CNC) grinding machines, motion controls, sheet metal solutions and component design and manufacturing.

Yesterday we celebrated International Women’s Day, a global event marking the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and amplifying the call for diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces.

Habits can be hard to break and I’m sure we all felt a bit uncertain last week as office workers started to return after the better part of two years working from home.

Analysis by major road operator Transurban has found commuters are choosing private vehicles over public transport as our habits and routines evolve as a result of the pandemic.