I’m coming to you this week from beautiful Bendigo, where today we hosted one of our important Regional Roundtables. Hearing directly from business and industry is the best way for us to really get to the heart of our members’ concerns and challenges.

With a vision to make Victoria the best place for businesses to start, grow and thrive, the Victorian Chamber wants to hear your goals and the support you need to achieve them.

The City of Melbourne’s Small Business Grants Program will return for the first time since 2019, providing grants of up to $20,000 to support innovation and expansion. 

The latest CBD occupancy survey by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry finds the office continues to play a vital role in our professional lives but employers are accepting flexible arrangements and work-life balance.

We are gearing up for our highly-anticipated Victorian Chamber Presents: Victoria – the home of innovation event next week. Political and industry leaders, entrepreneurs and visionaries will come together to reveal future trends and explore strategies to foster innovation in the business landscape.

Prosperity in Victoria’s regions relies on equity and opportunity, Victorian Chamber Chief Executive Paul Guerra has told The Herald Sun Bush Summit 2023.

Taking the temperature of the Victorian business community over the past few weeks, there is a distinctive chill in the confidence barometer. 

I was fortunate to catch up this week with an extremely impressive woman in Freda Miriklis, Chair of the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network (CBWN). The Victorian Chamber first cemented our connection with the CWBN in Geneva at the World Chambers Congress, where our Chamber Change program was a finalist in the Best Gender Equity Project category in the World Chambers Competition. It was great to discuss how we are going to collaborate with the CWBN to continue our work to help empower women in business.

Workers and employers continue to navigate the balance of working from home and in the office.

Retail tenants need to take important steps to prepare for the end of their lease to meet responsibilities and avoid issues.

I hope this finds you well. I, for one, am still buzzing from last night’s Victorian Chamber President’s Dinner – our night of nights where we get to celebrate our members and the contribution that business makes to our great state.

Employees have access to 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave in a 12-month period under new laws.

Ethnic name discrimination highlights glass ceilings do exist in the workplace, according to a Monash Business School study.

In another busy week for the Victorian Chamber, the hallways of our Collins St headquarters on Tuesday best demonstrated the role we play across all levels and sides of government.

Financial support is available for businesses affected by the ending of native timber harvesting.

While we usually open with a positive message, there is no way to sugarcoat the blow of the news that Victoria will no longer be hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.