Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry

About Us

The Chamber’s purpose is to unite and empower Whitsunday businesses by advocating, supporting, and fostering a thriving and collaborative business environment.

Our past

The Airlie Beach Chamber of Commerce was established in 2013, building on the efforts and achievements of previous Airlie Beach Chambers. Initially, most of the Chamber members were located around the Main Street of Airlie Beach.

In December 2015 our name changed to Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce to reflect the current membership and the Chamber’s coverage.

In 2023, in response to strategic developments within the Chamber and the merger with the Proserpine Chamber of Commerce, we became the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Our present

The Chamber is an apolitical and financially autonomous organisation, working to continually improve business conditions in the region. 

While we work collaboratively with all levels of government and other representative bodies, both in the private and public sectors, the Chamber’s greatest asset is its independence. It allows us to advocate on a range of issues to advance the concerns and interests of our members in regional economic opportunities and community affairs.

As the united voice of local business and industry, we are committed to driving sustainable business growth and connectivity for our members.

Our current membership is drawn from the entire Whitsunday business community, representing all industry sectors.

The Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry remains focused on its responsibility to build business capacity, to advocate for the best possible business environment for our members to operate in, and to take advantage of opportunities.

Meet the Chamber Board

Board members (L-R) Emily Harvey, Megan Taylor, Allan Milostic, Anthony Nobilia, Asher Telford and Fiona Erquiaga (absent Jannah Baker).
Photo credit: Daniel Heggie/Mackay and Whitsunday Life

The Chamber is led by a visionary and engaged Board:

  • President Allan Milostic (LiveLife Pharmacy Airlie Beach)
  • Vice President Vacant
  • Secretary Megan Taylor (Kapow Interactive)
  • Treasurer Fiona Erquiaga (Smooth Sailing Finance Consulting)
  • Jannah Baker (Scallywag Fabrication)
  • Emily Harvey (Filby’s Motors)
  • Anthony Nobilia (Airlie Beach Executive Services)
  • Asher Telford (Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association and SeaLink)

Sub-Committees

The Chamber has a number of Advisory Groups and Sub-Committees to help inform and delivery our activities.

Chamber Advisory Group

The Chamber’s Advisory Group brings together regional business leaders to drive strategic discussions and strengthen the united voice of the Whitsunday business community. It serves as a strategic think tank, reinforcing the Chamber’s position as the ‘go-to’ source of regional business expertise for all levels of government.

Chamber Advisory Group Members:

  • Allan Milostic (Chair) – President, Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Adrian Bram – Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association
  • Bernadette Porter – Proserpine State High School
  • Cory-Dean O’Shae – Wilmar Proserpine Mill
  • Courtney Quinn-McCabe – Tassal Proserpine Prawn Farm
  • Jaide & Andrew Paranomos – McDonald’s Airlie Beach, Cannonvale & Bowen
  • Judy Porter – Shiift
  • Julia Wheway – TAFE Queensland
  • Kate Purdie – Coral Sea Marina Resort
  • Kon Flaherty – Green Energy Technology
  • Mark Henry – Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine
Prosperine Sub-Committee

The Chamber’s Proserpine Sub-Committee brings together passionate local business owners and operators to focus on the unique challenges and opportunities in Proserpine. This sub-committee is all about giving Proserpine businesses a stronger voice and ensuring they’re at the table when it comes to shaping the region’s future.

Proserpine Sub-Committee Members:

  • Jannah Baker (Chair) – Scallywag Fabrication
  • Barb Cochrane – Fresh Fields News and Gifts
  • Bernadette Porter – Proserpine State High School
  • Channelle Gangemi – Gangemi Cabinetmakers
  • Emily Harvey – Filby’s Motors
  • Leigh Skead – Creative Connections Whitsunday
  • Mark Lipkin – The Airlie Group
  • Wendy Barker – AWB First Aid First
Ground Transport Operators Sub-Committee

The Ground Transport Operators Sub-Committee brings together key transport providers from across the region and serves as a formal conduit through which transport-related concerns, opportunities, and recommendations can be effectively communicated to major regional and state stakeholders.

Members of the GTO Sub-Committee are:

  • Anthony Nobilia (Chair) – Airlie Beach Executive Services
  • Darrell Storey – Airlie Beach Party Bus
  • Ian Paczensky – Whitsunday Transit
  • Jim Sherrington – Whitsunday Transport Company
  • Max McBride & Trevor Moore – Mackay Whitsunday Taxis
  • Rabia Morris – Whitsunday Wheels
Weddings Whitsundays Advisory Group

The Weddings Whitsundays Advisory Group, comprised of self-nominated industry stakeholders, will focus on solidifying crucial marketing elements and defining strategic approaches that will elevate the Whitsundays’ presence in the competitive wedding market.

Members of the Weddings Whitsundays Advisory Group are: 

  • Cait Fleming (Chair) – Weddings Whitsundays Liaison
  • Annie Lloyd-Lewis – I Do Whitsunday Weddings
  • Brooke Miles – Brooke Miles Photography
  • Dave Sampson – Whitsunday Entertainment
  • Deb Savvy – Tropix Photography
  • Lauriely Taylor – Lauriely Taylor Makeup
  • Melissa Ardern – The Creek Whitsundays
  • Stef Pagden – Elementa Whitsundays
  • Tanya Watts – Tanya Watts Celebrant

Meet Your Chamber Liaison

Finally, meet our Chamber Liaison – Dr Julia Evans who oversees Chamber operations. We also receive specialist government and advocacy advice from Richard Evans. Together, they bring over 40 years’ experience in executive leadership, governance, strategy, advocacy, member education and engagement, and operations in state and national peak industry associations.

Julia is your primary point of contact for the Chamber via admin@whitsundaycoastchamber.com.au

Join the Chamber today »