There were lots of important drivers of growth in Otago that needed to be harnessed, such as offshore oil exploration, education, health, tourism, engineering and manufacturing.
"We need to try, as a city, to bring together the organisations that can drive that growth. The Dunedin City Council, the Otago Regional Council, the chamber, the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic all need to work together to growth the city's economic wellbeing."
It was frustrating to hear some people in Otago talking about the lack of growth in the region, just as it was frustrating to hear people complaining about the weather, he said in an interview.
If it was a bad day in Dunedin, it was probably a bad day elsewhere.
"We have to act and act fast and it's not about reinventing the wheel. There are many international studies around that can be used."
Dunedin was a "boutique city" and could follow the lead of Portland, in the United States, which was able to build growth on its quirkiness, Mr McIntyre said.
The chamber would this year celebrate its 150th year but it had been in existence longer than that, he said.
Early chamber members had advocated for the establishment of the University of OtagoOne of Mr McIntyre's major goals was to increase the chamber's links into the Otago business community.
He felt the chamber had to bolster and reinforce its relationship with the university and the Otago Polytechnic.
The tertiary sector was the largest contributor to Dunedin's economy and chamber members employed graduates.
"It seems to me there should be more formal methods of communicating with and learning about key issues affecting these organisations so crucial to Dunedin's wellbeing."
It was Mr McIntyre's intention for the chamber to continue its lobbying work on behalf of members who were unable to do it themselves.
The chamber lobbied local and territorial authorities for lower rates, supported the retail sector, and logistics and transport industries.
The chamber also took on the city council about the harbour-side development when members felt their livelihoods were being threatened.
"When I first started with the chamber nine years ago, our focus was how to lower power bills.
"We have come a long way since then. We are a well-run, well-governed organisation with a big role to play throughout all of Otago."
As the pressure on infrastructure increased in northern centres, the Government had an obligation to help all centres grow, not just one or two, Mr McIntyre said.
Peter McIntyre
• Aged 46
• President of Otago Chamber of Commerce
• Craigs Investment Partners sharebroker
• Lincoln University (diploma in wool technology), University of Otago (BCom Finance), Massey University (graduate diploma in business studies).
• NZX (New Zealand Stock Exchange) diploma.
• Community service: Otago Community Hospice board member. New Zealand Hospice board member, director of Biz Otago.
