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Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce’s new chairwoman believes its business advocacy needs to strengthen even further.
Wendy van Lieshout, who has taken over from Angela Spackman, has more than 25 years of governance and leadership experience in helping businesses navigate growth and change.
She has latterly been chief executive of international travel company, local-based Active Adventures, stepping down last year to concentrate on governance roles.
Van Lieshout has already had three years on the chamber board, including two years as vice-chairwoman.
She then rejoined it last November ahead of taking over from Spackman, who had nine years on the board including five as chairwoman.
"I wouldn’t have even taken over if she hadn’t got it into such an amazing shape," she says.
"And as I said at the [chamber’s] women’s business conference, they’re big little shoes to fill."
Van Lieshout believes the biggest issues continue to revolve around infrastructure — "the same issues we’ve been advocating for the last four or five years, and they’re just coming more and more to a head as the growth continues".
In addition, with the government pressing councils to amalgamate, "I actually think the chamber will need to have an even stronger voice, because we’ll be more in the hot seat representing the voice of Queenstown business".
Van Lieshout is adamant the Queenstown chamber punches above its weight.
"It’s mad what they can produce out of that small team, but none of that happens by accident.
"We have a really strong strategic plan and the team’s held accountable to making sure we are ticking the boxes in terms of networking, capability, connection, you know, all the different parts of what the chamber needs to deliver."
