Click here if you wish to view the Mayoral Candidate speeches.

Just phone 4690 9310 to make an appointment with a representative to organise your advertisements.

The Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry will convene its “State Election Candidate’s Panels” for Toowoomba North and Toowoomba South to enable constituents to hear about the vision candidates have for their electorates.

Nominations for the election formally open on Monday, 20 February 2012 however, it is known that the Liberal National Party (LNP), Australian Labor Party (ALP), Queensland Greens (Greens) and Katter’s Australian Party (Australian Party) will field candidates in both electorates. Those candidates are Toowoomba North – Trevor Watts (LNP), Kerry Shine (ALP), Peter Pyke (Australian Party) and Frida Forsberg (Greens) and Toowoomba South – Sam McFarlane (ALP), John McVeigh (LNP), David Curless (Australian Party) and Trevor Smith (Greens).

The Chamber’s State Election Candidate’s Panels will be held at the Cathedral Centre on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 commencing at 5.00pm and concluding around 8.00pm. A $29 catering fee applies for attendees.

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Geoff McDonald said “the Chamber has received advice from the eight candidates listed that they will participate in the Panels.”

He added, “The Toowoomba North Panel will be convened first with each candidate given seven minutes to outline their vision. Audience questions will follow and the process will be repeated for Toowoomba South. A one-hour networking session will follow to allow audience members to meet candidates.

Additional candidates are invited to contact Chamber CEO Greg Johnson on mobile 0414 783 343 or by email at greg@toowoombachamber.com.au.  Bookings essential to the Chamber on telephone 4637 2976 or email info@toowoombachamber.com.au.

For immediate release. Contact Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Greg Johnson on mobile 0414 783 343 or email greg@toowoombachamber.com.au.

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Supporting Sponsors

The Toowoomba region is rated as the region most likely to outperform all others in the years to come due to its traditional strong agricultural and manufacturing base and its growing reputation as the gateway to the west and the wealth that is energy, mining and the emerging coal seam gas industry.

Agriculture, energy and mining are the subject of considerable debate and political maneuvering and opinion leaders must take care to ensure that these important areas can co-exist harmoniously.

With the emergence of new energy and mining opportunities comes an expanded appetite for labour and the Chamber’s desire is that small business and industry maintains its labour force and that regional communities are able to grow and prosper, thus the theme for this Summit, ‘Regional business and energy – prospering together’.

SPEAKERS FOR THE EVENT INCLUDE:

Mr Jamie Anderson – Chief Executive Officer, Mastertek
Mr Wayne Bennett – Industry Consultant, Industry Capability Network
Mr Kevin Berg – Gladstone Operations General Manager, Bechtel
Mr John Cotter – Chairman, Surat Basin CSG Engagement Committee
Mr Brendan Davies – Managing Director, Align-Ment Qld Pty Ltd
Ms Jane Holdsworth – Major Developments & Economic Strategy Manager – Western Downs Regional Council
Mr Dallas Hunter – Development Manager, FKG
Dr Ken King – Chief Executive Officer, Gladstone Economic & Industry Development Board
Mr Jim Knudsen – Senior Vice President, QGC Operations
Prof. Douglas Macquarie – Dean, School of Mining, Harvard University
Mr Matthew Martyn-Jones – Director – Queensland, The Australian Industry Group
Professor Clive Palmer – Director, Mineralogy Pty Ltd & CEO of Resourcehouse Ltd
(KEYNOTE SPEAKER at Hutchinson Builders Luncheon on 16th March)
Mr David Rynne – Chief Economist, Queensland Resources Council
Mr Trevor Schwenke – Institute Director, SQIT
Mr Alfonso Vega de Seoane Pallares – Abengoa Solar
Mr Warren Wilmington – Chief Executive Officer, Easternwell

Click here to view the registration brochure.

To register complete the online booking now!

Bob Carroll, Australian Events – Toowoomba Golf Club voucher
Cyntha Hardy, Benmic Industries – Toowoomba Golf Club voucher
Aiden Burke, USQ – Toowoomba Golf Club voucher
Gary Palmer, South Qld Investment Solutions – Focus HR services voucher

An even bigger thank you to our sponsors of the event:  Southern Cross Ford, Horizon Accounting Group, Toowoomba Regional Enterprise, ANZ & Geiger Civil & Electrical.

Click here to view the results.

A photo slideshow will soon be available, contact tracey@toowoombachamber.com.au if you would like to copies now.

$50 Gift Voucher from Hannas – Professor Julie Cotter, USQ

Toowoomba Golf Voucher #1 – Associate Professor Rhoderick McNeill, USQ

Toowoomba Golf Voucher #2 – Mandy Turner, Budget Rent a Car

Toowoomba Golf Voucher #3 – Kerry Betros, Heritage Bank

As is tradition, the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry will convene its “Mayoral Candidates’ Breakfast” to enable constituents, including Chamber members and potential Councillors, to hear about the vision candidates have for the Toowoomba Regional Council area.

Nominations for Council open on Saturday, 11 February 2012 and close on Tuesday, 28 February 2012. Thus far current Mayor Peter Taylor and current Councillor Joe Ramia have indicated that they will nominate. It is anticipated that others will follow.

The Mayoral Candidate’s Breakfast will precede the nomination opening date and is set for Picnic Point Function Centre on Friday, 10 February 2012 commencing at 7.00am.

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Geoff McDonald said “the Chamber has resolved to hold the event earlier rather than later given expected electoral congestion with a record number of Council candidates and the likelihood of elevated state election activity.”

He added, “thus far Mayor Taylor and Councillor Ramia have said publicly that they would nominate for Mayor and I am aware that other civic leaders have been spoken of as likely candidates. I urge them to advise the Chamber as soon as possible so that arrangements can be finalised for the breakfast.”

Mayoral candidates are invited to contact Chamber CEO Greg Johnson for further information at the earliest opportunity, on mobile 0414 783 343 or by email to greg@toowoombachamber.com.au

For immediate release. Contact Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Greg Johnson on mobile 0414 783 343 or email greg@toowoombachamber.com.au

Interested chamber members are invited to consider investing in the Energy Summit as either a sponsor or exhibitor. This is the second year the event will be run, and indications are that it will be fully subscribed.

Click here to download a copy of the 2012 Registration Brochure.

Email Greg at the Chamber for further information.