After seven years in the role, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia’s (CCIWA) Chief Executive Officer has announced that he will step down from the role in March 2025.
The Board of CCIWA acknowledged and thanked Chris Rodwell for his stewardship of Western Australia’s largest and most representative business network.
CCIWA President, Nicki Ivory, said, “During Chris’s tenure, CCIWA led the campaign that delivered Western Australia a fairer share of the GST. We also continue to push hard for policy reform across the broad sweep of tax and regulatory issues, particularly the recent industrial relations and environmental regulation reforms.
“Chris has led the organisation through significant challenges for our business community, including tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic to advocate for Western Australian businesses and help them recover.”
Ms Ivory said that CCIWA recognises that business is an integral part of the Western Australian community, and many of CCIWA’s members are small businesses that rely on a strong business voice.
“Under Chris’s leadership, we also tackled complex societal and economic issues that create barriers for women and people with disabilities from participating in the workforce.
“From a commercial perspective, the organisation has transformed. This includes new partnerships, with Epigroup in workplace health and safety and Optima Partners for accounting and taxation advice to small and mid-sized businesses.
“Chris departs at the end of his contract with our very best wishes,” Ms Ivory said.
Mr Rodwell said it had been a privilege to be part of CCIWA’s 134-year legacy of advancing trade and commerce in Western Australia.
“It’s a real honour to serve the people in the state who put their capital at risk, especially the thousands of businesses that choose to be our members. It’s their commitment to trade and commerce that will continue to transform the wealth of the state and the nation,” Mr Rodwell said.
“My family and I have made the difficult decision to leave the state we’ve called home for seven years to return to Sydney. We will leave with an unbreakable connection to this great state and its boundless opportunities. Our twin sons are headed to university next year, and we’ve decided it’s the right time for our younger two, who both have intellectual disabilities, to be closer to family.”
The CCIWA Board will continue to work through its established succession process and has commenced recruitment for its next CEO.
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