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The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is proud to join the national rollout of Chamber Change: Small Business, a pioneering women-in-business program designed to empower aspiring female leaders and business owners across Australia.
Led by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and supported by the Federal Government’s Advancing Gender Equality in Gender Segregated Industries grant program, the initiative is set to transform small business leadership opportunities for women nationwide.
Chamber Change: Small Business will be piloted across participating chambers between July 2025 and January 2026. This expansion forms part of ACCI’s broader Future Makers initiative for aspiring and current women small business owners, which also includes education, thought leadership and Australia’s premier Women in Small Business Summit.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said the national expansion of VCCI’s acclaimed program represents a transformative step in strengthening women’s economic participation and leadership.
“At ACCI, we are committed to fostering greater economic participation and leadership opportunities for women across Australia. Through the Future Makers initiative, we are providing women with the tools, networks and opportunities they need to build and lead successful businesses,” Mr McKellar said.
Victorian Chamber Chief of Staff Chanelle Pearson, who oversees the Chamber Change program, welcomed the expansion.
“Over the past three years, VCCI’s Chamber Change has empowered and inspired 475 businesswomen across Victoria. We are thrilled to bring our globally recognised program to aspiring female entrepreneurs around Australia, helping to drive stronger workforce participation and leadership in small business,” Mrs Pearson said.
TCCI Chief Operating Officer, Colleen Reardon, said she was proud to bring the program to Tasmania.
“We are excited to offer Chamber Change: Small Business to women across Tasmania. Supporting the next generation of women leaders is critical to the future of small business, and this initiative will provide participants with inspiration, knowledge and connections to grow their businesses and careers,” she said.
About Chamber Change
VCCI launched Chamber Change in 2022 and has since delivered it across eight programs at its Melbourne headquarters, as well as a further two programs in Bendigo and Geelong. The program, guided by senior female Champions, was a finalist in the Gender Equity category in the World Chambers Competition at the 13th World Chambers Congress in Geneva.
Each Chamber Change program consists of three interactive sessions covering career development, empowerment and leadership skills, supported by networking opportunities and professional training. Participants and Champions also receive digital accreditation.
About Future Makers
ACCI Future Makers is a national initiative to support aspiring and current women small business owners. A central feature is the national roll-out of VCCI’s Chamber Change program. In addition to the national Chamber Change program, the project will deliver thought leadership pieces through tailored resources and workshops, and the inaugural Women in Small Business Summit, to bring together women entrepreneurs, business leaders, policymakers and industry experts to share insights, celebrate success, and drive practical outcomes that improve the operating environment for women-led enterprises. This program presents a significant opportunity for chambers to champion women’s economic participation and leadership.
For more information, please contact:
Mikala Grosse
Business Adviser
mikala.grosse@tcci.com.au
Led by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and supported by the Federal Government’s Advancing Gender Equality in Gender Segregated Industries grant program, the initiative is set to transform small business leadership opportunities for women nationwide.
Chamber Change: Small Business will be piloted across participating chambers between July 2025 and January 2026. This expansion forms part of ACCI’s broader Future Makers initiative for aspiring and current women small business owners, which also includes education, thought leadership and Australia’s premier Women in Small Business Summit.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said the national expansion of VCCI’s acclaimed program represents a transformative step in strengthening women’s economic participation and leadership.
“At ACCI, we are committed to fostering greater economic participation and leadership opportunities for women across Australia. Through the Future Makers initiative, we are providing women with the tools, networks and opportunities they need to build and lead successful businesses,” Mr McKellar said.
Victorian Chamber Chief of Staff Chanelle Pearson, who oversees the Chamber Change program, welcomed the expansion.
“Over the past three years, VCCI’s Chamber Change has empowered and inspired 475 businesswomen across Victoria. We are thrilled to bring our globally recognised program to aspiring female entrepreneurs around Australia, helping to drive stronger workforce participation and leadership in small business,” Mrs Pearson said.
TCCI Chief Operating Officer, Colleen Reardon, said she was proud to bring the program to Tasmania.
“We are excited to offer Chamber Change: Small Business to women across Tasmania. Supporting the next generation of women leaders is critical to the future of small business, and this initiative will provide participants with inspiration, knowledge and connections to grow their businesses and careers,” she said.
About Chamber Change
VCCI launched Chamber Change in 2022 and has since delivered it across eight programs at its Melbourne headquarters, as well as a further two programs in Bendigo and Geelong. The program, guided by senior female Champions, was a finalist in the Gender Equity category in the World Chambers Competition at the 13th World Chambers Congress in Geneva.
Each Chamber Change program consists of three interactive sessions covering career development, empowerment and leadership skills, supported by networking opportunities and professional training. Participants and Champions also receive digital accreditation.
About Future Makers
ACCI Future Makers is a national initiative to support aspiring and current women small business owners. A central feature is the national roll-out of VCCI’s Chamber Change program. In addition to the national Chamber Change program, the project will deliver thought leadership pieces through tailored resources and workshops, and the inaugural Women in Small Business Summit, to bring together women entrepreneurs, business leaders, policymakers and industry experts to share insights, celebrate success, and drive practical outcomes that improve the operating environment for women-led enterprises. This program presents a significant opportunity for chambers to champion women’s economic participation and leadership.
For more information, please contact:
Mikala Grosse
Business Adviser
mikala.grosse@tcci.com.au