that is written like an advertisement . please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view . june 2011 learn how and when to remove this template message nsw business chamber industry not for profit founded 1885 as the chamber of manufactures of nsw 1995 as australian business limited 2007 as nsw business chamber headquarters north sydney australia area served new south wales australian capital territory key people tony dormer president stephen cartwright ceo products business support services and government representation divisions australian business apprenticeship centre ablac australian business solutions group australian business lawyers australian business industrial sydney business chamber illawarra business chamber hunter business chamber canberra business council website nswbusinesschamber.com.au nsw business chamber formerly australian business limited or abl is nsw s peak business organisation providing businesses with information advice products and services . the organisation has a membership of over 20 000 and 119 chambers of commerce in nsw and the act . 1 the chamber s membership represents a broad cross section of australian industry including the food industry clothing chemicals information technology health education and training textiles metals banking and finance transport and travel . 2 the current president is tony dormer and the ceo is stephen cartwright . contents 1 purpose & role 2 services for members 2.1 business compliance 2.2 business results 2.3 business skills 2.4 business connections 2.5 business representation 2.6 business safety 2.7 business globally 3 history 4 structure & governance 4.1 senior management team 4.2 regional management team 4.3 elected presidents 5 divisions 5.1 australian business solutions group 5.2 australian business apprenticeships centre abac 5.3 australian business training solutions abts 5.4 australian business international trade services 5.5 australian business lawyers 5.6 australian business industrial abi 5.7 sydney business chamber 5.8 illawarra business chamber 5.9 hunter business chamber 5.10 canberra business council 6 see also 7 references purpose & role edit nsw business chamber is a not for profit organisation whose purpose is to support the growth and success of the business community in nsw and the act and represent and champion the business community s interests and concerns with government . 3 nsw business chamber provides a range of support services for small medium and large businesses in nsw and the act including support and advice in areas such as hr ir ohs and payroll . the chamber also provides legislation and awards updates and a range of events and seminars for business operators to attend to develop skills and get the latest information on changes in the business environment . 4 the chamber is also a member of the australian chamber of commerce and industry . services for members edit business compliance edit workplace advice line help with complicated workplace management issues . legislation and awards regular updates on changes to legislation and employment awards . australian business lawyers legal representation by experts in industrial relations employment and commercial law . business results edit business development solutions services including seminars training templates diy resources and consulting . business savings exclusive business discounts offered only to members . business skills edit australian business limited apprenticeships centre advice and assistance with australian apprenticeships including sign ups and incentive claims . small business training company now trading as workstar experts in flexible work based traineeships and short courses . business connections edit business to business networking events membership directory online promotion of member s business . business connect magazine featuring case studies regional profiles and updates . e news and e networking legislation and business updates . information and how to seminars nsw business chamber awards regional and state recognition for business excellence . business representation edit federal state and regional lobbying cutting red tape and making business easier to do australian business industrial membership to the peak ir council for employers defence industry membership australian business foundation access to ground breaking innovative research on business economic and industry practices . business safety edit ohs management solutions create or maintain business ohs systems with up to date information diy tools training templates and consulting . training includes workcover accredited courses in house or public . diagnostics workplace risk assessments system improvement and design workers compensation insurance exclusive to members business cover plus prodvies critical post accident support . business globally edit international growth specialists hands on expert assistance with strategies to expand global opportunities . tradestart offers grants and services to assist new exporters in achieving their first export sale . tafta certificates and other export documents a service that makes doing business globally easier . history edit nsw business chamber has undergone a number of name changes and mergers with other business organisations since its founding in 1885 as the chamber of manufactures of nsw as it has adapted to the changes in the australian economy over the past century . the chamber of manufactures of new south wales was established with the inaugural meeting in august 1885 at sydney s town hall in which the rules and regulations were adopted and archibald forsyth was elected as its first president . the chamber got off to an initial slow start with its primary supporters focusing most of their efforts on tariff policy lobbying especially in setting up a protection union in direct opposition to the free traders led by sir henry parkes . the chamber was finally re constituted in june 1895 at a meeting at the hotel australia . the chamber abandoned the idea of partisan political lobbying and conscientiously adopted a position of a non political organisation which has continued to the present day . in 1912 the chamber of manufactures of nsw set up the manufacturers mutual insurance company now mmi . the insurance company arm was established primarily to indemnify employers against claims that might be made by their employees who were injured at work and was in direct response to the new workmen s compensation act of 1910 . the chamber continued to expand in nsw over the following years opening offices in newcastle lismore wollongong and ballina while pursuing possible amalgamations with other business organisations such as the australian chamber of manufactures and employer s federation most of these options were explored but not acted upon . in 1995 the chamber of manufactures of nsw broke its tie with mmi selling its shares of the company and changing its name to australian business limited . the sale of mmi shares made australia business limited one of the most well funded business organisations in australia . in 2006 australian business limited merged with the state chamber of commerce nsw to become australian business limited incorporating the state chamber of commerce then later abl state chamber . 5 in january 2007 abl state chamber changed its name to the nsw business chamber . 6 structure & governance edit stephen cartwright is the ceo of nsw business chamber nsw business chamber s head office is located at north sydney but it also has regional offices located in the sydney cbd western sydney parramatta central coast tuggerah mid north coast port macquarie & coffs harbour northern rivers ballina central west orana orange and murray riverina albury . nsw business chamber is also affiliated with the illawarra business chamber hunter business chamber and the canberra business council . 7 nsw business chamber has eight regional advisory councils covering eight regions of nsw including sydney north sydney south western sydney central coast mid north coast northern rivers central west orana and murray riverina . members in each region elect members to the advisory council who in turn elect the general council and governing board including the position of president . policy is guided by members of nsw business chamber who steer several committees including tax infrastructure environment education and trades ohs and international trade . senior management team edit stephen cartwright chief executive officer simon spicer director finance & strategy darren cocks director commercial services paul orton director policy & advocacy mark stedfut general manager membership services david stewart general manager australian business recruitment solutions paula martin general manager australian business consulting and solutions andrew williams general manager australian business apprenticeship centre patricia forsythe executive director sydney business chamber alex diab general manager human resources garth haffenden general manager finance roger millar general manager ict damian kelly senior manager public affairs mei ching koon general manager corporate marketing & communications regional management team edit kellon beard new england north west mid north coast regional manager vicki seccombe central west orana regional manager chris faulks canberra business council ceo ben foley murray riverina regional manager debra murphy illawarra business chamber ceo kristen keegan hunter business chamber ceo john murray northern rivers regional manager grant payne sydney south regional manager eddie reginato sydney north regional manager geoff starr western sydney regional manager michelle curuso south western sydney regional manager elected presidents edit tony dormer nsw business chamber sue baker finch illawarra business chamber richard anicich hunter business chamber brand hoff canberra business council scott lennon sydney business chamber wayne streat western sydney advisory council kevin wright sydney south advisory council simon harrop sydney north advisory council ken baker central coast advisory council graham morgan mid north coast advisory council donna kildea northern rivers advisory council paul goonan murray riverina advisory council samantha hain central west orana advisory council divisions edit nsw business chamber has several divisions that response to key interests of the business community . australian business solutions group edit australian business solutions group is a multi disciplinary professional services consultancy that offers business support in areas of international trade marketing ohs and hr and ir . it has invested resources and expertise in helping and supporting businesses implement sound hr and ir practices . australian business solutions group provides hands on assistance to identify workplace challenges and helps business owners sustain and grow their business through consulting and online solutions development . australian business has a number of products to assist with ir hr and ohs . australian business apprenticeships centre abac edit australian business apprenticeships centre abac is one of nsw s most respected and experienced private provider of australian apprenticeship services . ablac has specialist knowledge expertise and over ten years experience in the signup process and ongoing management of apprenticeships and traineeships . 8 abac operates under a contract funded by the department of education employment and workplace relations deewr . 9 deewr supports the australian apprenticeships scheme making funds available for employers apprentices and trainees . ablac administers these funds on their behalf . 10 abac lodge the training contracts with the relevant state training authority sta for approval . the stas make decisions about cancellations and suspensions and mediate where necessary ablac and other apprenticeship centres have no jurisdiction over dispute resolution . 11 australian business training solutions abts edit australian business training solutions abts is a registered training organisation which delivers safety and business training . 12 australian business international trade services edit australian business international trade services is the international arm of the nsw business chamber that s role is to stimulate business growth globally . international trade services assists approximately 1 000 businesses each year of all types and sizes in australia to achieve their international business goals to import export or establish an on the ground presence overseas . 13 australian business lawyers edit australian business lawyers & advisors is a law firm providing advice in workplace relations corporate and commercial law and property law . their head office is located in north sydney and it has offices in brisbane cairns and wollongong . australian business industrial abi edit australian business industrial abi is the industrial relations affiliate of nsw business chamber . the main purpose of australian business industrial is to develop workplace policy to lead debate on major workplace relations issues . it has three main functions including representation of member s interest in test cases award matters and inquiries before the nsw and federal industrial