Event Wrap UP!

Yesterday, we were proud to welcome our members and local business leaders to Future Focus—a dynamic morning of connection, insight, and forward thinking.

With over 90 attendees at Club Maitland City, members and the wider business community enjoyed an informative session—and the opportunity to connect, share ideas, and spark new collaborations. We were also thrilled to see plenty of smiles in front of our brand-new media wall, proudly depicting the heart of Maitland—a fresh visual identity that reflects our city’s energy, pride, and future potential.

The event was proudly supported by our Gold Major Sponsor, The Mutual Bank, and featured a keynote from CEO Mark Williams, who spoke with real heart about the Bank’s commitment to the region. As a 100% member-owned organisation, The Mutual reinvests profits back into its members and community—offering award-winning products, genuine customer care, and digital solutions that make doing business easier. It’s clear they’re not just a bank—they’re a partner in helping our local economy thrive.

We were also thrilled to be joined by Jeff Smith, General Manager of Maitland City Council, for our feature presentation, where he gave us a first look at what’s in store for Maitland under Council’s new long-term vision.

At the centre of Jeff’s update was the newly adopted Community Strategic Plan, which maps out a bold 10-year direction for the city under the shared vision of “a connected city with thriving communities.” Jeff shared the four priority areas shaping Council’s strategy:

1. Thriving People and Places – supporting vibrant, safe and inclusive communities
2. Protected Natural Environment – prioritising sustainability and climate resilience
3. A Growing and Diverse Economy – encouraging business success, jobs, and innovation
4. Connected Infrastructure and Transport – improving how we move, live and work across the city

He also highlighted some impressive achievements from the past year, including:

• $31.3 million in grants secured
• Over 1,000 development applications processed
• Eight business-focused events supported by Council
• More than 77,500 people attending major community events
• Management of over $2 billion in community assets, positioning Maitland for strong, long-term growth

A key takeaway from Jeff’s presentation was the importance of advocacy and partnerships. Through Council’s Partnerships and Advocacy Strategy, there’s a strong focus on working with state and federal governments, private industry and regional collaborators to secure major funding and deliver key projects that will shape the future of our city.

To wrap up, Jeff launched the Maitland Business Pulse Survey, giving local businesses the opportunity to share what matters most to them. If you haven’t completed it yet, jump onto Your Say Maitland—you’ll be helping shape local policy and go in the draw to win a delegate pass to the 2025 Hunter Innovation Festival.

A huge thank you to The Mutual Bank for their ongoing support, and to Jeff Smith & Maitland City Council for sharing such a thoughtful and energising outlook for our region.

As always, the Maitland Business Chamber is proud to stand alongside our members as we advocate, connect and grow—together.

Join us for our next event, Sunset Networking on 28 August, where you’ll enjoy Boydell’s wines and sweeping views from the top floor of PuntHill Apartments—offering a fresh perspective on our vibrant, growing city.

See you there!