New Chamber president aims focus on tourism

It was not until the 11th hour that Danny Stent decided to throw his hat in the ring to run for presidency of the Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce.

Just over an hour later at the chamber’s annual general meeting last Wednesday, Mr Stent emerged as the new president alongside the new-look executive.

The Telegraph understands Mr Stent, director of wealth management company DJ Carmichael in Rockingham, beat Rick Palmer and Karen Court, elected vice-president, who had nominated themselves for the top job.

A previous president of the chamber from 2002 to 2005, Mr Stent said while the region had not changed dramatically in the past decade, there had been significant consolidation in existing industries.

“If there’s any big change, the navy has ramped up their operations more and are continuing to do that,” he said.

Mr Stent said tourism would be a key priority for the chamber.

He said he would meet Rockingham and Kwinana city councils, other key stakeholders and canvas ideas with the chamber’s executive committee – which has 11 new faces — before announcing chamber objectives.

“We’ve got a new executive committee and we’ve now got a great combination of fresh energy, experience and knowledge and a lot of talent,” he said.

“It would be really foolish to go too far without bringing that ability and knowledge out first.”

Mr Stent said the chamber would lobby the major political parties before the State election in March.