The KwaZulu-Natal Business Chambers Council (KBCC) has recently seen a change of leadership, as the previously elected committee members’ terms of office have expired.

Taking over the reins from Akash Singh is Dominic Collett who is the newly elected chairperson of the KBCC. Collett is also the president of the iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

Collett is a civil engineer by trade and is the Principal and Market Segment Leader:  Urban Drainage and Sanitation with Royal HaskoningDHV.  He has been a member of the iLembe Chamber’s executive committee for the past five years and represents the Chamber at the critical infrastructure forums and working groups at both local, district and provincial government level.

The vice-chairperson is Judith Nzimande, first female president of the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry and general manager of Human Resources for Richards Bay Coal Terminal. Melanie Veness, chief executive officer of the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business, was elected as treasurer.

Akash Singh congratulated the new committee members. He said, “I wish you all the best in making the KBCC the preferred business organisation in KZN.”

KwaZulu-Natal is the only province in South Africa that has an umbrella structure for the various chambers of commerce and business organisations present in the region. Current members include the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Minara Chamber of Commerce, the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business, iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the KZN Growth Coalition, the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, Kokstad Chamber of Commerce, the KZN Youth Chamber, FABCOS and NAFCOC.

A current aim of the KBCC is to grow the membership in the province to include other active business organisations.

Collett said, “The KBCC is a young chamber and my goal is to follow the lead of my predecessor, Akash Singh, and continue to build on and implement KBCC’s mandate so that we maintain our current strong momentum.” He added, “The KBCC is a voice for matters pertaining to business in the province, represents member chambers, and provides an integrated platform for provincial government to engage with the KZN business chambers and organisations as a collective.  Through our active role on the KZN Economic Council, input on economic growth and strategy is also provided to the KZN provincial government. We are able to sit down with business, government and labour and straight away attempt to resolve matters of concern.”

The KBCC has a strategy session planned for November, wherein the members will propose new methods of engaging with business and government in order to promote a stronger economy in the province.

“KwaZulu-Natal has a number of growth nodes, which include Durban and the north coast. It is important that we build on the potential inherent in these regions so that we can get ahead of the pack. Growing our owerbase will ensure that we increase our competitive advantage over Gauteng, which will promote much desired socio-economic growth, to the benefit of all,”  concluded Collett.