Chamber’s new presidential ticket champions North East businesses
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Chamber members have elected a new president and vice president to serve the interests of businesses across the region.
Deborah Walton, chief financial officer at Palintest, has been elected as our new president, and takes up the role alongside newly-elected vice president Natasha McDonough, founder of MMC Research Ltd.
The roles ensure the Chamber will continue to advocate for and champion North East businesses in an evolving political landscape, whilst making the most of potential economic opportunities for members.
Deborah said: “I am hugely privileged to be the Chamber’s president and excited to be able to continue to support and champion the North East and the great varied, skilled businesses within the region.
“It’s an honour to work alongside the amazing, award-winning Chamber team that truly has the success of our region at its heart.”
Deborah, formerly the Chamber’s vice president, spoke at our recent AGM and indicated that inclusion will be a key theme throughout her presidency.
She said: “Within my two-year tenure I hope to support the policies of the Chamber that aim to grow our region’s businesses. Notably I would like to bridge the skills gap we are seeing via local skills improvement plans, and question how we can lift our children out of poverty, as the stat of one in three children living in poverty in our region is outrageous.
“It’s also important to me to address any inequality by discussing diversity, equity and inclusion to break down any barriers, of which we had a great discussion around at the Chamber’s AGM using the RED Commission report as a tool for change.
“Big ambitions some would say but every journey starts with a first step.”
The president chairs the Chamber’s Council, which is our main representative body of membership. As such it covers all sizes and scales of businesses across a wide range of sectors and geographies.
Natasha has made a significant contribution to the Chamber in recent years through her chairing of the Sunderland area meetings and significant pieces of work by her own company, particularly in the area of business owners and wellbeing.
Natasha said: “I’ve always bought into the power of the Chamber network ever since working with the British Chambers of Commerce back when I lived in London some 17 years ago.
“The first thing I did when I started my business nine years ago was to join the North East Chamber and, as the years progressed, I’ve become more involved. I’m delighted to now step into the role of vice president.”
Natasha has also set bold ambitions for her vice presidency, she said: “I’m keen to play a part in ensuring the future of the region’s businesses becomes brighter, sustainable and stronger.
“I want to be a voice that represents regional SMEs, and the emerging and scaling client sectors that my company is learning from across the UK.”
At our latest AGM, which took place on 11 July and saw Deborah and Natasha elected to their new roles, Chamber chief executive John McCabe said the Chamber is ready to embrace change and that we remain energised by future opportunities.
We also released the “Building inclusive places: Anti-racism in North East businesses” report at our AGM, which urges organisations across the region to demonstrate the corporate courage to go further to end racism and discrimination, and to promote diversity and inclusion.
Click here to view the report.
Deborah replaces Newcastle Building Society’s Andrew Haigh as Chamber president.