Stronger governance, stronger financial performance and a stronger voice for local business

The 2025/26 financial year has been a transformational year for the Armadale Chamber of Commerce.

Over the past twelve months, the Chamber has undergone significant change - strengthening its governance, restructuring the Board, improving its financial position, expanding advocacy, increasing membership and sponsorship, and building stronger relationships with the City of Armadale, neighbouring Chambers and the wider business community.

At the centre of this transformation has been a simple principle: the Chamber exists to support business, and it must therefore be run with the same discipline, accountability and strategic thinking we expect from a well-run business.

The results of FY2025/26 demonstrate the progress being made.

A professional and accountable Board

One of the important areas of focus during the year was strengthening the Board's governance capability and continuing to attract members with diverse business, executive, governance and leadership experience.

This was about preparing the Chamber for its next stage of growth and continuing to evolve the governance culture and capability of the organisation.

The current Board has worked to strengthen accountability, transparency, decision-making processes, financial oversight and the Chamber's strategic approach to operations.

During FY2025/26, significant work was undertaken on the Chamber's governance framework, including the Constitution Review, Risk Management Framework, Board Appointment Agreement, Board Indemnity Deed, Board Member Position Descriptions, WHS, Code of Conduct, Respectful Behaviour, dispute resolution, Board Meeting Procedures and formal onboarding and offboarding processes.

This represents a considerable investment in the long-term sustainability of the organisation.

It is also a testament to the leadership and commitment of the current Board. As a volunteer Board, members have contributed significant time, expertise and professional experience to build an organisation capable of serving Armadale's growing business community well into the future.

Running the Chamber like a business

The Board continued developing a stronger commercial approach to the Chamber.

Throughout the year, we looked more closely at income, expenditure, sponsorship, member value, event performance, governance risk and long-term sustainability.

The financial results demonstrate the impact of this approach.

Total income increased from $25,448.90 in FY2024/25 to $45,064.36 in FY2025/26 - growth of 77.1%.

Membership income increased 52.7%, while sponsorship income grew 114%. Functions and event income increased an impressive 131.6%. Gross profit increased by approximately 52% to $25,764.44.

These are significant improvements for a member-based, not-for-profit organisation enabling the association to create more events to empower the local business community.

The Chamber recorded a year-end accounting deficit of $3,647.13, compared with a deficit of $5,312.39 in the previous year - an improvement of approximately 31%. Importantly, much of the year's expenditure reflected deliberate investment in legal, governance, compliance and organisational development, including $9,894 in legal consulting costs.

The Chamber nevertheless closed the year with $54,295.39 in cash reserves, providing a strong financial foundation as we enter FY2026/27.

In addition, the Chamber entered FY2026/27 with further contracted sponsorship commitments, strengthening the revenue outlook for the new financial year.

For the Board, the objective is not simply to accumulate funds. It is to ensure the Chamber remains financially sustainable while investing responsibly in initiatives that create measurable value for our members and the wider business community and that all of its operational function are costed and paid on time.

Membership and engagement continue to grow

At 30 June 2026, the Chamber had grown to 107 financial members, alongside an expanding database of businesses and stakeholders engaged with Chamber activities.

Throughout the year, we delivered 12 Coffee Catch-Ups, educational workshops, networking opportunities and our International Women's Day event, while commencing development of the inaugural Armadale Business Excellence Awards.

Our Coffee Catch-Ups have become an important part of the local business calendar, creating regular opportunities for businesses to meet, collaborate and build relationships.

We also introduced the Grow Your Business Workshop Series, providing practical education across areas including legal risk, finance, business planning, marketing and business growth.

A stronger partnership with the City of Armadale

Another major achievement has been the strengthening of the Chamber's relationship with the City of Armadale.

Working collaboratively with the City's Economic Development team, the Chamber established the Grow Your Business Workshop Series and continued working together on advocacy, networking and economic development initiatives.

This relationship demonstrates what can be achieved when local government and the business community work collaboratively rather than independently.

Advocacy that produces results

The Chamber has also strengthened its role as an advocate for local businesses.

The Kelmscott Business Advocacy Project brought together feedback from local businesses and presented their concerns to the City of Armadale, Main Roads Western Australia, local Members of Parliament and other stakeholders.

This work helped elevate the challenges facing the Kelmscott business precinct and coincided with the City's commitment of $1.5 million towards the beautification and revitalisation of Kelmscott.

Our advocacy is also expanding beyond the City of Armadale.

Through participation in the Bullwinkel Business Alliance, the Chamber is collaborating with neighbouring Chambers and business organisations to strengthen the collective voice of SMEs and family businesses across the region. The Alliance has commenced work on its first collaborative White Paper examining the potential impact of Federal Budget and taxation reforms on SMEs, investors, family businesses and regional economies.

This represents an important evolution for the Chamber: from being primarily a local networking organisation to becoming an increasingly credible voice for business.

Marketing support that helped build momentum

The Chamber also benefited from significant in-kind marketing support during the year. Brand Guru Agency, founded and led by Chamber President Deena Syed, provided the Chamber’s marketing services free of charge for the first year, helping to strengthen the Chamber’s communications, visibility and engagement with the local business community.

This support played an important role in building awareness and traction around the Chamber’s events, advocacy, membership and broader activities. Strong governance and programs need to be supported by effective communication, and this contribution helped ensure the work being undertaken by the Chamber was seen, understood and supported by the community.

Building the Chamber for the next stage of growth

FY2025/26 was ultimately about building foundations.

Some of the work undertaken this year - governance policies, legal reviews, Board restructuring, financial controls and organisational processes - may not always be visible from the outside.

But these foundations matter.

Sustainable organisations require good governance. Strong advocacy requires credibility. Growth requires financial discipline. And effective Boards require people who are prepared to bring experience, accountability and independent thinking to the table.

The results achieved this year demonstrate the value of a Board working collectively around a clear purpose.

There is still considerable work ahead, but the Armadale Chamber enters FY2026/27 with stronger governance, growing revenue streams, healthy cash reserves, an expanding membership, stronger partnerships and a much clearer strategic direction.

Our focus remains true to the Chamber's purpose: to advocate, connect and facilitate innovation for the growth of the local business community.

Join us at the 2026 Annual General Meeting

The Armadale Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 24 September 2026, 5:30pm – Armadale District Hall.

The AGM will provide members with an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and financial performance of FY2025/26, hear about the Chamber's priorities for the year ahead and participate in the ongoing governance and future direction of their Chamber.

As we enter the next phase of growth, we encourage our members to be part of that conversation.

The progress made over the past year belongs not only to the Board, but to our members, sponsors, partners, volunteers and local businesses who continue to support the Chamber and believe in what we are building together.

Together, we are building a stronger Chamber and a stronger business community for Armadale.

Read the full President Reprot FY2026