While the executive remained unchanged at Thursday’s annual general meeting, the committee was increased from nine members to 10 and the meeting was given a sneak peak of the organisation’s soon-to-be launched website.

Following on from a new logo developed because of a changing business environment and growing membership, which stands at 179, the website projects a new image for the chamber and provides a new marketing tool for the city.

The biggest change to the executive committee at the meeting was the absence of long-standing committee members Ralph Ward and Vicki Woods, who did not recontest their seats.

But there was no opposition to the executive.

Jennifer Nichols was elected to her third term as president, alongside vice-president Craig Wellings, treasurer Richard Mudford and immediate past president Greg Farrow.

Three new faces on the committee are Maitland Mercury general manager Peter Dehnert, Matthew Ninness and Ken Archer.

“What excites me more than anything else is we have another three new members on the executive,” Mrs Nichols, owner of the Old George and Dragon restaurant, said.

“I’ve always believed with new people coming into an organisation you get a new influx of enthusiasm.

“You’ve got to have a mix of those who have been there for a long time, which helps with continuity, but you also need to have that influx of new ideas.”

Mrs Nichols said the need for an expanded committee was based on the chamber’s ballooning membership.

She said the nature of business was changing, and more people were recognising the advantages of working together.

“The fact that people put their hands up and we’ve had to increase our numbers from nine to 10 because people want to do this is an indication of the benefits people see in the chamber,” she said.