New start for Nandini

New start for Nandini

As executive officer for the Docklands Chamber of Commerce for almost eight years, Nandini knows more about the business community in Docklands than most.

But last month Nandini waved goodbye to both the Chamber of Commerce and to Docklands after resigning from her role.

Having worked in Docklands since 2006, Nandini can remember a time when Docklands was a lot quieter, with very little development.

“I think the biggest change I’ve seen during my time in Docklands has been the population explosion, which had been really enjoyable to watch,” she said.

And it’s not just Docklands that has changed over the past eight years, but the Chamber of Commerce too, according to Nandini.

Starting out as a “fledgling organisation” in 2003, the chamber had grown to become a “professional and credible” organisation, she said.

Nandini has worked with four different chamber presidents over her time with the organisation and said each had brought their own unique personalities and connections to the task.

According to Nandini, the professional highlights of her time in Docklands include the summits the chamber organised and held onboard former president Keith Rankin’s boats in 2011 and 2012.

“I’ve been looking back through minutes and old archive material and some of the ideas raised at the summits are really interesting and I think some of then have gone on to be developed,” she said.

Personally, Nandini said one of the highlights of working in Docklands was the relationships she had forged across the entire community.

“I live in an inner-city suburb and I can’t walk down the street there without somebody saying hello to me,” she said

“It’s the same here in Docklands. I love that I can walk through Harbour Town or Victoria Harbour or Yarra’s Edge and know the business owners, the people who run the cafes and shops and all the other businesses in between.”

Nandini said it was the people who had made the job what it was and it’s the people she’ll miss the most.

“I feel privileged and grateful to have stepped into this role. I think I was given a lot of freedom and a lot of trust by various presidents and members of the executive committee, members of the chamber and the City of Melbourne to develop a direction for the chamber.”

“It’s been a really great learning experience.”

So what’s next for Nandini?

“I’m going to manage the offices of small community arts organisations in South Melbourne,” she said. “So the closest I’ll get to Docklands is Southern Cross Station, which is a pity, but I’m sure I’ll be able to stop by.”

Chamber of Commerce president Joh Maxwell said Nandini’s shoes would be hard to fill.

“Nandini had been an integral part of the chamber and has grown with the chamber,” she said.

“We wish her all the best in her new role.”

Alan Maxwell haa been appointed as an interim officer while the Chamber of Commerce recruitment team fills the position.

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