She replaced outgoing president Deborah Langton from Carter & Ferguson Solicitors.

Mrs Tribe said she’s excited about being a strong voice on issues that matter to the business community and providing advocacy to business chamber members by lobbying all levels of government as issues arise.

“The Nowra Bridge design is a big issue, it’s an agenda item at our first meeting on Wednesday (September 26),” she said.

“I’m really excited about engaging with smaller chambers and business groups in region.

“Networking and learning opportunities are really important to our members, so we will be looking to do more of that."

The newly-elected president has been working part time as a communications manager for Grand Pacific Health, Nowra, worked for Shoalhaven City Council from 2012-2016, and for Wave FM earlier in her career.

Mrs Tribe said tourism was the Shoalhaven’s most promising industry.

“In my personal opinion, tourism’s going really well, as a chamber we’ve helped with a number of campaigns to grow the region’s tourism potential and foster that growth,” she said.

“We know the Shoalhaven is a great place to live, work, stay and play.”

She said retail, particularly in the Nowra CBD, needs help to reach it potential.

“Retail has always been pretty tough at times in the Nowra CBD,” Mrs Tribe said.

“We’re looking at bringing people like Catherine Shields into discussion groups, we’ll be putting our heads together to come up with ideas, events and campaigns to improve the area’s retail potential.”

With Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis vacating her seat at the end of the term, the close associate of former Gilmore MP, mayor, and existing Shoalhaven Councillor Joanna Gash would not be drawn on whether she was intending to seek preselection.