New Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce chairman Phillip Henderson says he is focussed on getting the border reopened and tourism back on its feet.

Phillip Henderson, the chief executive of Vodafone Cook Islands, replaces previous chair Fletcher Melvin, who stood down from the Board and did not seek re-election.

Henderson, who has previously served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors for the past five years, was elected to his new position at the Chamber’s annual general meeting on Thursday at The Edgewater Resort & Spa. 

In his acceptance speech, he said: “The country is still in survival mode – once we get the borders reopened and tourism back on its feet, we need to look at diversification options.”

“You have to have people with different skills and that could mean different flavours of tourism including long term stays.” 

With Henderson at the helm, the Chamber’s board now includes new directors Addrienne Hosking-Tinirau and Lavinia Tama, in addition to vice chair Steve Anderson and other existing board members Eve Hayden (also the Chamber’s chief executive), Gaye Whitta, Greg Stanaway, Tatiana Burn and David Street.

Henderson thanked Melvin and fellow outgoing board member Ana File for their dedication and service over the past term.

He noted Melvin’s commitment to the role, citing the many hours he had put in on behalf of the Cook Islands’ business community throughout what had been an especially difficult 18 months for business, due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On taking over as chair, Henderson said he expected it to be “a smooth transition”.

“Fletcher’s done the hard work to get the Chamber where it is today, so for me it’s just a matter of carrying on with the plan.”

In his outgoing chair’s report at the AGM, Melvin emphasised the need for innovation in the Cook Islands’ approach to education, tertiary training, professional development opportunities, and business diversification.

He also highlighted the Chamber’s increasing engagement with Government, NGOs and various overseas entities, which had allowed the development of a number of new and continuing partnerships, as well as access to increased funding. Information on these partnerships and associated programmes can be found in more detail on the Chamber website.

Speaking after the AGM, Melvin offered his congratulations to the new chair and board.

“The Chamber is in excellent hands and I’m sure they’ll continue the good work.

“It’s all about helping people through the pandemic, pulling people up, and also pushing the ones that are already there a bit higher; I think that’s the new direction of the chamber, and that’s what we want to be about.”

- ‘Business people are passionate about Cook Islands’ – Fletcher Melvin’s final interview as Chamber of Commerce chair in Monday’s edition.