LAST financial year was Wanneroo Business Association’s most successful with record membership numbers, incoming president Dinesh Aggarwal says.
Mr Aggarwal said the organisation also had its highest ever net surplus in 2017-18 while giving his treasurer’s summary after eight years in the role.
“With a record number of members and the highest ever net surplus made by the organisation, we have emerged as one of the most respectable business associations in the northern corridor,” he said.
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READ NOW“Membership continued to grow through the year with 359 members at the end of June 2018 as compared to 320 members on June 30, 2017.
“This is record time high in the history of WBA.”
As the association prepares to co-host its third Wanneroo Business Expo at the Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre next month, Mr Aggarwal said last year’s event was a “triumph” with more than 660 registrations.
“We changed the event to a one day event, meaning traffic was strong and exhibitors had a great day,” he said.
“The expo will be back for August 2018 and is set to bigger than ever.”
MORE: Big turnout expected at Wanneroo Business Expo
Mr Aggarwal said the association and the City of Wanneroo changed the focus of the Hybrid 935 premises on Wanneroo Road from a co-working to meeting and event space, resulting in a 64 per cent increase in use.
They also delivered a free sales and marketing workshop series to 93 businesses, which will continue in 2018-19.
Mr Aggarwal said the board decided to end a pilot business advisory program due to low take up and would focus instead on a research project with ECU to match membership benefits with the business community’s needs.
The association will contribute $10,000 to that research, which will result in its surplus for 2018-19 being about $30,000.
It has budgeted that the income will be about $290,000 and expenses will total almost $200,000 for the year ahead.
The association and City signed a sponsorship agreement for 2018-21 at its AGM, held at Bridgleigh Reception Centre in Wanneroo on July 18.
WBA board 2018-19
President: Dinesh Aggarwal
Vice president: Peter Armstrong
Treasurer: Nigel Santa Maria
Secretary: Felicity Lockyer
Board members: Phil Oxenburgh, Andrew Jennings, Stephen Wigley, Jalleh Sharafizad, Greg Comans, Chantell Downsborough