General News
10 September, 2025
Commerce North West faces possibility of closure if vacancies aren't filled
The organisation will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 16.
Commerce North West is facing the possibility of closing unless it can get several people to fill vacancies on its board.
The organisation – the peak advocacy body for businesses and commerce in North West Queensland – is urging people to put their name down and nominate for board membership.
A special meeting has been called for Tuesday, September 16, at 5.30pm. It will be held in the Lodge Room, upstairs at the Buffs Club.
Outgoing Commerce North West president Johnno Neilsen said it had been difficult getting volunteers to join the board and assist with running the organisation and setting a strategic direction.
There are seven positions on the board, only three of which are currently filled. The board meets once a month.
“Like most voluntary organisations, it’s hard to get people because we’re all so time-poor. But it’s vital that these sorts of organisations have the right levels of support to help them keep going,” Mr Neilsen said.
“With only three current members on the board, it effectively means we can’t govern the organisation or operate it.”
He said the organisation was hoping to attract people with fresh ideas and energy to get it back up and going.
“We are in a relatively healthy position as an organisation. It would be a shame to fold, because it is in a relatively stable position. But it just needs that resourcing support to get it back up to where it needs to be,” he said.
Mr Neilsen will step down as Commerce North West president at Tuesday’s special meeting.
The organisation is also looking to fill a vacancy for the paid position of casual office manager.
It has decided to cancel this year’s Northern Outback Business Awards, but is hoping the event will return for 2026.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to arrive at, because we know it’s a key event on the calendar for Mount Isa, and it’s something that’s happened every year for the past nearly 20 years,” Mr Neilsen said.
“It was just a bit unfair to put the organising and managing of such a large event onto two or three volunteers.
“So we decided to make the decision that we’d cancel it for this year until we can get back to being in a bit of a stable position.”
He said it had been an honour to serve as board president, a position he’s held for the past year. He has served on the board for three years in total.