The 14th World Chambers Congress gathered over 1,000 delegates from more than 100 countries, showcasing how chambers, businesses, and governments can work together to advance prosperity, sustainability, and innovation.

September 1, 2025 - CACCI Presidential Tour

The week in Melbourne kicked off on September 1 with the CACCI Presidential Tour, hosted by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). Delegates from CACCI and YEGAP met at the VCCI headquarters for morning tea and a brief dialogue with the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nicholas Reece, VCCI President Adrian Kloeden, outgoing VCCI Chief Executive Paul Guerra, and incumbent VCCI Chief Executive Sally Curtain. Afterwards, VCCI staff took the group to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for a private tour, followed by lunch at the Science Gallery, and then a tour of the Science Gallery exhibits and the Melbourne Connect Precinct.

The program, led by Peter McMullin AM, combined networking, cultural exchange, and exposure to Melbourne’s innovation ecosystem. Later that afternoon, the Good Business Network (GBN) and the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship (ICC COE) co-hosted the Good Business Gathering at Melbourne Business School on the theme Doing Good and Making Money.

The event featured entrepreneur Julia Truong in a fireside chat with Michael Lim, alongside remarks from YEGAP Chair Hiromi Aoki and ICC COE Head Ullas Marar. It highlighted how young founders are building profitable ventures with social impact. The evening continued with the CACCI and YEGAP Party, hosted by Peter McMullin AM at the Science Gallery, which provided a lively networking platform for young entrepreneurs across Asia-Pacific.

Day 1 - September 2, 2025 – 14th World Chambers Congress

The Congress officially opened with a Welcome to Country ceremony led by Murrundindi, Elder of the Wurundjeri people, grounding the event in respect for heritage and inclusivity. Speakers including Premier Jacinta Allan MP, VCCI Chief Executive Paul Guerra, ICC Chair Philippe Varin, and ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton called for chambers, businesses, and governments to act as partners for prosperity.

Discussions highlighted the impact of geopolitical disruption on trade and investment, with Mathias Cormann (OECD), Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah (Dubai Chambers), and Steven Marshall (American Australian Association) emphasizing resilience strategies for businesses. Afternoon sessions examined trust as a cornerstone for stability, with speakers from Edelman, USCIB, and the Indonesian Chamber underscoring transparency as vital to attract investment and drive growth.

On the Exhibition Stage, a major highlight was the Young Entrepreneurs session, which brought fresh momentum to the Congress. The session marked the launch of the Australian Young Entrepreneurs Group (AYEG), led by Founding Chair Michael Lim, Founding Patron Peter McMullin AM, and Founding Strategic Advisor Stuart Mkojera-Thomson with a signing ceremony. AYEG also formalized its partnership with YEGAP under the leadership of Hiromi Aoki with a ceremonial signing of a Letter of Intent.

Following the launch, a panel discussion on why young Australian entrepreneurs should look to Asia featured Julia Truong, Nathaniel Diong, and Sakshi Thakur, moderated by Michael Lim. The discussion was clear and relatable, balancing realism with optimism about the opportunities in Asia. Panelists spoke candidly about the challenges of entering new markets and navigating
cultural differences in doing business between Australia and Asia.

They stressed that the path is often hard and the payoff not immediate, but ultimately meaningful and fulfilling for those willing to invest the effort. At the same time, they highlighted the massive talent pool and culture of innovation in Asia as compelling reasons for young Australians to build stronger regional ties. Participants were invited to stay engaged by signing up to the new AYEG network via QR code, ensuring momentum beyond the event.

The program continued with a keynote from Mongolian entrepreneur Khulan Davaadorj, who shared her journey of launching Lhamour, the country’s first organic skincare line. She recalled starting from her own kitchen and a small office, reflecting on the constant wrestle between growing a business and making a positive impact in the world. Her story offered both inspiration and practical lessons on perseverance and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

This was followed by an Asian regional panel featuring Kimsuor Lay (Cambodia), Willy Gunawan (Indonesia), and Mita Viera (Timor-Leste), moderated by Julia Truong. Panelists discussed how their countries are cultivating young entrepreneurs and explored ways to build deeper collaboration with Australia. Their insights reinforced the opportunities and challenges of cross-border business, and underscored that integration across Asia and Australia can unlock significant value for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Day 2 - September 3, 2025 – 14th World Chambers Congress

The second day spotlighted innovation and transformation as key drivers of growth. ICC launched the Chamber Benchmarking Tool, enabling chambers worldwide to measure and improve their performance.

Plenaries addressed the green transition, with ICC Chair Philippe Varin and Eurochambres President Vladimír Dlouhý urging urgent, collaborative decarbonisation strategies. A session on AI in action examined both the opportunities and risks of adoption, stressing the importance of AI literacy for SMEs and responsible policymaking.

The World Chambers Competition finals celebrated chamber excellence in green transition, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. “How-to” sessions gave chambers practical tools on SME emergency preparedness, climate leadership, anti-corruption strategies, and digital transformation.

The day concluded with the plenary Charting the Future: Leadership for Collaboration and Progress, which tied together themes of innovation, climate action, and global partnerships. Nonkululeko Nyembezi, Co-Chair of B20 South Africa, and Khulan Davaadorj, Founder of Lhamour, inspired delegates with forward-looking messages on how collaboration across countries and sectors can help address today’s most pressing challenges. Their remarks underscored the importance of solidarity and shared vision in creating a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive future.

The day concluded with an inspiring message: chambers must lead boldly, embracing technology and sustainability to not only adapt to change but shape the future of prosperity.

Day 3 - September 4, 2025 – 14th World Chambers Congress

The final day of the Congress brought together powerful stories of leadership and collaboration, highlighting how chambers can shape lasting impact for their communities. The morning plenary on leadership in a changing world featured Sally Guyer (World Commerce & Contracting), Gönül Serbest (Global Victoria), Mimmie Watts (Federation University Australia), and Demetris Skourides (Republic of Cyprus). The speakers emphasized how leadership today requires purpose, authenticity, empathy, and service—moving away from command-andcontrol approaches.

They also underlined that the leaders of tomorrow must connect across cultures and generations, with inclusion and collaboration as essential tools to unlock innovation. Later in the day, Olympic champion Kieren Perkins OAM and François-Xavier Bonnaillie of Brisbane 2032 delivered a keynote on the transformative potential of major sporting events. They showed how collaboration between government, business, and chambers not only ensures success for the Games but also leaves a lasting legacy of opportunity for local SMEs. “Big games are not just for big companies,” Bonnaillie noted, stressing how chambers play a crucial role in preparing small businesses to seize global opportunities.

A key youth-focused highlight of Day 3 was the CACCI Family Business Session on the Exhibition Stage. Moderated by Michael Lim, the session featured Peter McMullin AM, Hiromi Aoki, and Mita Vieira in a dynamic relay-style interview format. Each speaker shared candid reflections on what they had inherited, the challenges of carving out their own entrepreneurial paths, and how they balance family expectations with new directions for growth. They also discussed the difficulties of doing things differently from previous generations and the opportunities for Asian family enterprises to expand globally. The stories connected strongly with the audience, illustrating both the struggles and rewards of next-generation entrepreneurship within established family businesses.

The Congress concluded with a closing plenary led by ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO, VCCI CEO Paul Guerra, and incoming VCCI CEO Sally Curtain. Together, they reflected on the collective insights from three days of dialogue, celebrating the enduring strength of the global chamber network to unite business, government, and communities.

The event ended with a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, which revealed the winners of the 2025 World Chambers Competition and marked the symbolic passing of the Congress baton to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, host of the 15th World Chambers Congress in Toronto in 2027.