It’s SSBC election month!!!
You can vote now – see link at the bottom of the page to the ballot form.
Nominations have now closed and we’re excited to introduce our 2025 Board Nominees. This year we were overwhelmed with the expertise and experience our nominees plan to bring to not only to the SSBC Board, but to our sponsors and members. We hope you enjoy learning about their background and what they plan to bring to the SSBC.
Laura McLachlan, Executive Republic
Nominated for Secretary
With over 30 years of experience across multinationals, SMEs, and family businesses—as well as more than a decade running her own consultancy—Laura McLachlan, founder of Executive Republic, brings a grounded, practical understanding of how to build efficient, sustainable businesses that perform.
Laura works with organisations to drive continuous improvement, strengthen operational governance, and create streamlined systems and processes. Her strength lies in aligning strategy with day-to-day execution—ensuring leaders and teams stay intentional, accountable, and results-focused.
What sets Laura apart is her people-centred lens. She believes that long-term performance is achieved by refining operations while unlocking the full potential of people. A Certified Neuro Change Practitioner with studies in Applied Social Science and further qualifications in Neuroscience of Leadership, Laura combines behavioural insight with clear, business-driven solutions to guide meaningful growth and change.
Laura is equally passionate about giving back—regularly supporting charities, not-for-profits, and early-stage startups through mentoring, strategic advice, and hands-on involvement. Her commitment to impact extends beyond business, grounded in a belief that strong communities grow from empowered individuals and purposeful leadership.
Rob Stanley Jones, Caringbah Hotel
Nominated for General Board Member
Rob has lived in the Sutherland Shire with his wife Sharon and three daughters for over twenty years, with a career in hospitality and people management spanning close to thirty years. He enjoys the beachside lifestyle and feels privileged to live and work in such a fantastic area.
Rob’s career as a Hotel Licensee has seen him run high profile venues such as Northies at Cronulla from 2001-2014, and more recently Hotel Steyne at Manly. He had a brief corporate stint as a Crew Performance Manager at Qantas, where COVID led him to pivot back into pub operations. He is very happy to have recently become Licensee of The Caringbah Hotel, owned by ALH Group, the largest pub group in Australia. The Caringbah is an iconic venue most well-known for great live entertainment, fantastic food, with an indoor/outdoor function & event space as well as twelve rooms of 4-star accommodation.
Rob has an absolute passion for immersing himself in and promoting the local community. Previous roles include President of the Cronulla Chamber of Commerce for over ten years, along with Gymea Chamber whilst Licensee of the Gymea Hotel. Whilst heading up Cronulla Chamber, he was a Director of Cronulla Promotions Ltd, working closely with Council and other business & tourism stakeholders to enhance amenity and improve foot traffic to the area. Being a huge advocate of harm minimization initiatives, he also chaired the Miranda Liquor Accord whilst at Northies, and has recently become a member of the Sutherland Liquor Accord Executive Committee.
He lives at Kurnell, enjoys keeping fit & healthy, is a patrolling member of Cronulla Surf Lifesaving Club, a member of the volunteer organising committee of the Sutherland Relay For Life, and is also the President of the Kurnell Progress & Precinct Residents Association.
He looks forward to the opportunity of working with like-minded local operators to grow and further enhance Shire business.
Pamela Wood, Wills & Bowring Solicitors
Nominated for General Board Member
Pamela is the Managing Partner of Willis & Bowring Solicitors at Miranda, a firm that has serviced the Shire for 63 years and has worked in the legal industry since 1995. She is a Family Law Specialist, winner of many Sutherland Shire Business Awards and several time finalist of Women in Law Awards and the Women’s Champion Business Awards. Whilst her focus as a family lawyer is assisting her clients through one of the most difficult experiences they will encounter in their lifetime, she also manages her team of 20+ staff ranging from Junior to Senior employees and the challenges that come with running a successful business within our Shire.
In operating Willis & Bowring, she navigates the relationships with other businesses such as local marketing, accounting, financial planning and a range of other businesses exposing her to the different industries that make up our local Shire economy.
As a leading business owner, she is responsible for supporting many of our local events, sporting clubs and schools in their activities and enjoys seeing these clubs and schools prosper and develop for the benefit of our community and in particular our local children who will one day be our leaders and business owners.
With decades of legal experience, Pamela brings with her the ability to guide and show insight into challenges that may arise for the Chamber and to resolve these issues in a practical and efficient manner with a productive outcome for all members.