who is FIBI

FIBI's dedicated volunteer board convenes monthly to deliberate on policy, strategy, and projects relevant to Development, Agriculture, and Visitor Services. The Chairperson oversees implementation, supported by board members and specialist consultants, as needed, leveraging their industry experience to drive initiatives forward.

Chairperson - Magdalena Steffens-Bartrim (Earth Global Consulting)

Vice-Chair - Ben Backhaus (Flinders Island Bush Pharmacy)

Treasurer - Diana Droog (The Perch visitor accommodation)

Secretary - Nathan Allen (High Yield Solar & Electrical)

Public Officer - Michael Buck (Coaching People Australia)

Member - Edwina Campion (Coral Glen Farm)

Member - Nick Campion (Coral Glen Farm)

FIBI serves as the voice of the business community on Flinders Island, representing both financial and non-financial members. Our diverse membership spans local businesses and community groups across all industry sectors.

In 2020, the Flinders Island Tourism and Business Association (FITBA) moved to form a new organisation dedicated to supporting all local businesses, beyond just the tourism sector. This decision marked the beginning of a new chapter for FIBI.

With this evolution, FIBI joined the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TCCI) and became part of the Tasmanian Chamber Alliance. The transition enhanced the opportunities and support available to our members and amplified our influence with State and Federal Governments.

Consequently, all FIBI members gain membership to TCCI, providing full access to a wide range of benefits.

FIBI is guided by our core values, identified by our members, which serve as the foundation for achieving our goals and nurturing a thriving community. These values include:

• Mutual respect and appreciation

• Honesty and accountability

• Transparency, equity and inclusion

• Caring for the community and environment

Guided by these values, our goal is to develop and market businesses within the Furneaux Region. We aim to create sustainable economic growth that preserves the natural beauty of our islands and enhances the well-being of the region through:

• Creating a highly desirable destination that protects its environment

• Effective marketing of the Furneaux Region products and services

• Facilitating improved access to the islands for both freight and people

• Enhancing customer satisfaction for all visitors to the Furneaux Region

• Continuous development of industry knowledge and skills

• Working with other business groups and government agencies

• Facilitating working relationships between members of all sectors for the benefit of the local economy

As we work towards our goals, we acknowledge the challenges facing the Furneaux Region. These challenges include:

• Limited market size - particularly for businesses that rely primarily on a local market

• Cost of transporting goods between the islands, Tasmania and mainland Australia

• Regulatory regimes designed for large municipalities rather than remote rural islands

• Shortage of skilled working-age residents to fill local positions, leading to a workforce tipping point, at which our population will not be able to maintain essential public and private services

• Constrained growth due to the restricted ability to attract more residents

• Shortage of rentable and affordable housing

• Lack of suitable training and employment options for all sectors

• Lack of resources to adequately protect our environment

Despite these challenges, we remain committed to finding innovative solutions and working collaboratively with our community to overcome obstacles and build a prosperous future for the Furneaux Region.