ABC 2025 Wrapped
A look back at 2025, with General Manager Glen Robison and Chair Desiree Georgiou
What a year, Albury.
If there’s one thing we can say with absolute confidence as we wrap up 2025, it’s this: our region has found its rhythm again. After a few years of uncertainty and stop-start confidence, business sentiment has well and truly swung back toward growth. Retail has started to lift, our sentiment is higher than comparable regions, and you can almost feel the momentum building when you walk through our CBD or chat with local operators.
And here’s the part we’re especially proud of-you.
Ninety new businesses chose to join Albury Business Connect this calendar year. Ninety! That’s not just a number; that’s 90 stories, 90 bets placed on the strength of this region, and 90 fresh voices joining our collective chorus. It tells us the business community believes in Albury and believes in what we can achieve together.
Throughout 2025, we kept the calendar buzzing – more than 35 events across networking, learning, and professional development. From our Business Before Hours gatherings (for our early risers and coffee lovers!) to our Business After Hours sessions that so often turn into genuine collaborations, every room this year was packed with curiosity, kindness and a willingness to cheer each other on. Many of these events sold out, again proving that this community values showing up for one another.
Our partnership with AlburyCity continued to anchor that momentum, giving us the support to run a full and meaningful year of events, and to keep advocating for the needs of local business. And through our colleagues at BusinessNSW, ABC was once again recognised informally as one of the most active chambers anywhere in regional NSW – a direct reflection of your energy and participation.
Of course, 2025 was also a year of bold new ideas.
Sharks on the Murray burst onto the scene, bringing that “Shark Tank” buzz to our own backyard. We were blown away by the number of concepts submitted, and it was brilliant to see both national and local sponsors step up to back the dreams and bravery of our emerging founders. Better still, the event funnelled real commercial benefit to local suppliers who helped bring it to life. That’s the magic of a connected business community – opportunities multiplying in every direction.
Then there was Shop-a-Local, our city-wide 12-week retail campaign – led by the AlburyCBD team – that put heart-and-soul Albury traders front and centre. More than 80 traders got involved, and together we generated over $450,000 in additional spend into locally owned businesses. That money didn’t disappear into an online abyss; it stayed right here supporting the independents who give Albury its flavour, personality and pride.
And speaking of pride, the Albury Wodonga Business Awards celebrated its 19th year – and what a night!
172 submissions across 17 categories (up again from last year), a full house of 371 guests, and standout moments including business Gary West’s induction into the Hall of Fame in recognition of his significant contributions to the Albury business community. The Small Business category was the biggest and brightest, proving yet again that small operators with big dreams are the heartbeat of our region. With Optus returning as naming-rights sponsor, our 17 sponsors, eight in-kind supporters and our incredible 16-judge panel led by Peta Stewart, the awards continue to be one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year. Watch this space for 2026 – we’re dialling things up yet again!
Of course, none of this would be possible without the generous backing of our sponsors and partners – AlburyCity, Mantra Albury, Lightning IP, Regent Cinemas, Optus, Telstra, Business Edge Advisors, Priceline Pharmacy, and so many more who believe in this community just as strongly as we do.
So as we close out 2025, here’s the takeaway:
Albury isn’t just bouncing back – it’s powering forward. And it’s doing that because of people like you, who show up, connect, collaborate, invest, innovate, and keep the flame of local business burning bright.
Thanks for being part of this incredible community. And if you thought 2025 was big… just wait. 2026 is going to be something special.
Thank you once again for your support, it never goes unnoticed.
Glen Robinson – General Manager, Albury Business Connect.
Desiree Georgiou – Board Chair, Albury Business Connect.