We’re delighted to share that Natasha McDonough, founder and Managing Director of MMC Research, has been appointed President of the North East Chamber of Commerce, taking on a two-year term.
The appointment recognises Natasha’s longstanding commitment to the North East business community and her belief in the power of collaboration, shared knowledge and strong professional networks to help businesses thrive.
Having joined the Chamber shortly after establishing MMC Research more than a decade ago, Natasha has progressed from an active member to chairing an area committee and joining the organisation’s board. Her new role provides an opportunity to help shape the Chamber’s priorities and champion the needs of businesses across the region.
Natasha has chosen resilience as the central theme for her two-year term, reflecting the challenges and opportunities facing businesses in an increasingly unpredictable economic environment.
From changing markets and emerging technologies to supply chain pressures and evolving customer expectations, organisations must continually adapt to remain competitive.
For Natasha, however, resilience is about much more than simply navigating difficult periods.
Speaking following her appointment, she said: “For me, resilience is not simply about weathering difficult periods or responding when something goes wrong. It is about how we prepare ourselves for change, how quickly we can adapt and, ultimately, how we continue to move forward.”
The theme reflects the importance of helping businesses develop the confidence and capabilities to respond to change while continuing to grow, invest and innovate.
Natasha believes that building resilience at an individual business level also strengthens the wider regional economy, helping safeguard jobs, maintain confidence, attract investment and create new opportunities.
The North East has a proud history of innovation, enterprise and determination. By drawing on these strengths and supporting businesses to prepare for what comes next, the region can continue to build on its potential.
A key priority throughout Natasha’s presidency will be encouraging businesses to make greater use of the knowledge and experience available through the Chamber’s network of nearly 1,800 members, representing organisations of different sizes and sectors.
She believes resilience is not something businesses can develop in isolation. Strong relationships, open conversations and the willingness to learn from others can make a significant difference when navigating uncertainty.
During her speech at the recent AGM, Natasha highlighted the Chamber’s role in bringing businesses together to share experiences, learn from challenges and identify opportunities for growth, saying, “Resilience isn’t something any business can build entirely on its own. It comes from strong networks. It comes from sharing knowledge and experience, investing in skills, learning from one another and having the confidence to ask for support when it is needed.”
Over the next two years, she intends to engage with businesses across the region, listening to their experiences, understanding their challenges and hearing their ideas for the future.
The aim is to turn the theme of resilience into meaningful action, ensuring businesses are better equipped not only to respond to change but also to recognise and make the most of emerging opportunities.
As Managing Director of MMC Research, Natasha understands the importance of listening, asking the right questions and using evidence to inform decisions.
These principles are central to the work MMC Research undertakes with organisations seeking to understand their customers, gather meaningful feedback and make informed business decisions. The same approach underpins Natasha’s vision for her Chamber presidency: listening to businesses, understanding what matters to them and creating opportunities for organisations to learn from one another.
For MMC Research, her appointment reflects a commitment to the wider business community and the importance of giving organisations the insight and confidence they need to move forward.
Natasha is looking forward to working alongside Chamber colleagues and members throughout her term, building stronger connections and encouraging greater collaboration across the region.
She concluded her speech by inviting businesses to continue challenging the Chamber, sharing their ideas and getting involved in its policy work, events and forums.
With resilience at the heart of her presidency, Natasha’s ambition is clear: to help create a business community that is connected, adaptable and ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.
As she highlighted in her address, when businesses become more resilient, the region becomes more resilient too.