Chair Showcase: Tony Chamberlain – From boardroom to breakthroughs 

Vistage Chairs are accomplished former CEOs, business owners, and senior executives who bring a lifetime of leadership experience to support others on their journey. Among them is Tony Chamberlain, a respected Vistage Chair with a career built on transformation, resilience, and results. 

With a background leading businesses across fire and security, event technology, industrial gases and building products, Tony has driven change across organisations ranging from $1 million to $1.2 billion in revenue. His leadership has seen failing companies restored to profitability and thriving businesses guided into new markets. But for Tony, it’s not just about numbers — it’s about people. 

My success lies in my passion for guiding leaders to effectively lead, create and build teams that consistently achieve exceptional outcomes.

Now a Vistage Chair of two CEO groups in New South Wales, Tony brings that same commitment to transformation into the Vistage room. He sees his role not as the expert in the spotlight, but as the catalyst for collective insight and growth.

I have to resist the urge to jump in with the answer,” Tony says. “It takes discipline. But what I’ve learned is when the group works through a challenge together, the outcome is far more powerful than any single solution I could offer.

Tony fosters an environment where problems are “treasured” — not buried or brushed aside — so they can be tackled head-on. His ability to create trust quickly means his groups move beyond surface-level discussion into real conversations that drive change. 

Tony’s leadership journey began early — long before his first executive title. As a child, he was fascinated by the way businesses worked. He recalls trying to optimise chores like he was on a production line, and loving the idea of pitching for business, thanks to watching shows like Bewitched as a kid. 

That curiosity and creativity carried into his corporate career. At staging connections, he famously turned a culture of complacency on its head — swapping out executive perks for performance and assembling a leadership team that matched the talent on the frontline. 

You have to be willing to disrupt what’s comfortable if you want to build something great. Change is tough, but it’s necessary.

Tony’s track record includes turning around a $30M loss at Encore Event Technologies and delivering a $25.7M profit uplift at Chubb Fire & Security. His calm under pressure and ability to bring people on the journey are hallmarks of his leadership style. 

Tony now leads two Vistage groups — one more established and the other a newer group of growth-focused business owners. He is deliberate about group culture and composition, often referring prospective members between his two groups based on where they’ll get the greatest value. 

His first group, C89, has developed into a tight-knit team who challenge each other, support each other, and collaborate even beyond the monthly meeting. His second group, made up primarily of business owners from Western Sydney and the Southern Highlands, is on a growth trajectory — with strategic execution and team development as key themes. 

I’m looking forward to helping this group implement strategy and get the right people around them. They’re ready to scale — and Vistage will be the difference.

What stands out most to Tony is the unique chemistry in the room. “They’re not friends. They’re not family. But they’re your people. That peer support is powerful. And I see time and again how it transforms not just business outcomes, but how leaders show up for their teams and themselves.” 

Whether it’s tackling issues like cybersecurity, navigating AI adoption, or simply having a space to think out loud without judgement, Tony believes in the power of perspective. And that’s what Vistage gives. 

I stand in those meetings and think, ‘I wish I’d had this earlier in my career.’ It would have made all the difference.

Tony’s investment in his members goes well beyond meeting day. He regularly checks in between sessions, follows their progress, and celebrates their wins. 

“It’s not just a role for me — it’s a calling. These leaders let me into their business lives and often their personal lives too. I don’t take that lightly. Being a Chair is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done.” 

For anyone considering becoming a Vistage Chair, Tony’s advice is simple: “Do the training. Start the journey. It’s not about quick wins — it’s about building something meaningful. And it’s worth it.” 

As Tony continues to expand his practice, including exploring a potential third group for aspiring CEOs, his legacy as a leader, mentor, and coach continues to grow — one conversation at a time.