Today marks one month in the job for the new Business Illawarra boss, Coralie McCarthy, and she's clearly loving it.

While it's early days in the role as the most powerful business advocate for the Illawarra, Coralie is excited about the future of the region and the potential opportunities.

In her first weeks as director, Coralie has done plenty of listening and she's found there's a genuine mood for change.

"It's amazing, there's so much positivity and momentum in the region and a real appetite to do things in new ways," Coralie said.

"This is a city of innovation, and we need to leverage that."

Top priorities

Improving transport infrastructure, growing tourism and ensuring local industry benefits from a balanced energy transition are Coralie's top three priorities.

"I look forward to spending quality time with our members, the local business community and key stakeholders to listen and better understand their priorities," she said.

This week her meeting with the region's tourism sector left Coralie in no doubt there's a hunger for much-needed growth and "new international product".

"Our local visitor economy is one of the best in the country and we need to ensure local businesses are poised to capitalise on our natural advantages."

This will be music to the ears of Business Illawarra Regional Advisory Council President Ryan Aitchison, who said he looked forward to working side-by-side with Coralie "to ensure the Illawarra gets targeted investments to unlock our potential".

Calls for more proactivity

Last year, in an address to Wollongong City Council, Ryan was critical of the lack of action and momentum, and he called on Council to be more proactive.

"Wollongong is walking when it should be running," he said. "Wollongong needs to do more than selling ice-creams to day trippers."

Among Coralie's other priorities in her first year in the job will be to develop a creative economy strategy for the region and a Business Illawarra events calendar.

"People want to know what's going on.

"I'm also hearing people asking can't we go back to holding business after-hours networking events which used to be big."

Coralie McCarthy has a background in small business and was the chair of Australian Regional Tourism for six years. She replaces Adam Zarth, who left the organisation suddenly in March last year after six years leading Business Illawarra.