ONE of the more pressing items recently on the agenda of new Chamber of Commerce chief Andrew Blyth is a little unexpected.

Several bag hooks had broken at the southside school of his six-year-old twin daughters, Ava and Elisabeth – and, as a member of the school board, Blyth was the first point of call.

“School hooks breaking is actually a really big deal for kids when they’re that age, so I’m glad I could be of service,” Blyth laughs, speaking at his Macarthur home.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know the school and the parents well through being on the board, and I think that’s important, no matter how busy you are.”

The 42-year-old will have to fit in fixing school hooks with his new role at the Chamber of Commerce from July 1. He admits he’s got big shoes to fill, taking over from the late Chris Peters.

“I will certainly be working with the board to recognise the role that Chris made for the chamber and community here in Canberra,” he says.

“It’s a case of being respectful of the past, but equally excited for the future.”

One of his major commitments, he says, is to push the “important role” that Canberra’s 24,000 small businesses play in the local economy.

“There is a tendency to talk as if all jobs in this town are public service jobs – but it’s just not correct,” he says.

“We need to start future-proofing our economy today. I want to make sure the Government is aware of the small business community that exists in this town but also looking at those entrepreneurial opportunities where we do just as much to attract tourism, but just as much to attract business in Canberra.

“I know how hard it is for a business to stay afloat. For those 24,000 businesses, I’m in their corner.”

Born in Adelaide in 1971, Blyth attended Sacred Heart College in Somerton Park and later studied international relations off-campus with Deakin University.

It was while he was in Adelaide that he met his wife Anne. The couple moved to Canberra in 1999 when Blyth was offered a position as a policy adviser to Howard Government minister Ian Macfarlane. He later acted as chief of staff to then–Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews and also served as chief executive of the Energy Networks Association.

Despite considering himself a Canberran, Blyth says he’s still a “diehard” Port Adelaide fan, and was the director of AFL Canberra up until last year.

“It runs in my family, Ava can kick a football better than most boys,” he says.

“We’re a very active family… I think it’s great what sport can do for the community.”

A highlight of the last year, Blyth says, was a six-month stint in Austin, Texas, as part of his Fulbright Professional Australia-US Alliance Studies Scholarship, which involved researching policy incentives for private sector investment.

“There was a similarity between Australians and Texans, being able to form friendships,” he says.

“I’m continuing the links I made today. Anne and I loved it and the girls really thrived at their elementary school. It was a very rewarding time.”

Blyth is currently the principal of Hartley Blyth and Associates, a boutique government relations firm established in 2011. He is also a part-time tutor with the University of NSW, Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

He says his role at Hartley Blyth and Associates will continue “bubbling along”, but will take a backseat to his Commerce duties.

“I think it’s a new century for Canberra, and it’s a new chamber,” he says.

“It’s Canberra 2.0, and equally, I think I’ve got the best job in Canberra.”