March 2024 Newsletter

EYES ON BRISBANE

A sincere thank you to the 300 members and guests who joined us for the Eyes on Brisbane event at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre last week.

In championing the significant business opportunities to come from hosting the Brisbane 2032 Games, the Committee was pleased to provide a platform for our vital Government agencies to share their work and insights on how they are amplifying Brisbane on the world stage. We thank them for their contribution and look forward to further discussion and debate on this topic. Our sincere thanks to panel members;

Patricia O’Callaghan, CEO of Tourism and Events Queensland
Justin McGowan GAICD, CEO of Trade and Investment Queensland
Rebecca Masci, Director of Brand and Digital Engagement, Brisbane 2032

A big thank you to Advisory Council Member, Ann Sherry AO for her facilitation and contribution to the discussion.

We look forward to maintaining the momentum on an ambitious future for SEQ and the many business opportunities that are available from our runway to Brisbane 2032.

Thank you to our Event Sponsor, Queensland University of Technology and Event Partner, BCEC. We appreciate your support in this way.

In case you missed this event, you can view the gallery on our website here, and visit our YouTube channel to see the event wrap up.

AN UPDATE FROM OUR SUB-COMMITTEES

Creativity Sub-Committee

This month the Creativity Sub-Committee invited special guest speaker Katherine Hooper from the Brisbane Creative Collab. to share with members some of the initiatives they will be progressing this year. The Creative Brisbane Collab. is a member-based organization with the vision for Brisbane to be a global city where creativity is valued and imagination empowered. Where innovation and collaboration drive a thriving economy and vibrant communities. Dream boldly.

The Creativity Sub-Committee welcomed the opportunity to hear from Katherine about the inaugural Collab. in Conversation event with Ruth Mckenzie CBE, Adelaide Festival of Arts Artistic Director and Director of the London 2012 Festival, the official cultural program of the London 2012 Olympics on 11 April 2024 and the Parliamentary Friends of Creativity event on the 22 May 2024. During the meeting the Creativity Sub-Committee shared with Katherine some their proposed projects and talked about ways the two groups could look for future opportunities to collaborate and put a spotlight on the creatives of Brisbane.

Enterprise Sub-Committee

The Committee for Brisbane would like to thank Meredith Hartigan, Chair of the Enterprise Sub-Committee for all her hard work in establishing and helping set the direction for the Enterprise Sub-Committee. Meredith will be stepping down as the Chair from April 2024.

The Enterprise Sub-Committee is welcoming co-chairs, Anne Kovachevich, Sustainable buildings and precincts leader at Mott MacDonald and Professor Tim Kastelle, Director of the Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership, The University of Queensland who will be the new co-chairs from May 2024.

Equity Sub-Committee

The Equity Sub-Committee welcomed guest speaker Melissa Witheriff, Senior Director, Australian Innovation Lead and Avaande DiverAblity Chair from Avanade Australia to share her experiences as a parent and employer of people with disability. The presentation has provided Equity Sub-Committee members with information and broader perspectives to help them further develop their equity projects.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Four women from our Committee for Brisbane community shared their thoughts on this year’s theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’ and the importance it plays in business.

We were excited to partake in International Women’s Day for 2024 at the Committee for Brisbane where four inspirational women within our community came together to discuss this year’s topic of “Inspire Inclusion”, and reiterated the need to foster a more progressive and inclusive workforce, where the contribution of women are not only recognised, but celebrated.

President Kristan Conlon from McCullough Robertson, Selina Gerner from McGrathNicol, Dr Dia Adhikari Smith from The University of Queensland and Julie McLellan, Healthy Land & Water took the time to discuss the importance of inclusion, and how we need to ensure that every workplace builds up their female colleagues and continue to create a safe space for women to confidently speak up and be heard.

We want to continue to celebrate the women in Brisbane and emphasise the importance of creating environments that embrace diversity in all its forms, priorotise equality and allow every individual to feel valued, empowered and recognised.

At the Committee for Brisbane, we feel fortunate to have five women sitting on our Management Committee, with the addition of a female President, along with two women who chair both the Equity and Creativity sub-committees. Together, we can build a future where inclusivity is not just an aspiration but a reality for all.

If you missed this video on our LinkedIn, please visit our YouTube channel, where you can see what these wonderful women in the Committee for Brisbane community had to say.

HAPPY EASTER

We hope you all have a safe and happy Easter break with your family and friends. We will be closed from Thursday 28^th March from 5pm and will be back on Tuesday 2^nd April from 8:30am.