April 2021 Newsletter

What a launch!

More than 400 attended the launch of the Committee’s Brisbane 2033: Our Olympics and Paralympics Legacies paper by Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates AC on 19 March at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Our thanks to Hatch RobertsDay for sponsoring.

The excitement in the room was palpable, as guests were firstly inspired by Committee for Brisbane Ambassador – five-time Olympian, beach volleyball Bronze Medallist from Atlanta in 1996 and beach volleyball Gold Medallist from Sydney in 2000 – Nat Cook OAM OLY who injected her boundless enthusiasm and energy into the event.

Later, John Coates was joined in a panel discussion by Dr Bridie Kean – who won a Bronze medal with the Australian Gliders para-basketball team at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and then captained the Gliders to Silver at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Before the panel discussion, John delivered a strong and complimentary address to formally launch the Paper, which was developed over the past 12 months by more than 25 Committee Members who formed our Olympics and Paralympics Legacies Taskforce.

John commended the work of the Taskforce at the start of his address:

“I also want to acknowledge the highly credentialled and outstanding team members of the Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics Taskforce.

“It really is quite a team you have assembled – formidable and hard to beat are perhaps the best descriptors.”

John told the audience:

“The paper being launched today … is an impressive paper adding weight to the already preferred status which Brisbane has earned.

“My own observation is that your intent and that of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) align and intersect comfortably. There is compatibility and that is crucial.

“The great news is that you are taking the correct first steps in Phase One of the legacy planning journey. With big, ambitious and inspiring ideas in the very best tradition of the Olympics.

“I add, that this is as it must be – Queensland deserves that. You have rightly set the bar very high and now comes the hard part, because Phase Two is the giant leap over it.”

Phase Two

The Committee for Brisbane has commenced Phase Two of the legacy project, inviting four of its Members to provide their strategic planning support.

Accenture, Aurecon, Deloitte and PwC have agreed to “project manage” the next phase of the project which will be to develop the strategic framework and timelines to deliver the 20 SMART Goals presented in the Paper.

Each of these firms will work with Taskforce Members to develop strategic actions under one of the Paper’s four Objectives: connectivity, creativity, equity and enterprise.

Phase Two is scheduled to be completed by the end of the financial year, just in time (hopefully) to learn that Brisbane will be nominated as the host city for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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AOC briefing for Affiliates

In early March, the Committee hosted a successful briefing for its Affiliates and members of the Olympics and Paralympics Legacies Taskforce from Australian Olympic Committee CEO, Matt Carroll AM.

About 50 attendees heard from Matt about the next steps in the Olympics and Paralympics candidature process, and the opportunities for regional and community legacies over the next 11 years (should we be successful).

Affiliates and other colleagues in attendance included:

• AI Group
• Artisan
• Australian Institute of Architects
• BHC (Brisbane Housing Company)
• Brisbane Festival
• Brisbane Writers Festival
• Civil Contractors Federation Queensland
• Community Housing Industry Association Queensland
• Engineers Australia
• Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia
• Infrastructure Association Queensland
• Live Performance Australia
• Planning Institute Australia
• Property Leaders Brisbane
• Queensland Council of Social Service
• Queensland Major Contractors Association
• Queensland Music Festival
• Real Estate Institute of Queensland
• UDIA

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Strategic Planning for 2021 -2022

The Management Committee recently participated in a half-day strategic planning workshop to look at opportunities for the Committee in 2021-22 and beyond.

The workshop was held in the offices of PwC and our thanks go to the facilitators, PwC Partner Helen Burns and Director Andrew Mycoe.

Workshop participants considered and then prioritised new projects, or extensions to existing projects, under the Committee’s four key areas of focus: connectivity, creativity, equity and enterprise.

The number one issue/opportunity identified was the need for a Brisbane identity/brand. The Committee will consider how it can play an active role in this space.

Other activities and projects proposed for consideration include:

• Business attraction and retention strategies
• A masterplan for greater Brisbane
• A “brain gain” strategy (ie talent attraction and retention)
• Innovative housing affordability plan
• A Reconciliation Action Plan project, to promote the development and adoption of RAPs throughout the Committee’s membership

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New Member on Advisory Council

The Committee is very pleased to welcome the Group CEO of RACQ, David Carter, as its newest member on the Advisory Council.

David commenced as Group Chief Executive of RACQ in March 2020 following a long career in financial services with Suncorp and ANZ.

He is a director of the Business Chamber of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), Australian Automobile Association and subsidiaries, as well as several RACQ group entities. He also serves as a director of the Queensland Ballet and Netball Queensland and is a Fellow of CPA Australia and a Fellow of FINSIA.

Joining RACQ from Suncorp, where Mr Carter was the CEO of Banking and Wealth, he is a previous Deputy Chair of both the Australian Bankers Association (ABA) and the Financial Services Council New Zealand.

RACQ has nearly 1.8 million members and is estimated to be present in around 72% of Queensland households.

Formed in 1905 to advocate on behalf of a disruptive new technology called the motor vehicle, RACQ now provides a range of products and services to Queenslanders covering motoring, insurance and banking, in addition to continuing to be a leading, apolitical advocate on behalf of its members and the communities in which they live and work.

David joins a group of high-profile Queenslanders who volunteer their time to promote big ideas for the Committee to consider:

• Steve Wilson AM, Advisory Council Chair and Chair of Racing Queensland
• Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Artist and Quandamooka woman
• Eddie Scuderi, Partner, Intellectual Property, Technology and Competition, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
• Harvey Lister, Chairman and Chief Executive, ASM Global (Asia Pacific)
• Professor Ian Frazer AC, CEO and Director of Research, Translational Research Centre
• Jason Scott, Managing Director, News Ltd Qld, NNSW & NT
• Julieanne Alroe, Chair, Infrastructure Australia
• Kate Jones, Commissioner, Australian Rugby League
• Li Cunxin AO, Artistic Director, Queensland Ballet
• Peter Varghese AO, Chancellor, University of Queensland
• Raynuha Sinnathamby, Managing Director, Springfield City Group
• Rosemary Vilgan, Non-executive Director
• Sue Johnson, Group Executive Queensland, Transurban
• Tracy Stockwell OAM, Deputy Chair, Swimming Australia
• Trevor St Baker AO, Founder and Deputy Chairman, St Baker Energy Innovation Fund

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New membership structure and fees from 1 July

From 1 July 2021, the Committee for Brisbane will operate under a new membership structure, with changes to annual fees.

All members should have been contacted by the CEO over the past few weeks to explain the changes and to invite participation in the new structure.

At its Annual General Meeting last December, a revised Constitution was approved which introduced a new category of membership, called Corporate Leader.

Our most senior membership category at the moment is Patron at $2,000 per annum, but this will be replaced with Corporate Leader at $20,000 per annum.

With the change to our top tier of membership, we will also change all other membership categories.

As from 1 July 2021, in addition to the new Corporate Leader membership category, there will four other fee-based categories:

• Corporate Member at $5,000 per annum
• Enterprise Member (for SMEs) at $2,500
• Associate (individual) at $150, and
• Student at $50

We acknowledge that the increase in membership fees is substantial but it is necessary to ensure the longevity of the Committee and to support an ever-growing range of advocacy projects and activities on behalf of greater Brisbane.

We invite all Members to please consider how they would like to continue their association with the Committee.

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New Members

The Committee recently welcomed six new Members, four Affiliates and nine upgrade applications:

 Corporate Leader

• Architectus (upgrade from Patron)
• Dexus (upgrade from Corporate Member)
• Corrs Chambers Westgarth (upgrade from Patron)
• Aurecon (upgrade from Corporate Member)
• ARUP (upgrade from Patron)
• Arcadis (upgrade from Corporate Member)
• Hatch RobertsDay (upgrade from Patron)
• Nine Queensland and Northern NSW (upgrade from Corporate Member)
• Transurban (upgrade from Patron)

Corporate Member

• Nortec
• Domestique

Enterprise Member

• Aspect Studios

 Associate

• Amelia Hodge
• Steven Sylvester
• Suzanne Stark (Media Potential)

Affiliate

• Brisbane Portrait Prize
• Australian School of Entrepreneurship
• Queensland Olympic Council
• Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association

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