August 2023 Newsletter

The countdown to 2032 now starts with an “8”!

This fabulous image, supplied by Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson and his team, was one of many taken and shared as part of the recent Brisbane 2032 “nine years to go” countdown events.

The Olympic Rings and Paralympic Agitos were photographed at sunrise on a Sunshine Coast beach – and shared by the CFB CEO on LinkedIn for 22,000+ impressions around the world.

These are the sorts of images that will help tell the stories of our special places in south east Queensland.

We are now eight years and 11 months away from the 23 July 2032 Opening Ceremony.

The Committee welcomes the State Government’s recent release of the 2Q32 Procurement Strategy (hotlink to: Q2032 Procurement Strategy (forgov.qld.gov.au) to assist business and industry to get “match fit” for the procurement opportunities associated with the 2032 Games.

Meeting of minds

Nearly 60 Committee for Brisbane members spent the past month workshopping and brainstorming issues, ideas and opportunities as part of our new sub-committee structure.

Launched in April 2023, CFB now has four standing sub-committees: Connected, Creative, Equitable and Enterprise that have been charged with responsibility for researching, identifying and proposing solutions to some of south east Queensland’s liveability challenges and opportunities.

The sub-committees are chaired by four Management Committee members:

• Connected: Dr Alan Patching, Director of Industry Engagement, Bond University
• Creative: Peter Edwards, Founding Director, Archipelago
• Equitable: Dr Caroline Riot, Director, Games Engagement and Partnerships, Griffith University
• Enterprise: Meredith Hartigan, Senior Principal Town Planner, Tract

During July, each of the Sub-Committees held planning workshops, and invited along other CFB members who had unsuccessfully nominated for a sub-committee.

The intent was to tap into as many members’ energy and ideas as possible to help inform the work of the sub-committees and start formulating strategic responses.

The sub-committees will now move into a routine of regular meetings.

The Voice Referendum member survey results

In the lead up to the Voice to Parliament Referendum, the Committee surveyed its members last month and asked “what do you need to know to be fully informed, prior to casting your vote?”.

The Committee undertook the survey to determine what role, if any, the Committee should play in providing a platform for discussion and in supporting the community to make an informed decision when casting their vote.

The results from our 93 responses (18% response rate) were:

• 68% of respondents said they do know where to access the resources to inform their understanding on the Voice to Parliament. 32% did not.
• Members were primarily being informed on the Voice to Parliament via a mix of mainstream media (56%); government sources (39%); and colleagues (34%) .
• 62% of Members said that the current public debate is not helping to inform them. 38% said it was.
• Of the 60% of Members who felt they needed more information, the following areas were identified (multiple answers selected):
  • What the Voice will do – 26%
  • How it will work – 29%
  • What will be included in the Voice – 28%
• 40% of Members felt they did not need more information.
• 69% of Members felt the Committee for Brisbane should play a role in primarily facilitating discussions (41%); and providing more information (29%). (multiple answers selected)
• 41% of Members said the Committee for Brisbane should facilitate discussions in the lead up to the referendum and 29% said CFB should provide information. 31% said the Committee did not have a role to play.
• 61% of Members said they would support their employing organisation publicly stating their position on the Voice. 39% did not.
• 61% of Members said they would vote “Yes” to a Voice to Parliament, if they had to vote today; 14% said they would vote “No”; 15% were “Undecided” and 10% would “Prefer not to say”.

Our thanks to all Members who participated in the Survey.

From here, the Committee for Brisbane will work with its First Nations Advisory Group, Management Committee and Members to determine how we can collectively support a robust and informed Voice to Parliament Referendum process.

Indigenous Business Showcase

As part of Indigenous Business Month in October, the Committee for Brisbane and our First Nations Advisory Group are hosting an Indigenous Business Showcase at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday 5 October.

Many CFB members are looking for opportunities to engage First Nations businesses and enterprises as part of Reconciliation Action Plans, and the Showcase will provide personal introductions to almost 20 SEQ indigenous-owned businesses.

The wide range of businesses and services in the Showcase is expected include cybersecurity, legal firms, furniture manufacturing, printing and production, and more.

Tickets for the event will be available in the next few weeks and will include a two-course lunch and panel discussion as well as access to the Showcase.

Journey the Brisbane Music Trail

Brisbane, get ready to be spoiled for choice as the inaugural Brisbane Music Trail launches in September and promises “the most music you’ve ever seen in your life!”.

A partnership between Committee for Brisbane Affiliates QMF, Brisbane Festival and QMusic (BIGSOUND), the Brisbane Music Trail is the latest edition in the highly successful Queensland Music Trails and includes:

• A jam-packed month of music from one of Australia’s leading international arts festivals: Brisbane Festival, 1 – 23 September.
• The southern hemisphere’s biggest music industry gathering of influential tastemakers and adventurous music lovers: BIGSOUND, 5 – 8 September.
• A new one-day, riverside music festival with international and Aussie dancefloor legends and DJs: Sweet Relief at Hamilton North Shore on September 16.

September’s trail will incorporate Brisbane Festival’s music program, as well as BIGSOUND, which will see Fortitude Valley come to life over four days: https://youtu.be/rE4MBbr-S3g

QMF CEO and Creative Director Joel Edmondson said the Brisbane Music Trail is “a long-term initiative to bring our strongest homegrown experiences under one banner so that September becomes the month that Brisbane owns live music in Australia.”

Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina said “residents and visitors to the city will be spoilt for choice this year as they are serenaded in the streets of their own community.”

You can find more information here: Brisbane Music Trail | Brisbane + September = Music – Qld Music Trails

Committee Members well represented at the 40 Under 40 Awards

Congratulations to Committee for Brisbane Members and Affiliate members who received a recent 40 under 40 Award.

On 20 July, Queensland’s young entrepreneurs, along with industry leaders and Government representatives, came together to recognise the outstanding talent of Queensland’s rising stars.

Hosted by Committee for Member Corporate Member InQld and the Weekend Edition, the Awards recognised the personal determination and commercial drive of our young leaders as well as the philanthropic pursuits that balance their professional achievements.

CFB Chief Partnership Officer, Liana Heath, was one of the award judges.

Our congratulations to a group of inspiring young entrepreneurs and leaders, that included five Committee for Brisbane Members and Affiliates as Award finalists:

• Adam Brunes, Aruga
• Courtney Stewart, La Boite Theatre
• Dave Sleswick, The Tivoli and Princess Theatre – winner of the Weekend Edition Creative Thinker Award
• Naomi Price, The Little Red Company
• Nathan Schokker, Safe Co

The Committee for Brisbane sponsored the Game Changer Award that was won by Nicole Dyson, Founder and CEO of Future Anything (pictured), who was recognised for re-writing the rules of business to challenge, inspire and spark significant change.

The Committee looks forward to supporting the 40 Award Winners over the next 12 months – stay tuned.

Collab. elects new Management Committee

The inaugural AGM of the Creative Brisbane Collab. was held at The Princess Theatre on 19 July and a new Management Committee elected:

• Barton Green, Committee for Brisbane
• Dilshani Weerasinghe, Queensland Ballet
• Jono Perry, QPAC
• Katherine Hoepper, The Little Red Company
• Rebecca McIntosh, Chrysalis Projects and POPSART
• Rebecca Pini, M4M Agency
• Sara Taghaode, Kiosk Films

After the declaration of the ballot, it was proposed that the Management Committee numbers be expanded to nine to enable two corporate members to join – in order to present a strong collaborative face (commerce and creativity) to external stakeholders.

Mike Hill from McGrathNicol and Chris Watson from Grant Thornton subsequently accepted invitations to (re)join the Management Committee.

Lunch with the Lifers

The second annual Lifers Lunch with the Committee’s Life Members was hosted in the historic Governor’s Pavilion at the RNA in July.

The Committee has 16 Life Members, primarily former Presidents. Current President Kylie Blucher was pleased to host 10 of them for an afternoon of storytelling and reminiscing:

• Noel Robinson
• Ben Lyons
• Mike Gillen
• John Neylan
• Ted Stewart
• Brendan Christou
• Michelle Lee
• Hon. David Thomas
• Chris Skelton
• Steve Reynolds

New Members

The Committee for Brisbane recently welcomed seven new Members and one Affiliate:

Corporate Leader

• Vailo

Corporate Member

• MACE

Associate

• Damien Condon
• Richard Watson
• Tony Gleeson
• Stephen Forth
• Aaron Johnstone

Affiliate

• Dutch Chamber of Commerce Queensland