December 2022 Newsletter

New Management Committee

Seven new faces joined the Committee for Brisbane Management Committee at its recent AGM, representing a healthy 50% renewal rate. 

The new Management Committee met for the first time on 30 November and, after the Christmas/New Year break, will return in early 2023 for what promises to be a busy and productive year. 

The Management Committee is: 

• President: Kylie Blucher, representing Corporate Leader Nine Queensland and Nine Northern NSW.  
• Vice-Presidents: Kristan Conlon, representing Corporate Leader McCullough Robertson Lawyers; and Mike Kissane, representing Corporate Leader Deloitte.  
• Treasurer: Paul Gallagher, representing Corporate Leader BDO.  
• Secretary: Meredith Hartigan, representing Corporate Member Tract.  
• Ordinary members: Dr Caroline Riot, representing Corporate Leader Griffith University; Debbie Smith representing Corporate Leader PwC; Kelvin Dodt, representing Corporate Leader The Star Entertainment Group; Paul Turner, representing Corporate Leader QUT; Dr Alan Patching, representing Corporate Member Bond University; Lucy O’Driscoll, representing Corporate Member Hassell; Peter Edwards, representing Corporate Member Archipelago; Stephanie Paul representing Enterprise Member Phillips Group; and David Benett representing Enterprise Member Hoyne.  

Life Membership Awarded

President Kylie Blucher had the enjoyable task at the AGM of presenting Life Membership of the Committee for Brisbane to stalwart Steve Wilson AM. 

Steve retired after seven years on the Management Committee, as one of the Founders of the Committee for Brisbane, a significant seed funder and fund raiser to create the role of CEO, and the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Council, established four years ago.  

Kylie advised the AGM that the Committee had a proud tradition of recognising Members who had demonstrated outstanding commitment to the principles and objectives of the Committee for Brisbane and that Steve Wilson was a deserving recipient. 

We thank Steve for his many years of support and advice.  

Two-year terms approved

The 2022 Annual General Meeting unanimously endorsed proposals to amend the Committee for Brisbane Constitution, including the introduction of two-year terms and maximum term limits as from the 2023 AGM. 

In a range of changes to help streamline Management Committee and ensure a reasonable rate of renewal, the AGM approved changes to: 

• Remove the position of Immediate Past-President  
• Amend the proportion of Ordinary Member positions on Management Committee that are eligible to be filled by nominated representatives of Corporate Leaders (from four positions to five) and Enterprise Members (from two positions to one) 
• Institute two-year terms for all positions on Management Committee  
• Set a maximum of two terms (four consecutive years) for any member on Management Committee 
• Provide an exception to enable any Ordinary Member of Management Committee to seek a further two years if nominating for any position on Executive Committee, or for an existing Executive Committee member to nominate for a different position on Executive Committee  
• Set an absolute limit of six consecutive years for any member on Management Committee  

Sport and music,
a match made in Queensland

A joint project between QMusic (a CFB Affiliate) and the Committee for Brisbane will soon advocate to the Queensland Government to partner with the music industry and business to develop a SEQ Music Legacy Plan – because every sporting celebration needs a soundtrack.  

The organisations’ shared goal is, that by 2032 when we host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, south east Queensland is known globally as Australia’s Music Capital – internationally renowned for its vibrant live music culture, its safe precincts and venues, and having underlined its status as a critical incubator of talent. 

QMusic and CFB believe a 10-year Music Legacy Plan has the potential to transform our music industry and our city, positioning south east Queensland as Australia’s Music Capital.  

Live music is already a substantial employer and contributor to the city and regional economies: 

• Contemporary music represents well over 50% of all performing arts activity across Australia 
• For each dollar invested in music by government and industry, there is a $3 value return 
• $16+ billion Australian live music industry contribution in value-add to the economy  
• Australian live music industry employs an estimated 23,000 people directly 
• In Queensland’s music industry, the contemporary music category constitutes the largest number of attendees (955,483 out of 2,527,535) 

Brisbane is the cultural hub of Queensland, offering music across 91 venues and stages for over 140 shows per month – and this multiplies further once all of SEQ is considered. 

• Brisbane constitutes 32.9% of Queensland music industry numbers 
• Annually pre-COVID, the city welcomed over 1.46 million people across 23 festivals 
• Brisbane’s $428 million industry is estimated to support 6,954 music jobs 

Yeah/Nah: live voting on inner-city vitality

The Committee recently started trialling a live polling app as part of the attendee experience at events – and the response has been encouraging. 

At our recent Inner-City Vitality Report launch, guests were invited to be a part of the conversation through the Mindhive app, Yeah/Nah. Mindhive is a CFB Corporate Member. 

The Yeah/Nah polling system encourages users to vote by using “Yeah” and “Nah” responses to a series of questions. For the Inner-City Vitality event, guests were polled on their views about Brisbane’s attractiveness to visitors, the future of the city and working from home. 

The results were:  

1. If you could, would you work from home more than you do now? – 71% Yeah  
2. Do you think Brisbane’s CBD is still the “beating heart of the city”? – 70% Yeah  
3. Should we do more to get international students back into Brisbane? – 95% Yeah  
4. Do you feel positive about a vibrant future of Brisbane’s inner city? – 95% Yeah  
5. Do you think Brisbane offers enough attractions to satisfy international visitors – 55% Yeah  

Catching up with our Affiliates

More than 50 guests joined the Committee for Brisbane at our recent Affiliates and Friends Xmas Drinks at Howard Smith Wharves (a CFB Enterprise Member). 

The annual social networking event is held to introduce some of the city’s industry and organisational leaders to each other, with a view to establishing new connections and developing potential partnerships. 

New Members

The Committee recently welcomed five new Members and four Affiliates 

Corporate Member 

• Michelson Alexander 
• Telstra 

Enterprise Member 

• Northrop Consulting Engineers 

Associate 

• Jeff Humphreys 
• David Freer  

Affiliate 

• unltd 
• Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce
• Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management
• Queensland Transport and Logistics Council 

Xmas-New Year Shutdown

The Committee for Brisbane office will close on Friday 23 December and re-open on Monday 9 January. We wish all Members and Affiliates a safe and festive holiday season.