June 2021 Newsletter

All hail the President

Corporate Leaders, Patrons, Advisory Council and Management Committee members were treated to the hospitality of The Star Entertainment Group on 3 June at the annual President’s Drinks, held at the Will and Flow bar and restaurant over the Brisbane River.

More than 40 Members enjoyed the company of two State Ministers, the Hon Grace Grace, Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing (who was representing the Premier); and the Hon Stirling Hinchliffe, Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport.

The President’s Drinks is an annual event to thank the Committee’s most senior members for their support, and to mix in a social setting with some of Brisbane’s biggest thinkers.

President Mike Gillen and Vice-Presidents Kylie Blucher and Peter Kelly spoke to the Ministers and guests about the Committee’s recent achievements and ambitious forward agenda.

Housing Action Lab underway

While it’s been a while coming, the Housing Action Lab homelessness project got underway on 21 May with a start-up workshop, hosted by Corporate Leader Urbis.

The Committee for Brisbane has had the issue of homelessness on its agenda for some time as we have looked for ways that our organisation and members can play a constructive and supportive role.

While a number of CFB members are already contributing their own resources to solutions to homelessness, the Committee was keen to also play a role, which has resulted in a partnership with the Housing Action Lab (HAL https://housingactionlab.com/) on a project to address aspects of homelessness in our region (and beyond).

QShelter has provided seed funding for the project that has brought together business and community leaders to answer: “What transformative actions can we take together today to deliver the housing solutions of tomorrow, creating prosperity for all ages and life stages?”.

Committee for Brisbane Members Urbis, Lendlease and Deicke Richards and Affiliates the Queensland Council of Social Service, BHC Creating Liveable Communities and Zonta Club of Brisbane are participating in HAL with funding and resources.

HAL will establish a number of dedicated work groups to look at five aspects of shelter:

Homelessness
Funding models
New ways to operate
Loneliness and wellbeing
Housing affordability

HAL is looking for three or four more corporate partners. If any member is interested, please email: admin@committeeforbrisbane.org.au

First Nations Advisory Group being established

The Committee for Brisbane will soon announce the establishment of its First Nations Advisory Group that will be a source of knowledge and information to the Committee to ensure that our projects and actions take proper account of First Nations aspirations, issues, policies and programs.

The Advisory Group is being set up with the advice of Committee Member Cameron Costello, the former CEO of the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).

The intent of the Advisory Group is to ensure the Committee is able to receive advice/input at the start of any activity and to help the Committee identify opportunities to be publicly active in support of relevant First Nations’ agendas.

Terms of Reference have been drafted for the Advisory Group and, with the help of Cameron and other Indigenous Committee Members, invitations will soon be issued to a number of south east Queensland First Nations representatives to help form the Group.

Brisbane 2033 Legacy project Phase 2 nearing completion

Accenture, Aurecon, Deloitte and PwC have been hard at work over the past few weeks working with Members on our ambitious Brisbane 2033 Legacy project.

The four companies have been using their strategic planning processes, and the skills and experience of myriad Committee Members, to develop strategic frameworks and timelines to deliver on 20 SMART Goals published in the Committee’s Policy Paper.

About 120 people, representing more than 60 Member companies, are working on one or more of the 20 SMART Goals. As was expected, the large numbers have broken into smaller work groups to tackle a specific SMART Goal.

By the end of June, the working groups will report back to the Committee with their suggestions on how to achieve the nominated legacies for Brisbane and south east Queensland, which will then be published and used by the Committee to advocate to all levels of government.

The Committee is promoting the project through a series of infographics and short videos on LinkedIn. Watch our first video in the series.

Briefing for the Deputy Premier

The Committee held a private briefing with the Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning on 19 May, hosted by Urbis, where Dr Stephen Miles had a chance to hear from Corporate Leaders and Patrons about issues and opportunities for greater Brisbane.

Dr Miles was presented with a copy of the Committee’s new publication “From good to great – economic, environmental and social opportunities for south east Queensland (2021)”.

This is the first in what will be an annual publication of big ideas, suggestions and aspirations for our city and region, written by some of our senior members and Advisory Council members.

20 authors contributed to the paper, which will be used to brief local, state and federal governments about visionary opportunities for south east Queensland:

Julieanne Alroe, Member, Advisory Council, Committee for Brisbane
Kylie Blucher, Managing Director, Nine Queensland and Nine Northern NSW
David Carter, Group CEO, RACQ
Roy Cummins, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd
Li Cunxin AO, Artistic Director, Queensland Ballet
Professor Ian Frazer AC, CEO and Director of Research, Translational Research Institute
Dr Jessica Gallagher, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Global Engagement and Entrepreneurship, The University of Queensland
Dr Mike Gillen, Industry Director – Cities, AECOM
Gert-Jan de Graaff, Chief Executive Officer, Brisbane Airport Corporation
Barton Green, Chief Executive Officer, Committee for Brisbane
Sue Johnson, Group Executive, Queensland, Transurban
Dr Stephen Long, National Sector Leader Public, Architectus
Matthew Mackey, National Director – Cost & Commercial, Arcadis
Andrew McEwan, Director, Infrastructure Advisory, Aurecon
Kate Meyrick, Director, Urbis Future State
Sam Pearce, Global Infrastructure Principal – Asset Management, QIC
Raynuha Sinnathamby, Managing Director, Springfield City Group
Debbie Smith, Brisbane Managing Partner, National Mining Leader, PwC Australia
Steve Wilson AM, Chair, Advisory Council, Committee for Brisbane
Beth Woods, Committee for Brisbane, Arup

The case for improved connectivity in SEQ

The Committee recently lodged its response to the State Government’s survey on a south east Queensland Regional Infrastructure Plan, with a call for a more strategic approach to long-term planning for regional transport networks and mobility.

More than 15 Members contributed to the Committee’s response, collectively representing the very best thinking and experience in transport planning and delivery.

In a process led by President Mike Gillen, Industry Director – Cities, AECOM, the submission supported the State Government’s drive to provide a clear vision for infrastructure investment and prioritisation by updating the State Infrastructure Plan and delivering seven Regional Infrastructure Plans.

The Committee said connectivity and accessibility would help drive the performance of SEQ in its COVID recovery and its response to the challenges of population growth over the next 20-30 years, and identified that significant infrastructure projects require immediate funding and delivery if the transport network is to accommodate projected growth.

The sub-committee will soon start work on the Committee’s next Liveability Issues and Opportunities Paper – “An Integrated Transport and Mobility Plan for SEQ 2050” that will be published later in 2021.

Our thanks to sub-committee members:

Andrew McEwan, Infrastructure Advisory Leader, Aurecon
Anthony Simmons, Director, Systemwide Planning and Policy, Caltrain
Barton Green, CEO, Committee for Brisbane
Bob Bidwell, Director, Stradbroke Infrastructure Advisory
Brett Linnane, Associate – Transport Planning, Arup
Craig Christensen, Principal, Urban Solutions, Hatch RobertsDay
David Freer, Technical Director- Transport Planning, QLD Highways & Structures and Transport Planning, Arcadis
David Hertweck, Senior Manager, Planning and Environment, Port of Brisbane
David Oatley, Airport Planning Manager, BAC
Georgy Mayo, Government Relations and Industry Manager, Transurban
Heidi Cooper, Head of Corporate Affairs & Strategic Projects, Transurban
Jason Cooper, Director – Programme Management Office, Engineering, Design and Project Management, SNC-Lavalin Atkins
Laura O’Brien, Director, Infrastructure, Deloitte
Mike Gillen, Industry Director – Cities, AECOM
Rebecca Michael, Chief Communication Officer, RACQ
Robbie Claase, Head of Advisory, Asia Pacific, SNC-Lavalin Atkins
Stephen Hunt, Senior Development Analyst, Transurban

Can SEQ become Australia's first Smart Region?

This event will launch the Committee’s latest policy paper “South East Queensland: Australia’s First Data Community” that outlines the actions that can catapult SEQ into a future built on evidence-based decision making, better use of public funding and a more responsive way of building and creating cities.

Keynote Speaker: Romilly Madew AO, CEO, Infrastructure Australia
Panellists: Adam Beck, Executive Director, Smart Cities Council Australia & New Zealand; Greg Power, Smart Cities Development Manager, Suez; Helen Clarke, Partner-in-Charge Brisbane and Lead Partner, Corrs Cyber, Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Panel Moderator: Amanda Newbery, Managing Director, Articulous

A copy of the policy Paper will be available to attendees on the day.

Wednesday, 16th June 2021, 12pm – 2pm, BCEC, Boulevard Room, South Brisbane.

Welcome New members

The Committee recently welcomed 10 new Members and five Affiliates:

Corporate Leader

Deloitte (upgrade)
Springfield City Group

Corporate Member

OnTalent
QPAC
Faction Consulting

Enterprise Member

Open Architecture Studio
The Women’s College within UQ

Associate

Jeroen Devos
Brian Wyborn
Paul Rigo
Ann Mclean

Affiliate

Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Association
Business South Bank
Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce
QMusic

Save the Date! All 2021-22 Corporate, Enterprise and Associate Members.

To kick off the new membership year all Corporate, Enterprise and Associate members please join us for drinks at Felon’s Barrel Hall on Thursday 15 July at 5.30pm. It will be a great opportunity to catch up with your fellow 2021-22 CfB members.

Registration details to follow soon.

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