November 2024 Newsletter

A message from the CEO

A new strategic focus.

As an independent, not-for-profit organisation focused on liveability, the Committee for Brisbane plays as important role in shaping the future of Brisbane.

There has never been a more exciting – or pivotal- time to be at the forefront of conversations around the city region’s growth and how we set ourselves up to benefit from the once-in-a-generation opportunities at our doorstep.

Along with undertaking the ordinary business of an Annual General Meeting (including electing new President and Vice Presidents, congrats Mike, Jake and Shannon!) last week, the Committee for Brisbane also unveiled its new three year plan.

Staying true to its vision of Greater Brisbane as the world’s most liveable place, the plan builds on the outstanding work of the Committee and its members and identifies four clear areas of strategic focus for the years ahead.

Underpinned by the guiding themes of leadership, inclusion, prosperity, sustainability and innovation, the Committee will focus on:

City Vision– a thriving inner-city, with all parts of its social, cultural and economic eco-system working together to deliver benefits for the city and state
Games Legacy and Growth– a future-ready city-region, with physical and digital infrastructure delivered in advance of anticipated growth
Transport, Logistics and Mobility– people and goods can move easily and efficiently around our city-region, utilising a range of different modes of movement
#BIG (Brisbane Idea Generators)- Greater Brisbane’s future leaders work together to give back to the city-region in which they are so proud to live, work and play

As a cross-sector organisation focused on city needs, rather than business needs, this refined structure will allow for engagement across the breadth of the Greater Brisbane community.

To support the delivery of these outcomes, the Committee is calling for expressions of interest from financial members to join new sub-committees aligned with these focus areas. More on this below.

Committee for Brisbane_Strategic Plan Summary

Our thanks to the many members and stakeholders who have provided formal and informal feedback to the development of this plan over the past six months.

We are excited to deliver on such a clear and ambitious agenda for the region!

Committee for Brisbane AGM

On Wednesday, 20th November we saw one new president, two new Vice-Presidents and two general members appointed to the Management Committee.

President, Kristan Conlon, is now retiring after many years on the Management Committee, and one year as President. We are pleased to announce the new line up of Management Committee members as follows:

President: Mike Kissane, Deloitte

Vice-Presidents: Shannon Willoughby, University of Queensland and Jacob Anson, Brisbane Lions

Ordinary Members:

Matt Beasley, Dexus

Karryn Wheelans, The Star Entertainment Group

Stuart Macnaughton, McCullough Robertson

We are thrilled to also announce new Life Membership in former President, Kristan Conlon. Congratulations to Kristan, we look forward to continuing a meaningful relationship.

Join the Committee for Brisbane 2025 and 2026 Sub-Committees

Your Opportunity to Shape Brisbane’s Future

Expressions of interest are now open for the Committee for Brisbane’s 2025 and 2026 sub-committees. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction of our city.

The new sub-committees will build on the excellent work of our previous sub-committees, leveraging these strategic pillars to inform their work plans. Each sub-committee will include a diverse cross-section of the Committee for Brisbane’s membership, with a maximum of one representative per CFB Member on each sub-committee.

Sub-committee membership is open exclusively to financial members of the Committee for Brisbane. Don’t miss this chance to make a meaningful impact on our city’s future!

To nominate for a sub-committee position, click here. Nominations close on 13 December 2024.

For more information about the sub-committees, please contact Olivia Spadina at olivia@committeeforbrisbane.org.au.

Let’s work together to make Brisbane an even better place to live, work, and play!

Introducing the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority

At The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane event, the Queensland Premier, Hon David Crisafulli MP, announced the panel of seven independent board members who will be tasked with undertaking the 100 Day Review of the Games.

The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) was enshrined in legislation, with its remit to lead the delivery and coordination of infrastructure for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Committee for Brisbane Advisory Council member, Sue Johnson, has been named as one of the seven members.

Chaired by commercial property expert Stephen Conry AM, GIICA brings together a diverse group of leaders:

· Sue Johnson – Former Transport Executive and Committee for Brisbane Advisory Council member

· Jill Davies – Sports Administrator

· Laurence Lancini AM – Founder and Executive Chairman of Lancini Property Group

· Tony Cochrane AM – Sports, Events and Entertainment Industry Figure

· Jess Caire – Queensland Executive Director, Property Council of Australia

· Jamie Fitzpatrick – Northern Queensland Tourism and Hospitality Leader

David Hourigan has been named as Interim CEO of the GIICA, having most recently been at the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

The Terms of Reference for the review have also been released and are available here.

City of Brisbane Legacy Committee

We are excited to announce that Jen Williams, CEO, Committee for Brisbane, has been invited to join the City of Brisbane Legacy Committee.

In just under 8 years, the international spotlight will shine on our city as we welcome visitors from across the world to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Hosting the Games presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver lasting legacy benefits for our community and create an even better Brisbane for generations to come.

In 2023, the Brisbane City Council established the City of Brisbane Legacy Committee to help shape and deliver a program of legacy projects and initiatives for the Brisbane community. The Committee is chaired by Deputy Mayor, Councillor Krista Adams, Civic Cabinet Chair for Economic Development and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games with executive members Libby Trickett OAM, Allan Pidgeon AM and Bevan Lynch.

The Legacy Committee will focus on five legacy pillars of connectivity and mobility, culture, lifestyle and tourism, environment and nature, enterprise and innovation and active, healthy and inclusive.

Dynamic leaders of Brisbane have been invited to be part of the Legacy Committee to help shape our city and make our mark as the Host City of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Committee for Brisbane will be not only part of the Legacy Committee, but will take the lead to progress the connectivity and mobility pillar, with fellow pillar partner Amanda Mather.

We look forward to engaging with members to assist the City of Brisbane Legacy to build a legacy that will benefit Brisbane for generations to come.

National Urban Policy Released

The Committee for Brisbane welcomes the Australian Government’s release of the National Urban Policy – A Vision for Sustainable Growth of Our Cities and Suburbs.

In September, the Committee for Brisbane, in partnership with the Planning Institute of Australia, hosted Senator Jenny McAllister, Federal Minister for Cities and Emergency Management. Senator McAllister shared insights into her new role overseeing the Federal Cities portfolio, along with the Government’s vision and planned investments in urban growth. Feedback from this session, alongside the Committee’s formal submission, has contributed to shaping the National Urban Policy unveiled today.

As Brisbane prepares for the 2032 Olympic Games, we applaud the Government’s commitment to strengthening cities and suburbs. This policy underscores the importance of creating connected, inclusive, and resilient urban environments as Brisbane steps onto the global stage.

The National Urban Policy outlines priorities for future-focused investments, including affordable housing, improved transport, job security, social inclusion, and cultural participation. It emphasizes the pivotal role of urban design and infrastructure in fostering community connections and driving social, economic, and environmental outcomes. To achieve this, the government aims to collaborate with industry, workers, and communities to support sustainable urban development.

Learn more about the National Urban Policy here

City Vitality Report - Reflecting on Our Growth and Resilience

Celebrating Insights and Collaboration

Now in its seventh year, the City Vitality Report continues to be a cornerstone for understanding the dynamic landscape of Brisbane’s inner city. This annual event has become a pivotal platform for members to analyse and discuss the core components of the report, covering critical areas such as Retail, Residential, Commercial, Tourism & Hospitality, Education, and new additions: Arts & Culture, and Health.

This year’s event featured an esteemed panel, including Carolyn Evans, Alexandra Brownlee, Jake Anson, Julia Scodellaro, Graeme Newton, and Renai Grace. Their contributions provided valuable insights and expertise, enriching the discussions and deepening our understanding of Brisbane’s ongoing development.

This year’s report highlights the significant strides Brisbane has made in its post-pandemic recovery. While recognizing the challenges ahead, we view them as opportunities to further enhance Brisbane’s appeal as a vibrant, thriving city for both residents and visitors.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Research Partners—Urban Economics, Dexus, and South Bank Corporation—for their unwavering support and collaboration. Their contributions are instrumental in producing this comprehensive and insightful report.

Together, we continue to build a city that not only attracts visitors but also remains a dynamic and lively home for its residents.

Committee for Brisbane Member workshops - Healthy Land and Water

We attended the Healthy Land and Water leadership forum looking at how AI can support the regeneration of nature hosted by Chief Scientist Andrew O’Neill.

A panel of industry leaders explored whether AI can provide the missing piece in climate resilience preparedness, response, and fast-tracking sustainability.

Panel Highlights The panel, facilitated by Cathy Robinson from CSIRO, featured insights from:

Rita Arrigo, National AI Centre

Peter Lazou, Serial Entrepreneur

Distinguished Professor Kerrie Mengerson, QUT

These experts shared their experiences and learnings with generative AI, sparking thought-provoking discussions on its current and future applications.

The session explored various applications of AI in nature, such as monitoring sea algae to better understand whale migration and creating digital twins of places and people to enhance data-driven decision-making. Participants noted that AI adoption varies across industries and users, sparking interest in the ethical considerations and barriers to broader implementation.

This forum underscored the potential of AI to enhance climate resilience and sustainability, while also highlighting the need to implement ethical frameworks and broader adoption strategies.

Committee for Brisbane Member workshops - Hassell

Hassell Studio recently hosted the Performance Futures Symposium, a workshop that brought together industry leaders and city shapers for an extraordinary day filled with ideas, inspiration, and connection. Facilitated by Adam Scott from Freestate London, this event underscored the power of a shared vision to transform Brisbane spaces where arts and culture can thrive.

The symposium featured vibrant discussions and a dynamic exchange of ideas among artists, architects, operators, policymakers, and cultural advocates. This collaborative spirit is exactly what Brisbane needs to realise its full cultural potential.

As we prepare for the 2032 Games, this workshop provides a spark to grow momentum and influence meaningful action that can help shape Brisbane’s cultural identity on the global stage.

The Committee for Brisbane welcomed the invitation to part of the discussion on performance spaces and looks forward to ongoing collaboration and innovation, ensuring that arts and culture remain central to life in Brisbane.

Thank you to Lucy O’Driscoll and the Hassell Team for hosting such an informative event.

Now is the perfect time to join the Committee for Brisbane

If you’re passionate about shaping the future of our city, connecting with like-minded professionals, and driving change across industries, there’s never been a better time to get involved.

As a member of the Committee for Brisbane, you’ll have the opportunity to:

Collaborate with influential leaders and decision-makers
Attend a wide range of networking events designed to spark ideas and innovation
Be part of bold initiatives that advance Brisbane as a leading city on the global stage

Whether it’s tackling the challenges of urban growth, fostering sustainable development, or celebrating our unique culture, this is where the big conversations happen.

To learn more about joining or renewing your membership visit our website

https://lnkd.in/gWzxfkCb

With new sub-committees set to open for nominations next week, there’s never been a better time to be a part of the Committee for Brisbane.

We’d love to have you on board!

New Members

We are excited to introduce one new enterprise member, one affiliate and four associate members.

Enterprise

HUB Australasia

Affiliate

National Council of Women of Qld

Associate

Vina Varsini

Ashleigh Mansfield

Simon Pikusa

Luke Chippindale

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