Events

2017 Annual Dinner

The sleek contemporary atmosphere of the iconic Touring Hall at the Melbourne Museum provided the perfect backdrop for the Committee’s 2017 annual black tie dinner on Thursday 11 May. It was especially fitting that we came together in a space that promotes understanding of our past, to help us prepare for our future.

At this year’s dinner we celebrated our collective efforts in LEADING MELBOURNE 4.0 as we highlighted the work achieved through our flagship Taskforce and shared our vision for a prosperous and liveable Greater Melbourne moving towards 2030. On the night, Committee for Melbourne CEO Martine Letts unveiled the Melbourne 4.0 summary report. Read the Melbourne 4.0 summary report.

Among the 450 members and guests from our cross-sector membership were special guests, including the Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Sport and Veterans, The Hon. John Eren MP; Secretary of the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Richard Bolt as well as senior ministers and shadow ministers.

We were also joined by our Life Members Pamela Warrender OAM, Gary Morgan, Hugh Morgan AC, Jack Smorgon AO, George Pappas AO and Roger Poole.

Sharing our vision, Foundation Member PwC Australia contributed to the success of the evening as our Melbourne 4.0 launch partner.

Read Committee for Melbourne Chair, Scott Tanner's speech

View the event photos  

Thursday 19 October

2017 Annual Parliamentary Drinks

The Committee’s Annual Parliamentary Drinks provide a rare opportunity for members of all sides of politics and senior representatives of our Foundation member organisations to gather together and discuss issues of importance to Melbourne in this informal, non-party political setting.

2016 Annual Parliamentary Drinks 

The Committee hosted our third annual parliamentary drinks event at Parliament House on 25 October 2016. Senior representatives from Foundation member organisations and Members of Parliament from all political parties – including the Hon. Jacinta Allan MP, The Hon. Michael O’Brien and The Hon. David Davis – were welcomed by Mr Khalil Eideh MLC, Deputy President of the Legislative Council.

CEO, Martine Letts, highlighted the importance of bringing together Melbourne’s political, business, academic and community expertise in a non-party political setting to contribute to the debate on what our city needs now and in the future.

Members took the opportunity for informal networking and conversation with parliamentarians, making the 2016 parliamentary drinks a resounding success.

View the event photos 

Upcoming events

Thursday 12 October
Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Major Projects, The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP, 

State and Federal politicians, inform and influence the broader debate about Melbourne's future at our member-only breakfasts and lunches.

These conversations help stimulate debate on issues of importance to Melbourne and provide members with the opportunity to liaise directly with speakers and connect with other senior business leaders from our member organisations.

So far in 2017 we have heard from:

Treasurer of Victoria, Mr Tim Pallas MP
View the event photos 

 In 2016, we heard from:

Minister for the Environment and Energy, The Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP 

Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Major Projects, The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP 

Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, The Hon. Philip Dalidakis MP 

Minister for Planning, The Hon. Richard Wynne, MP 

Treasurer of Victoria, The Hon. Tim Pallas MP  

Upcoming events 

Tuesday 19 September
Non-Resident Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Initiative on Innovation and Placemaking at the Brookings Institution, Julie Wagner 

 The Leading Thinker Series gives the Committee and its members the chance to hear from speakers who provide new and/or thought-provoking insights into current and long-term issues of importance to the Committee’s agenda for Melbourne.

The Series feature a particular focus on the future economy and how Melbourne can engage even more deeply with the world as a major city in the dynamic Asia-Pacific region.

So far in 2017, we have heard from:

Global Cities Director, Arcadis New York, John Batten

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle AC
View the event photos 

Foundation for Young Australians CEO, Jan Owen AM
View the event photos 

Digital Transformation Office Former Chief, Paul Shetler

 In 2016, we heard from:

Business Council of Australia Chief Executive, Jennifer Westacott
View the event photos 

General Electric Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea CEO, Geoff Culbert
View the event photos 

Swinburne University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Linda Kristjanson 
Read Professor Linda Kristjanson's presentation 

Deloitte Access Economics Consultant, Ian Harper 
View the event photos 

The Conversation Executive Director and Editor, Andrew Jaspan
Read Andrew Jaspan's presentation
View the event photos

Five workshops are being scheduled for the Transport Series in the second half of 2017 and early 2018 to include the topics of: ITS Autonomous Vehicles; ITS Regulation and Harmonisation; ITS Smart Cities; Active Mobility – Walking and Cycling; and, Aviation and Maritime. These will build on two forums that took place in 2016: Roads and Public Transport.

The Committee's Transport Series aims to uncover the challenges and opportunities facing Melbourne’s long-term transport future. At each event, panels of key players in Melbourne’s transport sector outline their organisation’s ‘master plans’ for the development of Melbourne’s transport as our city continues to grow.

The goal of this series is to develop an integrated transport vision for Melbourne based on input from our members.

Arts and Culture Roundtable

Since the middle of 2016, a number of meetings have taken place with members from key arts and culture organisations. The Committee fully understands the significant contribution that arts and culture makes to Melbourne, both economically and socially. 

Through the Arts and Culture Roundtable. we are currently playing an active role to help improve Melbourne’s position as a global cultural destination.

Upcoming meetings

Tuesday 14 November 

Taskforces

These are formed when major policy initiatives require significant expert input from our members and assist in developing strong, factual and forward-looking policy platforms.

Recognising the profound and unpredictable changes that will shape Melbourne’s future economy, the Committee for Melbourne launched its MELBOURNE 4.0 Taskforce in September 2016 to:

• Develop a clear understanding of – and shared language around – the future economic environment of Melbourne, across the city’s key stakeholders
• Provide credibly informed policy programs to help our city and our member organisations prepare for the ‘over the horizon’ challenges and opportunities.

Find out more about MELBOURNE 4.0.

Read the Melbourne 4.0 summary report

Watch our short animation about Melbourne 4.0

Stakeholder event: Developing Greater Melbourne conference

30-31 October 2017
Melbourne Marriott Hotel 

Developing Greater Melbourne will bring together over 50 senior executive speakers as they share the latest updates on major infrastructure projects and strategies for advancing development across the region.

This year’s summit will feature four dedicated streams specifically focused on key areas that are crucial to the future development of Greater Melbourne:

1. Transport and infrastructure
2. Tourism and hospitality
3. Real estate and housing 
4. Health, education and innovation

Committee for Melbourne Director of Research and Policy is one of the conference speakers and will discuss how our city can become future ready.

Committee for Melbourne Members receive a 10% discount, using the code 'DGM_SPKR10%'.

Visit the conference website
Read the conference brochure

Committee for Melbourne is a Presenting Partner.

Stakeholder event: Creative Innovation 2017 Asia Pacific: 'Human Intelligence 2.0 -- Thriving in the Age of Acceleration'

13-15 November 2017
Sofitel Melbourne On Collins 

Ci2017 will help you understand and make the most of the exponential advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, automation of jobs and vehicles, healthcare, energy, workplaces and cities of the future and other major trends. 

Don’t miss the world class line-up of visionary innovators, futurists and leaders that are gathering at Ci2017 to help us better understand and prepare for our rapidly changing world. This event will give you the knowledge and tools to develop the leadership mindsets you need to transform your organisation. A place to imagine the future, inspire your leadership and achieve business success.

Committee for Melbourne members receive a 10% discount using the code 'acceleration'. It is available for Silver, Gold and Platinum conference packages.

Visit the evennt website 

Committee for Melbourne is a Presenting Partner.