Events

The Committee’s Annual Dinner is Melbourne’s premier black tie business networking event. Held in some of the city’s most iconic venues, the Committee hosts more than 500 members, guests, and dignitaries for a spectacular evening celebrating our achievements and great city.

2019 Annual Dinner

This year's theme is 

Our 2019 Annual Dinner will take place on Wednesday 22 May 2019

We invite our members to join us in one of Melbourne’s newest venues to celebrate our vision of shaping a big future for our beloved city. This year’s theme is ‘Think Big’ and we shall celebrate those whose bold ideas and visions for Melbourne laid the foundations for the wonderful city we have today.

Tables and sponsorship are now avaliable!

For sponsorship opportunities, to host a VIP table and information regarding our Not for Profit profiling strategy please contact us or call us on 03 9667 8141

2018 Annual Dinner: Melbourne Next

What a night! This year’s dinner celebrated our city's remarkable past, embraced our vision for what's next and celebrated amazing contributions to our city.

The atmospheric Forum Melbourne provided the ideal backdrop for our flagship gala dinner themed 'Melbourne Next' and served as a powerful symbol of our changing city.

Among the 400 attendees from our cross-sector membership, special guests included Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and Committee for Melbourne Patron; Minister for Major Projects and Public Transport, The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP representing the Premier Daniel Andrews; Minister for Tourism and Major Events, The Hon. John Eren MP; members of the Diplomatic Corps; senior Ministers and Shadow Ministers.

Martine also underlined the significance of Committee for Melbourne’s role as a trusted, non-partisan conveyor of messages from its broad membership during an election year.

View the night's photos.

We thank our generous partners for their support:

Presenting Partners
Grollo Group
Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Supporting Partners
PwC Australia
GHD
Uber
Marriner Group

Event Partners
ShineWing Australia
Sofitel Melbourne On Collins
Cornwell
Peter Jones Special Events

Our Leading Thinker series provides thought-provoking insights into the important issues facing our city. Covering current and long-term issues, the series focuses on the economy and deeper engagement with the dynamic Asia-Pacific region.

Events 2018

Thursday 1 November

Jo da Silva OBE

Creating resilient cities
Jo da Silva OBE, is the founder and leader of Arup International Development which works exclusively with organisations committed to improving human development outcomes.

Friday 9 November

Nicholas Davis 

'In Conversation With' Nicholas Davis
Nicholas Davis is Head of Society and Innovation and member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum in Geneva.

Past events

So far, in 2018, we have heard from:  

• Director of Generational Dynamics at Incorp in Melbourme. A 2015 Telstra Victorian Young Business Woman of the Year, Alicia has advised on cross generational business strategies and education for several large Australian companies Alicia Stephenson
• Guerrilla Geographer, National Geographic Explorer, and founder of the initiative to transform the whole of Greater London into the world's first 'National Park City' in 2019, Daniel Raven-Ellison
• Australian Pacific Airports Corporation Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Lyell Strambi
• JLL, Regional Director, Dr David Rees 
• Professor of Environmental Technology and Design - Department of Urbanism, Prof. Arjan van Timmeren View the event photos 

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.

2019 Annual Parliamentary Drinks

Our 2019 6th Annual Parliamentary Drinks event, will take place on 17 October at Parliament House. This gathering provides an informal opportunity for members from all sides of politics to meet with Committee for Melbourne Directors and senior executive representatives of our Foundation membership.

It also gives our Foundation Members a chance to meet and connect with members of Parliament and with fellow Foundation Member representatives. These Members, which include some of our city’s premier business organisations, such as Bank of Melbourne, EY, Telstra, Grollo Group and PwC play a key role in shaping the Committee’s agenda and the long-term development of Greater Melbourne.

2018 Annual Parliamentary Drinks 

Our 2018 5th Annual Parliamentary Drinks event, which took place on 19 September at Parliament House, provided 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.

Addressing Parliamentarians and guests on the night, President of the Legislative Council The Hon Bruce Atkinson MLC, told Committee for Melbourne members that they have a "significant role to play in the advancement of our state and our country through the Committee for Melbourne" and wished us "all power moving forward".

Committee for Melbourne Chair Scott Tanner provided the vote of thanks on the night thanking Foundation members GHD and Telstra for supporting and making our flagship event possible.

View the event photos 

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 2018, we have heard from:

The Hon. Gavin Jennings MLC
Special Minister of State
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
View the event photos

The Hon. Matthew Guy MP
Shadow Minister for Population
Leader of the Opposition, Member for Bulleen

The Hon. Tim Pallas MP
Treasurer of Victoria 
View the event photos

The Hon. John Eren MP
Minister of Tourism and Major Events
Minister for Sport
Minister for Veterans
View the event photos

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.

Upcoming events in 2018

Wednesday 31 October

Transport Series Boardroom Breakfast-Huawei: the road to Digital Transromation in Trasportation

Find out more about Huawei's journey to digital transformation during an intimate breakfast with discussion facilitated by Former Victorian Premier and Huawei’s Australian-based independent director, The Hon John Brumby AO.

Past events in 2018

Tuesday 20 February

Transport series: Infrastructure Victoria Policy Workshop

Advice on Automated and Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure: Committee for Melbourne member workshop

Arts and Culture Roundtable

Regular roundtable discussions facilitate collaboration and allow members to contribute to the Committee’s position on city-shaping issues. Members are invited to participate in taskforces on major initiatives, providing specialist knowledge and expertise to help develop factual and forward-looking policy platforms.

Since mid 2016, a number of meetings have taken place with members from key arts and culture organisations to develop an integrated vision and strategy for the city as a vibrant, globally recognised destination for arts, culture and design on a par with Melbourne’s status as a global sports and events destination.

The Committee’s members represent some of Melbourne’s most important arts and cultural institutions, who meet regularly to develop an integrated vision and strategy for the city as a vibrant, globally-recognised destination for arts, culture, and design.

These Roundtable discussions facilitate collaboration and allow members to contribute to the Committee’s position on city-shaping issues.

4 meetings will take place in 2018 in:

• Thursday 1 March - Hosted by ACMI
• Wednesday 11 July - Hosted by The University of Melbourne 
• Wednesday 19 September - Hosted by Melbourne Recital Centre
• Tuesday 11 December - Hosted by Victorian Opera 

Taskforces

Committee members are invited to participate in taskforces on major initiatives, providing specialist knowledge and expertise to help develop forward-looking policy platforms.

Our taskforces for 2018-2020 are examining the nine Strategic Needs that we identified in our flagship Melbourne 4.0 report. It is vital for Melbourne’s future liveability that we address these Strategic Needs.

These Strategic Needs cover:
1. Future skills
2. Innovative ecosystem
3. Housing mix 
4. Competitive internet
5. Airport link
6. Eastern seaboard transit link Governance
7. Metropolitan collaboration
8. Eastern seaboard collaboration
9. Digital capability

Upcoming events

Wednesday 31 Occtober

Transport Roundtable wih The Hon John Brumby AO

With discussion facilitated by Former Victorian Premier and Huawei’s Australian-based independent director, The Hon John Brumby AO will share his thoughts on the company’s digital transformation experience and their vision for the future. 

Past events in 2018

• Airport Link Forum #3
• Melbourne 4.0 Housing Mix Taskforce: Meeting 1
• Artificial Intelligence Taskforce Steering Committee

 
Friday 12 October

Future Skills with FYA Working Group

The group discussed how ideas from the 'YLab workshop session' at the August event could manifest as practical outcomes to shape Melbourne’s future as a lifelong learning city.

Open Mind Forums is the Committee's new event series bringing together the heads of government agencies and statutory authorities with industry leaders to explore the issues influencing government policies and priorities in a confidential and productive environment.

Members and key stakeholders are invited to gain a deeper understanding of government direction and provide input into critical issues influencing decision making processes.

Upcoming events in 2018

Thursday 1 November 

The Hon Dr Gary Johns, Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission

Innovation Precincts - 4.0: Innovative Ecosystem Agenda
We invite you to join us at an exclusive dinner, the fourth in our Connected Melbourne series, hosted by Lendlease's National New Business Manager - Commercial, Ronald Van Benten.

Past events in 2018

• Melbourne Lord Mayor Cr Sally Capp 
• Secretary of Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources Richard Bolt PSM