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.

Upcoming in 2018

JLL, Regional Director, Dr David Rees (Build to rent)

Thursday 27 March

Dr David Rees will be sharing high level findings from JLL research on the topic: ‘Multifamily in Australia’ and his expert thoughts on the future of housing in Melbourne, the residential sector as an investment category and the ‘build to rent’ agenda.

Professor of Environmental Technology and Design - Department of Urbanism Prof. Arjan van Timmeren

Tuesday 13 February

H20 propels the climate, lubricates continental drift, and shapes our geographies. Presently, cities are confronted with a number of increasingly unmanageable crises, from the triple threat of climate change, water scarcity, and environmental degradation to the deterioration of water supply and sanitation networks which will soon require radical retrofitting and/or complete replacement.

In 2017, we heard from: 

Nobel Laureate, Dr Harold Varmus

ANZ former Chief Executive, Mike Smith OBE

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 

Australia Digital Transformation Agency former Chief, Paul Shetler

View the event photos 

Foundation for Young Australians CEO, Jan Owen AM 

View the event photos

Lord Mayor of Melbourne, The Right Honourable Robert Doyle AC.

View the event photos 

Arcadis Global Cities Director, John Batten

AECOM Cities Global Director, Stephen Engblom

View the event photos

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.

2018 Annual Dinner: Melbourne Next

Join us at the atmospheric and recently refurbished Forum Melbourne, a venue that celebrates our city's remarkable past as we embrace pour exciting vision for what's next.

Tickets 
Prices are exclusive of GST

Single Ticket: $500

Heritage Booth for six: $3,500
An iconic fixture of the original theatre, the center booths have been fully restored, seating six.

Cabaret Table for eight: $4,500
Unique to the venue, cabaret tables seat eight maximising viewing of the stage.

Banquet Table for ten: $5,500
This traditional table seats ten guests and is positioned directly in front of the stage.

RSVP and more information: bit.ly/2DbG1pR 

Enquiries: (03) 9667 8141 or (03) 9650 8800, dinner@melbourne.org.au

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

2017 Annual Dinner

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.

2018 Annual Parliamentary Drinks 

Our fifth Annual Parliamentary Drinks will be held at Parliament House on Thursday 13 September at 6.30pm.

2017 Annual Parliamentary Drinks 

Our fourth Annual Parliamentary Drinks at Parliament House, on 19 October, was a sell-out event, attended by senior representatives from our Foundation Member organisations and members of Parliament from all political parties.

Parliamentary guests included:

• Treasurer of Victoria, Tim Pallas MP
• Minister for Planning, The Hon. Richard Wynne MP
• Leader of the Nationals, The Hon. Peter Walsh
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition, The Hon. David Hodgett
• President of the Legislative Council, The Hon. Bruce Atkinson MLC
• Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Colin Brooks MP

We thank member GHD for generously supporting the 2017 Annual Parliamentary Drinks as the event 'Presenting Partner'.

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.

In 2018, we will hear from:

Thursday 26 April 
The Hon. John Eren MP
Minister of Tourism and Major Events
Minister for Sport
Minister for Veterans

June - exact date TBC
The Hon. Tim Pallas MP
Treasurer of Victoria 

Thursday 12 July 
The Hon. Gavin Jennings MLC
Special Minister of State
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

In 2017 we heard from:

The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP
Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Major Projects
View the event photos 

Mr Tim Pallas MP
Treasurer of Victoria
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.

2018

Transport series: Infrastructure Victoria Policy Workshop

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

Tuesday 20 February

Automated and zero emission vehicles have the potential to transform car travel, bringing significant benefits to individuals and the community in areas such as safety, the environment, mobility and efficiency. The scope of the advice requires Infrastructure Victoria to investigate what infrastructure might be required:
· To enable the operation of highly automated vehicles
· In response to the ownership and market models that may emerge from the availability of highly automated vehicles
· For Zero Emission Vehicles as a high proportion of the Victoria fleet.

In 2017, the following took place:

Transport Series #3: Future of transport and the sharing economy

Transport Series #4: Innovation

Transport Series #5: Urban Mobility

View the event photos 

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 ARUP
• 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 Connectivity
4. Competitive internet
5. Airport link
6. Eastern seaboard transit link Governance
7. Metropolitan collaboration
8. Eastern seaboard collaboration
9. Digital capability

Find out more about Melbourne 4.0.

Read the Melbourne 4.0 summary report

Watch our short animation about Melbourne 4.0

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.

So far in 2018, we explored:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

In early February, Distinguished Professor and 2017 Boyer Lecturer, Professor Genevieve Bell addressed Victorian MPs where she provided a 'human scale' overview of AI and its implications.

A technologist and futurist, Professor Bell shared her insights on AI explaining exactly what it is, its history and highlighting the fact that fully functional AI is still a largely unrealised goal.

She said that understanding AI is only important in order to help us plan for how we can utilise it to support our future economy and liveability. Watch her talk.

Upcoming in 2018:

'Urban Reboot: How can Melbourne get better as it gets bigger'

Presented by Foundation member Arcadis, we will look into how Melbourne can plan and deliver urban regeneration precincts more quickly and with better long-term urban outcomes. Current examples of urban regeneration across Melbourne (e.g. Fishermans Bend, Maribyrnong Defence site) have been too slow to deliver, and the outcomes of previous efforts are not always universally applauded (e.g. Docklands).