2019 Melbourne Achiever Award Winners
The Committee for Melbourne’s prestigious 2019 Melbourne Achiever Awards were announced during our 2019 Annual Dinner on the 22 May, honouring Peter Clemenger AO and The Australian Ballet for their outstanding contribution to Business and Arts and Culture in Melbourne.
The recipients accepted the award at the Committee’s annual gala dinner on the night at the recently redeveloped Goldfields Theatre at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in the presence of Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and Committee for Melbourne Patron.
The Award celebrates contributions to Melbourne that will leave a lasting legacy. Committee for Melbourne CEO Martine Letts applauded Mr Clemenger’s significant innovation in creating a world-renowned agency Clemenger BBDO, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and over 60 consecutive years of philanthropic work. Peter is also a notable patron of the arts, establishing foundations and grants at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Victorian Arts Centre and an Honorary Life Member of The Australian Ballet and Life Patron of the Melbourne Theatre Company. “Peter is an inspirational Melburnian, and he has enriched Australian business and cultural life through Clemenger BBDO and his support of the visual and performing arts and his philanthropic work. Peter’s generosity and involvement in so many worthy causes have been exemplary. In honouring Peter, we also honour the extraordinary contribution of Joan Clemenger, Peter’s wife and the work of the Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust established in 2001”, said Ms Letts. “I am a little surprised to have won such a prestigious Committee for Melbourne award. Whatever I have done to deserve it, I have been very happy to support the Arts in Melbourne” said Peter Clemenger.”
Peter Clemenger AO
The Australian Ballet was awarded the Melbourne Achiever Award for an outstanding organisation as one of the world’s most renowned ballet companies that has delivered celebrated performances for over 50 years.
“The Australian Ballet continues to evolve, caring for tradition but daring to be different. The recent renovation was ‘en pointe’ with their Southbank home providing world-class facilities to not only dancers, but the talented sports medicine team, onsite costumiers and staff, which truly showcases their commitment to excellence here in Melbourne” noted Ms Letts.
“We are absolutely honoured to be receiving the Committee for Melbourne’s Melbourne Achiever Award and even more so, delighted to be acknowledged as a Melbourne-born company which has contributed to and loved being based in this wonderful city for the past 56 years.
Libby Christie, Executive Director, The Australian Ballet
From the formation of the company in 1962 – when we worked out of somewhat modest our first ever studio in East Melbourne - to today when we are based in our newly refurbished Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre in Southbank, we have been proud to call this city home as we travel around Australia and the world each year. It is wonderful to be based in Melbourne, and to work here from our state of the art “Headquarters of Australian Ballet”. Melbourne and The Australian Ballet attract Australia’s most talented dancers and that inspires creativity, a place where extraordinary people can dream and achieve” said Libby Christie, Executive Director of The Australian Ballet
2018
Our prestigious 2018 Melbourne Achiever Award recipients were announced at our Annual Dinner on 10 May at the Forum Melbourne, honouring Naomi Milgrom AO and Melbourne and Olympic Parks for their outstanding contributions to our city.
Committee for Melbourne CEO Martine Letts applauded Naomi Milgrom's significant role as an actively committed investor and thought leader to the world of arts, health, science, education and community life.
Naomi Milgrom AO
Upon accepting the Award, founder of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation and MPavilion, Naomi Milgrom, thanked the individuals and organisations that helped bring her ideas to life enriching and enlivening our city.
VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter, who accepted the Award on behalf of VicHealth last year, presented the Award to Melbourne and Olympic Parks, recognising its crucial role in cementing Melbourne's brand as the sport and entertainment capital of the world.
Accepting the Award on behalf of his organisation, Melbourne and Olympic Parks Chief Executive Brian Morris said "we take great pride in delivering the Australian Open, world's best concerts and an unbeatable calendar of incredible sport...it's a privilege to be operating arguably the best sport and entertainment precinct in the world".
Melbourne and Olympic Parks Chief Executive Brian Morris
The recipients accepted the award in presence of our Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria.
Read the related coverage: 'Businesswoman and philanthropist Naomi Milgrom and Melbourne Park win awards'
Selection criteria
The criteria for nomination is: significant, and sustained, contributions to our city that will leave a lasting legacy.
Your nominee can be either an individual and/or organisation. You are welcome to nominate your own company, another organisation or individual you feel is worthy of this recognition.
The following should also be taken into consideration when submitting your nomination:
• Relevance to the Committee’s four policy pillars: Future Economy, Urban Optimisation, Infrastructure and Liveability
• Relevance to our Melbourne 4.0 agenda
• Inspirational achievement
• Reflects the spirit of Committee for Melbourne
Please submit your nomination via the link above.
Our Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Laura Kerr Melvin, will then follow up by contacting you directly.
Please note, we do not need extensive background on the reasons behind your nomination as we conduct our own research.
The Committee for Melbourne Board of Directors will select this year's recipient(s) who will be notified prior to our 2019 Annual Dinner.
Since 1993, Committee for Melbourne has recognised the outstanding achievements of both individuals and organisations by awarding them with the Melbourne Achiever Award at our Annual Dinner.
As a Committee for Melbourne member, you have the opportunity to nominate an outstanding contributor to our future – an organisation and/or individual.
We look forward to celebrating the outstanding achievement of the winner(s) who will be our special guest(s) at our 2019 Annual Dinner on Wednesday 22nd May in presence of our Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria.
