News Updates
Chairman's Message
I am pleased to announce that we have appointed Mr Andrew MacLeod as our Chief Executive Officer, commencing January 2010.
Andrew’s appointment is a real win for the Committee for Melbourne. The level of interest in the position of CEO for the Committee for Melbourne was unprecedented, with a very large number of well qualified applicants contacting us directly as well as nominations being put to us by various community leaders. Andrew was selected by a very thorough process, involving nearly all Board members, from a shortlist of highly competent candidates.
We were greatly impressed by a number of Andrew’s attributes. Among them, is a demonstrated track record of being able to engage stakeholders to achieve difficult, complex and significant outcomes.
With Andrew at the helm, the Committee has an opportunity to move up another step, just as Sally Capp helped us to do, because, like his predecessor when she took on the job, Andrew is a person who is on the rise.
Andrew has had a diverse and rewarding career, enjoying leadership roles within large and small business environments in the private and public sector. After holding positions with the Australian Army and Dunhill Madden Butler in Melbourne, he accepted a role in the International Committee at the Red Cross working in countries such as former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
In 1999, Andrew moved back to Melbourne to focus on consulting and entering politics. Andrew accepted a role from Deputy Premier John Thwaites as Senior Political and Policy Adviser and remained there for a year until January 2003. At this point, he decided that he wanted to return to his international activities and successfully applied to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva. For eight months in 2003, he held a number of positions there until October 2005 when the UN sent him to Pakistan to co-ordinate the massive earthquake relief in Kashmir. Between October 2005 and May 2008, he was based in Pakistan and, from May last year to May this year, in The Philippines, dealing with typhoon relief and recovery.
Andrew was born in November 1966 in Melbourne. He completed his first degree at the University of Tasmania, graduating in 1992 with a double degree in Arts/Law.
Andrew is a silver medallist in 200m Butterfly at the 2002 World Masters Games, a former state medallist in surf-lifesaving, and achieved fourth place in debating at the World Championships.
I’m really looking forward to working with Andrew in moving the Committee’s agenda into 2010.
Wishing you a Festive Season and Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
George Pappas
Our objectives are to ensure Melbourne’s liveability and economic prosperity. We want to see Melbourne as a great place to live, work, invest and study. For the Committee for Melbourne, 2009 was a year of positive outcomes.
The Committee is able to look deeply into the strategic issues impacting Melbourne’s future as a result of your contribution, energy and expertise. Over the past 12 months, we have continued to make comprehensive information available to you. We have also enabled you to have a voice on topical issues.
We have created the opportunities to deepen your relationships through 32 taskforce workshops, five lunches with leading politicians, six tours and discussion forums, including exclusive tours of the Salvador Dali exhibition at the NGV, the new ANZ head office at Docklands, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Government House Apartments.
We have provided influential leadership in our community. Using our collective voice on issues such as higher education, climate change and shaping Melbourne, we create opportunities and outcomes in Melbourne. Such positive differences include:
Running a design competition for green roofs and installing the winning design on 131 Queens Street;
Setting up a ‘Welcome Booth’ at the Melbourne International Airport for international students just arriving in Melbourne;
Securing Government funding to establish the Culture Card, an initiative of the Committee’s Higher Education Taskforce, which is seeking ways to enhance the international student experience and liveability of Melbourne for people choosing to study here;
Facilitating the annual VC/CEO Forums;
Installing aboriginal art exhibitions around Melbourne’s CBD corporate office buildings; and
Congratulating our young leaders for completing our 2008-2009 business leadership program and welcoming 55 new participants into the 2010-2011 Future Focus Group program.
Our retiring Chief Executive Sally Capp recently shared her thoughts with me on what was the best thing about being the Chief Executive of the Committee as well as her thoughts about what makes a good Chief Executive in this organisation. Sally should know – she has done a marvelous job in that role for us over the last two years. While we are sorry to lose her, we wish her the best of luck in her important new role in London on behalf of all Victorians. You can see the complete interview in this issue of the newsletter.
I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work, time and resources our members and key stakeholders invest in Melbourne’s future.
Our contribution to this great city does not stop here. We have some challenges ahead including how to cope with the change of the Committee’s Chief Executive Officer, the global economic crisis and the question of how we can accommodate several million more people in Melbourne while maintaining our enviable liveability.
We have a role to play in helping to determine the future shape of Melbourne, and we are seeking your continued involvement in this challenge.
I wish you all the best for the Festive Season and look forward to working with you in 2010 - our 25th anniversary year!
Our objectives are to ensure Melbourne’s liveability and economic prosperity. We want to see Melbourne as a great place to live, work, invest and study. For the Committee for Melbourne, 2009 was a year of positive outcomes.
The Committee is able to look deeply into the strategic issues impacting Melbourne’s future as a result of your contribution, energy and expertise. Over the past 12 months, we have continued to make comprehensive information available to you. We have also enabled you to have a voice on topical issues.
We have created the opportunities to deepen your relationships through 32 taskforce workshops, five lunches with leading politicians, six tours and discussion forums, including exclusive tours of the Salvador Dali exhibition at the NGV, the new ANZ head office at Docklands, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Government House Apartments.
We have provided influential leadership in our community. Using our collective voice on issues such as higher education, climate change and shaping Melbourne, we create opportunities and outcomes in Melbourne. Such positive differences include:
Running a design competition for green roofs and installing the winning design on 131 Queens Street;
Setting up a ‘Welcome Booth’ at the Melbourne International Airport for international students just arriving in Melbourne;
Securing Government funding to establish the Culture Card, an initiative of the Committee’s Higher Education Taskforce, which is seeking ways to enhance the international student experience and liveability of Melbourne for people choosing to study here;
Facilitating the annual VC/CEO Forums;
Installing aboriginal art exhibitions around Melbourne’s CBD corporate office buildings; and
Congratulating our young leaders for completing our 2008-2009 business leadership program and welcoming 55 new participants into the 2010-2011 Future Focus Group program.
Our retiring Chief Executive Sally Capp recently shared her thoughts with me on what was the best thing about being the Chief Executive of the Committee as well as her thoughts about what makes a good Chief Executive in this organisation. Sally should know – she has done a marvelous job in that role for us over the last two years. While we are sorry to lose her, we wish her the best of luck in her important new role in London on behalf of all Victorians. You can see the complete interview in this issue of the newsletter.
I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work, time and resources our members and key stakeholders invest in Melbourne’s future.
Our contribution to this great city does not stop here. We have some challenges ahead including how to cope with the change of the Committee’s Chief Executive Officer, the global economic crisis and the question of how we can accommodate several million more people in Melbourne while maintaining our enviable liveability.
We have a role to play in helping to determine the future shape of Melbourne, and we are seeking your continued involvement in this challenge.
I wish you all the best for the Festive Season and look forward to working with you in 2010 - our 25th anniversary year!
George Pappas
The drafting of our report by the Shaping Melbourne Taskforce is currently underway, with Taskforce members contributing key messages and thoughts to report sections.
The aim of the report is to consider options for the future vision of Melbourne as it grows to accommodate a rapidly expanding population.
The following themes will be addressed in the Report:
A. Early 21st Century Melbourne: Describes Melbourne today.
B. The Horizon: Identifies population growth and demographic trends.
C. The Melbourne Proposition: Describes what our vision is for Melbourne beyond 5 million.
D. Planning for and Nurturing the Future
(i) Configuration: Describes the physical macro presentation of the city beyond 5 million.
(ii) Infrastructure: Describes the infrastructure needs of the city beyond 5 million.
(iii) Character: Describes the micro economic, social, environmental workings of the city beyond 5 million.
(iv) Governance: Proposes a model of how to achieve the configuration and character of the city beyond 5 million.
E. Community Engagement: Proposes how to engage the community to support this vision.
The report will be developed through coming months and comment will be sought from Taskforce and Committee for Melbourne members as drafting progresses.
For more information on the Shaping Melbourne Taskforce, please contact our Policy Officer, Ms Amelia Jalland on (03) 9667 8114 or ajalland@melbourne.org.au
The Committee will launch a new project in 2010, to encourage international students to connect to Victoria’s culture and lifestyle with support from the Victorian Government.
The Committee for Melbourne with the Department for Innovation, Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD) has recently hosted information sessions for education organisations and identified possible destination organisations to discuss participation and next steps.
The Committee for Melbourne has been working with Destination Melbourne, DIIRD, Tourism Victoria and the State Government to deliver the Culture Card initiative which will begin in March 2010.
Under the Program, international students will be welcomed to a number of attractions and events in Victoria to build their understanding and engagement in our way of life, and deepen their connection with our State.
The Culture Card initiative was announced by Premier John Brumby as part of the Victorian Government’s new Thinking Global: Victoria’s Action Plan for International Education in September this year.
For more information on the Culture Card initiative, please contact our Policy Officer, Ms Amelia Jalland on (03) 9667 8114 or ajalland@melbourne.org.au
The Committee for Melbourne’s VC-CEO annual forum brings together leaders of industry and academia to enhance partnership that reinforces the contribution of higher education to Victoria.
This year’s forum was hosted by Victoria University’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Elizabeth Harman on Monday. Discussion was led by Swinburne University’s Vice-Chancellor and Victorian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee's Chair, Prof. Ian Young as well as our Higher Education Taskforce Co-Chairs, KPMG’s Australian Chairman, Mr Michael Andrew and Innovation Australia’s Chairman, Mr David Miles AM.
Our CEO Ms Sally Capp discussed the Melbourne Airport Welcome Booth, the Culture Card, and the pilot of a new Business Practicum program for international students with Melbourne University, which are outcomes from the Committee’s Higher Education Taskforce. The VC-CEO forum is an initiative of the Higher Education Taskforce.
For more information on our Higher Education Taskforce activities, please contact our Policy Officer, Ms Amelia Jalland on (03) 9667 8114 or ajalland@melbourne.org.au
The Future Focus Group Program had its busiest months recently, which included a final project review panel, a graduation ceremony for the 2008-2009 intake and welcoming the newest participants into the Future Focus Group.
All six current project groups presented for their final time at ANZ on 11 November, 2009, to the Project Review Panel – our Chairman Mr George Pappas, our CEO Ms Sally Capp, Innovation Australia’s Chairman and our Deputy Co-Chair Mr David Miles AM and GHD’s Executive Manager and our Executive Board member Mr Tom Fricke.
Each group presented for ten minutes, followed by questions from the panel and a short summary. All participants then gathered following the final presentation to hear their collective feedback.
Mr Pappas complimented the groups on their determination, their commitment and the amazing project outcomes they have produced. He was so impressed with the standard of the projects that he invited each group to present to the Committee’s Annual General Meeting on 24 November, 2009, at Denmark House. This afforded group members the opportunity to further extend the influence of the project outcomes whilst informing Committee for Melbourne members about their reach.
Celebrating the past two years
For the first time the Future Focus Group graduation was held at Crown Towers on 25 November, 2009. Around 100 guests attended, including Alumni, mentors and current participants and their partners. The guest address was given by Judge Michael Rozenes, Chief Judge of the County Court. Each participant was presented with a framed certificate of graduation, a 2008-2009 yearbook and a personal letter from the Committee.
Welcoming the newest Program participants
Having said goodbye to the current program participants, it was time to welcome the 2010-2011 nominees and their mentors on 1 December, 2009, at ACMI. The new program will see an increase in participant numbers from 43 to 55, with women making up almost half of this number (up from a third in the current program).
The new participants in the 2010-2011 Program are:
- Mr Sean Anthony, Telstra
- Ms Cherise Bell, Nucleus Network Limited
- Mr David Bicknell, Macquarie Group Limited
- Mr Tim Brabazon, The University of Melbourne
- Ms Lucy Cohen, Melbourne Girls Grammar School
- Mr Andrew Colman, AECOM
- Mr Michael Cunningham, Grant Thornton Australia Limited
- Ms Gemma Davies, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group
- Ms Alieta Donald, Melbourne Water
- Mr Mark Donaldson, A T Kearney Australia Pty Ltd
- Ms Jane Douglas, Melbourne Citymission
- Ms Narelle Evans, VicUrban
- Ms Daniela Giandinoto, Sustainability Victoria
- Mr Trent Gillam, RMIT University
- Mr Ben Haste, National Australia Bank
- Ms Sunny Haynes, VicUrban
- Ms Kellie Hinds, Escor Group
- Ms Benita Husband, Aurecon
- Ms Toni Jones, BDO
- Mr Luke Jordan, Department of Parliamentary Services
- Mr Paul Kallenbach, Minter Ellison
- Mr Steven Katz, RBS Group (Australia) Pty Ltd
- Mr Kristoff Keele, Macquarie Group Limited
- Dr Kurt Lackovic, The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
- Mr Daniel Lambert, ARUP
- Mr Simon Lamplough, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne
- Mr Daniel Madsen Origin Energy
- Mr Brian Man, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Ms Rachael McCarthy, Bates Smart Pty Ltd
- Mr Brett McDonnell, Melbourne Citymission
- Ms Anna McFadgen, Melbourne Health
- Mr Scott Mesley, KPMG
- Mr Duncan Moody, Mission Australia
- Dr Daniel Murphy, Royal Botanic Gardens
- Ms Anja Nikolic, CPA Australia
- Ms Jennifer O'Donnell, Origin Energy
- Ms Tennealle O'Shannessy, A T Kearney Australia Pty Ltd
- Ms Delwyn Pannett, Royal District Nursing Service
- Ms Joanne Peters, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Mr Simon Philcox, Ernst & Young
- Mr Nicholas Poole, Clayton Utz
- Mr Andrew Robinson, CPA Australia
- Ms Rosemary Roche , Corrs Chambers Westgarth
- Mr Yopie Rusli, International Interior Images Pty Ltd
- Ms Gonul Serbest, Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development
- Professor Aaron Smith, RMIT University
- Ms Maria Trinci, KPMG
- Ms Joanne Truman, Department of Parliamentary Services
- Mr Michael Van Houten, Ernst & Young
- Ms Melissa Webb, Metlink Victoria Pty Ltd
- Mr Kenneth Weldin, Ernst & Young
- Ms Elise Wherry, KPMG
- Ms Jacquie White, Melbourne Water
- Mr James Wilson, Lyons
- Ms Joanne Yee, GHD
Mr. George Pappas, Chairman of the Committee for Melbourne, interviews Ms. Sally Capp, Chief Executive of the Committee, as she prepares to depart the position she has held since 2007.
Sally Capp and George Pappas
Chairman: What was the best thing about being the Chief Executive of the Committee for Melbourne?
Sally: There couldn’t be just one! My top three would be:
Working with our members from whom I could learn a lot and who energised me every day with their dedication and enthusiasm for creating positive change in Victoria;
Helping lead the Future Focus Group program which gives us the opportunity to develop emerging leaders from our member organisations. Their creativity and passion for creating good ideas and over two years producing valuable legacies for Melbourne is inspiring; and
Being part of an organisation that enables me and many others to take personal satisfaction from having input into and an impact on Victoria’s future.
Chairman: What do you see as the Committee’s most important role right now?
Sally: Melbourne faces many urban challenges exacerbated by issues such as climate change and population growth. To address those challenges, our community needs to work effectively together across sectors and across industries. I believe the Committee for Melbourne’s most important role at the moment is to utilise its unique ability to bring parties together to understand those issues more deeply, apply their skills and experience to generating ideas to overcome the issues and use our combined resources and energies to turn those ideas into outcomes. We need to undertake a step towards changing how we live and work and organisations like the Committee that are based on collaborative efforts will be an important mechanism in how our community responds to current challenges.
Additionally, we have experienced the impacts of a global financial crisis on our state, federal and global economies. We must learn from the mistakes made if we are to avoid future crisises of this magnitude. Given Australia and Victoria were relatively sheltered from the fall out of the GFC, I believe Committee for Melbourne leaders have a major role to play in ensuring that the lessons are understood in our business community and across sectors as their leadership on these issues is imperative for the education of a generation who have lived in a time of unprecedented economic prosperity and must appreciate their responsibilities for the safekeeping of our community.
Chairman: What makes a good Chief Executive of the Committee?
Sally: Someone who can eat and drink a lot! I have eaten my way around Melbourne and loved every minute of it. Seriously, someone who is passionate about Melbourne and can help facilitate the efforts of other Melburnians into achieving great outcomes. The CEO must be a team player who can work well with many people and stay focussed on a goal. The Committee for Melbourne CEO must be good at listening and also at sharing knowledge. A good CEO of the Committee for Melbourne is someone who wants to help others show leadership in their community. Also, must be a Collingwood supporter…only joking George!
Chairman: What will you miss most about working for the Committee?
Sally: The people of course. We have a high level of quality interaction every day with interesting and interested people – it is incredibly stimulating. It is also energising to work with people who care about the issues in our community and donate their time, expertise and passion to working on solutions.
Chairman: What won’t you miss?
Sally: Walking up four flights of stairs at least a few times every day but then again the beauty of the Milton House stairwell and the fact that it was usually the only physical exercise I did each day means I will end up missing even that!
Chairman: Will you keep in touch with us?
Sally: My new role builds on all that I have learnt at the Committee and the relationships that I have built while with the Committee so of course I will keep in touch as we all continue to work on growing opportunities for Victoria. My new email is sally.capp@diird.vic.gov.au so everyone can keep in touch with me too.
Dear Members,
Sally Capp has accepted the role of Agent-General for Victoria in London. This role builds on the experience and knowledge Sally has gained through her role with the Committee for Melbourne and extends the reach of the Committee as Sally will remain an enthusiastic supporter of the Committee’s activities.
It is with regret that Sally leaves us and we have commenced a search for a new CEO to continue the valuable work of the Committee for Melbourne. We will advise you in due course.
Kind regards,
George Pappas
View the full media release from the Premier.
CEOs and Chairmen from our sister organisations
The Committee hosted CEOs and Chairmen of our sister organisations this week, for their second “Committees for” meeting for 2009.
Twice a year the “Committees for” from cities around Victoria, Perth and Auckland gather to exchange information and share strategies. These include the Committees for Melbourne, Auckland, Ballarat, Geelong, Perth, Portland and Wyndham. Each Committee takes a turn at hosting the two-day event.
The issues our respective cities have in common were more prevalent than ever before as we grapple with topics such as water, responses to the global financial crisis, the impact of population growth and the governance of cities.
Highlights of the “Committees for” activities are:
- The Committee for Auckland was instrumental in the design and implementation of a new metropolitan governance structure.
- The Committee for Ballarat is reviewing recycled storm water as a possible future strategy to assist in supporting its manufacturing industry in particular.
- The Committee for Geelong has just returned from two days in Canberra, meeting with Government Ministers and is focussed on the Carbon Pollution and Reduction Scheme and how it will impact the region’s industry.
- The Committee for Melbourne shared its work in the Shaping Melbourne Taskforce.
- The Committee for Perth played a major role in the development of a new cultural centre announced this week.
- The Committee for Portland is assisting its export-focussed community respond to the global financial crisis and is involved in building the renewable energy sector in its region.
- The Committee for Wyndham is leading discussion on the development of the Werribee Technology Park.
The meeting also received a presentation from VicUrban’s Mr Daniel Khong about the frameworks for developing successful economic centres, a tour with Mr Leigh Harry of Victoria’s world class Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and a session with the Cities Program Manager of the Grattan Institute, Ms Jane-Frances Kelly.
“Melbourne Beyond 5 Million: A conversation about our future…” will be the focus of a new report by the Shaping Melbourne Taskforce.
To be released during the 25 year anniversary of the Committee for Melbourne in 2010, the report will outline our members' vision for Melbourne considering projected population growth, economic, social and environmental changes.
The report will be drafted through a consultative process with Taskforce members which will begin shortly and it will take into account recommendations from the Taskforce’s September 2009 Plenary Session.