History
In 1985 Melbourne business identity Hugh Morgan hosted a foundation luncheon for the Committee at the Victorian Arts Centre. From this lunch the Committee evolved into and incorporated association and establishes three priorities for 1986:
- To increase the frequency of international flights to Melbourne;
- To make Melbourne’s 1986 Spoleto Festival a success; and
- To increase Melbourne’s attractiveness to international corporate headquarters through Government/Private sector co-operation.
From these early beginning the Committee has expanded to become an integral part of Melbourne’s community.
The Committee for Melbourne brings together Melbourne’s most influential busisnesses and organisations to undertake:
- networking,
- activities,
- policy creation, and
- leadership training,
to keep Melbourne among the world’s most liveable cities.
We are non partisan, non political and are motivated solely by the best interests of the city.
A brief history in reverse-chronological order is:
2010
• Andrew MacLeod takes over from Sally Capp is CEO
• Culture Card Established
• Cultural training for employers of international students established with VECCI
• Shaping Melbourne taskforce series of reports launched.
2009
• Recommendations in the Climate Change Taskforce report were implemented via Retrofitting workshops held over May and June. Workshops were so successful they were held again by the City of Melbourne in October and November.
• New Taskforce, Shaping Melbourne, to focus on five key themes: Towards 2050 and Beyond: The Big Picture, Infrastructure, Built Form Solutions, Economics, Community Engagement.
• Green roof initiative, Growing Up announces in May, 131 Queen St and BENT Architecture as the winning building and designer in the Growing Up green roof competition.
• Recommendations in the Climate Change Taskforce report were implemented via a Procurement workshop held in March, to give Committee for Melbourne members an insight as to what is green procurement and what are the benefits for organisations.
• Recommendations in the Climate Change Taskforce report were implemented via a staff travel workshop held in March, to give members a guide on how to develop and implement workplace sustainable transport initiatives which have a measurable impact on staff commuting habits.
• Committee for Melbourne helps organise ‘Our City Cares’ rally at Federation Square in February, in aid of those impacted by the devastating Victorian Bushfires.
2008
• Higher Education Taskforce’s inaugural VC/CEO Forum held in October, with Vice Chancellors and nominated Chief Executive Officers and Chairmen from the private sector, discuss improving the effectiveness of partnerships between universities and industry.
• Climate Change Taskforce launches FutureMap: Melbourne 2030 in July.
• Future Focus Group project, Melbourne Open House, launches the free-to-visit city-wide event which features the opening of important Melbourne buildings to the public for viewing in July.
• Climate Change Taskforce briefs more than 100 Members in June, at Federation Square on 12 months of work. Buildings, transport and urban planning areas of opportunity for Members to build on with climate change initiatives.
• The Committee’s CEO, three Executive Board Members and seven Members take part in the Federal Government’s Australia 2020 summit in April.
2007
• The Higher Education Taskforce launched its White Paper ‘Higher Education at a Tipping Point’ warning that the higher education system is at a tipping point and calling for urgent action. RMIT University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Margaret Gardiner AO, Taskforce Co-Chairs Mr. David Miles AM and Mr. Michael Andrew, and the Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, The Hon. Jacinta Allen MP launched the report at KPMG.
• Guiding Principles of the Committee’s Utility Debt Spiral Project launched by The Hon. Peter Batchelor, Minister for Energy Resources and Victorian Communities and Mr. Tony Wood, Director, Victoria and Tasmania, Origin Energy.
• Department of Infrastructure committed to triennial funding for Moving Galleries, a former Future Focus Group project.
2006
• The Committee initiates its Digital River taskforce and has its Digital Building Telecommunications Access Guideline launched as the national standard by The Australian Building Codes Board.
• A Future Focus Group project group which includes Future Focus Group Alumni launches Moving Galleries, a ‘travelling exhibition’ of art and poetry riding the rail network for 12 months aboard 20 trains.
• The Committee’s Transport Taskforce releases its second policy paper and the Government adopts a raft of proposed measures.
2005
• Committee for Melbourne member Mr George Pappas takes over as Chairman from Mr Jack Smorgon AO.
• The Committee’s Expansion Capital for Innovation taskforce publishes a report and submits key findings to Federal Government review of the Venture Capital Industry.
• A Future Focus Group project group completes a pilot of Opening Doors, a mentoring program designed to assist skilled migrants in their efforts to secure employment by increasing their professional networks and understanding of work life in Melbourne. Launched by Minister of Education Services, Employment and Youth Affairs.
• The Transport Taskforce releases a groundbreaking report putting a figure on traffic congestion’s cost and receives widespread media coverage.
2004
• The Committee establishes a Taskforce focusing on encouraging a creative Melbourne and initiates the Melbourne Prize Trust and Melbourne Prize.
2003
• A Future Focus Group project group develops ThinkCommunity, a program in which Melbourne professionals mentor disadvantaged 15- to 20-year olds. The program is still running five years later.
2002
• A Future Focus Group project group develops the Green PC brochure for InfoXchange to market PC recycling to the Committee for Melbourne members and Government with support from the Premier of Victoria.
• The Committee is appointed International Secretariat of the UN Cities Programme and the Melbourne Model is created, based on the model of the Committee for Melbourne.
• The Committee initiates the Digital River Taskforce and commissions development of the Digital Building Telecommunications Access Guideline (DBTAG) to promote competitive telecommunication access to buildings in Victoria. The Guideline is launched by the Minister for Information and Communication Technology.
2001
• The Committee initiates Melbourne as the first city in the world to sign the UN Cities Programme.
• The Committee establishes the BioMelbourne Network to promote Victoria’s biotech capabilities.
2000
• The Committee works with Mr Rob Gell to promote a sustainable corridor from Werribee to Geelong and to create a world leading water recycling and ecological precinct at the Werribee Sewerage Treatment Plant in its Werribee BioRegion Project.
1999
• Through the work of the Future Focus Group, the Committee becomes the first organisation outside the United States to ‘Adopt-a-Minefield’ and raises funds to clear a minefield in a village in Cambodia.
• The Committee hosts the meeting of the United Nations Inter-Agency Procurement Working Group.
1998
• Committee member The Boston Consulting Group completes “Biotechnology Study”, a review of Melbourne’s emerging biotechnology industry, and places issue of developing the sector onto the newly elected Victorian Government’s agenda. The BCG then makes a major presentation to the fledging industry on 29th July to bring the industry together.
• A Future Focus Group project group creates the concept for a children’s sculpture garden and commissions The Magic Pudding bronze sculpture in the Royal Botanical Gardens.
1997
• A Future Focus Group project group launches Eleos Place – a four-bedroom apartment for homeless youth, in association with the Collins Street Baptist Church.
• The Committee organises a conference in Business Opportunities with the United Nations in February
• The Committee wins the right for Melbourne to host the 1999 meeting of the United Nations Inter-Agency Procurement Working Group.
• In partnership with the City of Melbourne, the Committee launches the “Thinking Melbourne” program.
1996
• The first intake of the Future Focus Group business leadership program commences.
• The Committee establishes a financial service taskforce that initiates a focus on Melbourne as a centre for financial services, especially funds management, venture capital and financial services education. The concept of a Melbourne Financial Study Centre is developed by the taskforce (finally established by the State Government, Monash, Melbourne and RMIT Universities in 2005).
1995
• The Committee’s Transport Hub Strategy oversees the privatisation of Melbourne Airport.
• Jack Smorgon AM takes over Chairman’s role from Fergus Ryan, and Janine Kirk assumes the role of Executive Director from Steve Howard.
• The concept of a unique two-year leadership development program – the Future Focus Group – is established.
1994
• Melbourne’s reputation as a centre for medical research and health programs receives a boost through the Committee’s initiative to promote these strengths in Asia.
1993
• Sub-committee of the Board focused on:
o Melbourne Airport, Domain Tunnel/Western Bypass,
o Very Fast Train proposal, accelerated progress towards improving Melbourne city through city works,
o Improved city management and promotion,
o Media and communications,
o Attracting regional corporate headquarters to Melbourne,
o Developing a Victorian Tourism Marketing Plan,
o International recognition of Melbourne as a centre of science,
o Recognition of Melbourne as Australia’s best host of international visitors,
o Regional development,
o Successful reform of the food processing industry,
o Making Melbourne Australia’s centre of education,
o Continuing the Committee’s international work, and
o Community integration of the Committee’s aims.
1992
• The Committee’s push to create more efficient links between existing freeways finds expression in the Western Bypass, and City Link project financed by a Committee-led initiative: infrastructure bonds.
• The Committee oversees progress on the Domain Tunnel, Western Bypass, Western Ring Road and privatisation of Melbourne International Airport.
• The Committee lobbies to raise Melbourne’s image as a tourist centre and supports the creation of the free City Circle Tram line specifically for tourists.
1991
• Melbourne’s Docklands Authority is established.
• The Committee is behind a push to add bud-lighting to Melbourne’s St Kilda Road and latterly, Collins Street.
• Committee Member The Boston Consulting Group completes a study of the impediments to the growth of the Food Processing Industry, resulting in major changes to the industry.
1990
• Mr. Steve Howard takes over from Ms. Pamela Warrender as Executive Director.
• Melbourne International Board and the Executive Committee are replaced by a new Committee for Melbourne Board.
• The Committee releases its Docklands Discussion Paper in partnership with the former head of the London Docklands Development Corporation, Reg Ward and hosts a Docklands Conference leading to the establishment of the Docklands Authority.
1989
• The Committee establishes the following working groups, all of which fall under the Melbourne International Board umbrella, announced by the Premier of the day.
o Business Policy Advisory Committee, o Aviation Working Group, o Tourism, Events and Festivals Working Group, o Very Fast Train Working Group, o Melbourne Olympic Bid Working Group, o Science and Technology Working Group, o Multi-Function Polis Working Group, o Docklands Working Group.
1987
• The Committee holds its first conference – Melbourne: Leading the Way.
• The Committee establishes the Arts and Cultural Forum and CBD Forum.
• The Committee holds its second conference – Melbourne: Strategies for a Global Identity.
1986
• The Committee becomes an incorporated association.
• The Committee’s first three sub-committees are formed, including ‘Strategy & Planning’, and ‘Aviation, Science & Technology’ which would focus on attracting corporate headquarters and increasing international flights to Melbourne
1985
• Hugh Morgan informally acted as a figurehead for the Committee’s early stages and hosted a series of informal lunches at the Victorian Arts Centre. The first of these in April had the objective to establish Melbourne as an international image.
• The Committee establishes three priorities for 1986:
o To increase the frequency of international flights to Melbourne; o To make Melbourne’s 1986 Spoleto Festival a success; and o To increase Melbourne’s attractiveness to international corporate headquarters through Government/Private sector co-operation.