07.10.2021From the CEO | 7 October 2021

Trying to maintain an optimistic perspective as we become the world’s number one lockdown jurisdiction is difficult. What has been encouraging, however, is that we are doing well on our vaccination targets to allow Greater Melbourne to reopen. We renew our call on all Melburnians to do their civic duty by getting vaccinated and being COVIDSafe in everything they do.

We most certainly need to get that Grand Final back in 2022, especially given the great victory on 25 September of Melbourne’s oldest AFL Team, the Melbourne Football Club (MFC).

I would like to congratulate my predecessor, Kate Roffey, President of the MFC for her leadership as well as the team, its coach and all others who played their part in breaking the 57-year drought. This victory was one for the optimists, and hopefully, an inspiration for Melbourne’s revival as we get our city back on track.

Leadership matters. We were honoured to host two leading Melburnians last week – Federal Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg and Ben Carroll, Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Roads and Road Safety. The optimistic takeout is that the COVID-19 crisis has given us a great opportunity to build an even better economy and city-shaping infrastructure.

Don’t forget that you have an opportunity to nurture and motivate your future leaders in these COVID times by nominating them for our unique emerging leaders program, the Future Focus Group (FFG). Nominations for the 22 – 23 program close on 12 November.

Finally, we pay our respects to our inaugural Chair, John Elliott who passed away on 23 September. In 1986, together with our founder, Pamela Warrender, John enlisted the support of over 100 businesses as founding members of the Committee.

Great leadership, great legacy.

Happy reading.