Future Focus Group

Committee for Melbourne continues its commitment to the development of emerging leaders into skilled, committed and connected civic leaders who have an enduring positive impact on Melbourne through the Future Focus Group Program (FFG). The Program runs over 15 months and is a transformational experience for those who participate, with over 400 graduates to date.

Melbourne’s own emerging civic leaders’ program, FFG is a unique offering for selected emerging leaders in Melbourne to better understand, connect within and contribute to Melbourne while building their leadership capabilities.

FFG is an outstanding opportunity to make real and enduring contributions to Melbourne’s Road to Recovery by being part of the delivery of Committee-sponsored group projects. Now in its third decade, FFG also features an induction event, 15 evening workshops and active one-on-one mentoring.

FFG is open to member organisations of the Committee and to Victorian Government Departments. We now also offer the program to organisations that are not member organisations of the Committee.

The 17 members of the Class of 2021-2022 worked in three project teams and they completed the program in May 2022.
The 16 members of the Class of 2022-2023 began in February 2022, are working in three project teams and they will work together until May 2023.

The 2023-2024 Program has commenced, and will run for 15 months until May 2024.

Please contact Matt Gaffney, General Manager Future Focus Group, if you would like to explore the prospect of nominating an emerging leader of your organisation for the next cohort.

What does a typical FFG participant look like?

The typical attributes of a candidate for the Future Focus Group are:

• 8 to 12 years’ work experience, combined with some management experience
• An appetite for some independence, initiative and ambiguity during the Program
• Able to commit to the Program for its duration, including attendance at the Induction event, at 12 or more of the 15 monthly workshops and at Project Team meetings and other interactions
• A strong interest in making Melbourne a better place
• Recognised by leaders of the organisation as a likely future leader of that organisation
• A keen desire to develop leadership skills through a practical learning model in a challenging and diverse team environment

A transformational experience

From big business through to universities and genuine not-for-profits, FFG attracts participants from every sector of the Committee’s membership base. This broad exposure enables participants to develop connections and work with colleagues outside their usual circles, creating a network of professional relationships and friendships that can last a lifetime.

A critical – and unique – component of FFG is the group projects which run for over 12 months. Some of the successful FFG projects to date include Open House Melbourne, The Melbourne Prize, the Free Tram Zone and Melbourne International Student Week.

The Committee will develop 12 potential FFG group projects where the purpose of each of those projects is aligned to a prioritised issue for each of the Committee’s three pillars:

• Future Economy
• Liveability & Urban Optimisation
• Infrastructure & Sustainability

These 12 potential FFG group projects will be showcased to the FFG participants at their induction event, with each project team to consider those potential projects and shortlist three of them before the end of the induction event for further exploration.

A participant’s Project Team experience is complemented by:

• An initial wide-ranging induction event with a significant focus on potential group projects for each newly-formed Project Team
  15 monthly workshops, which will be a mix of in-person and virtual and have guest speakers, subject matter specialists and Panel members dealing with the following themes
  • Stakeholder engagement skills
  • Political awareness skills
  • Scenario planning skills
  • How decisions are made in Melbourne (including the role of advocacy, the Federal Government, Victorian Government and Local Governments)
  • What I’ve experienced and learned as a leader (with a Panel session framed by a particular leadership focus)
  • “Melbourne unearthed” (including access to iconic Melbourne buildings and venues)
• A one-on-one mentoring relationship with a Melburnian with leadership responsibilities outside the participant’s organisation
• Opportunities to build enduring relationships with other FFG participants and, in time, with members of the FFG Alumni Network