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2007

 

• The winner of the 2007 Melbourne Prize for Music - Mr. Paul Grabowsky - was announced at BMW Edge, Fed Square. The Outstanding Musicians Award and the VCA three-month residency went to Ms. Genevieve Lacey, and the Development Award was given to Mr. Julian Langdon
• The UNGC Cities Program doubled the number of member cities by securing a new sponsor and home in RMIT University’s Global Cities Institute. Climate Change was announced as the next project of the United Nations Global Compact Cities Program
• The Committee for Melbourne commits to going Carbon Neutral. With the help of EPA Victoria, already carbon neutral, we have embarked upon the journey ourselves for this year. We will continue to work with EPA to develop an environmental management plan to reduce emissions each year and minimise our carbon footprint on the planet
• Mr. Rob Adams, City of Melbourne Urban Designer awarded the 2007 Melbourne Achiever Award for his influence in the development and transformation of the public realm in central Melbourne
• ‘Melbourne Soul’ Annual Dinner held at Crown Palladium with special guests Mr. Clive James and Ms. Kate Ceberano
• Moving Galleries 2007 Spring Exhibition launched by The Hon. Lynne Kosky MP, Minister of Arts and Public Transport, at Flinders Street Station
• Premier John Brumby addressed Members at luncheon held at PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Committee for Melbourne spin-off Melbourne Cares announced a new CEO: Ms. Leah Sertori, who replaced Mr. Simon Robinson who resigned after serving as CEO for two years
• Future Focus Group project syndicate ‘No Forwarding Address’ launched a public exhibition of photography by people who have experienced homelessness. Rev. Tim Costello, Ms. Kate Brennan and The Choir of Hard Knocks took part in the launch at Fed Square
• 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
• Sally Capp assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in August
• Committee for Melbourne spin-off BioMelbourne Network reached 160 Members
• Leader of the Opposition Mr. Kevin Rudd addressed Members at a luncheon held at the Boston Consulting Group
• Committee for Melbourne Advisory Board Members were invited to spend an evening with the Governor and Mrs. De Kretser at the Government House Apartments for an update on the Committee’s activities, specifically the Future Focus Group
• Future Focus Group project syndicate ‘M:Urban – modifying the city’, held a public exhibition at Melbourne Central featuring ideas put forward by senior architecture students from RMIT University. State Architect Mr. John Denton and Executive Board Member, Mr. David Miles AM launched the exhibition and announced the winning idea, Melbourne Vacancy Exchange
• Tattersall’s Award for Innovation awarded to Future Focus Group project syndicate, M:Urban
• Climate Change Taskforce launched to look into at what the Climate Change trends mean for Melbourne, in the lead up to 2030 and beyond. Mr. Tony Wood and Dr. Philip Moors appointed Taskforce Co-Chairs. Record number of organisations (85) sign up to join Taskforce
• Transport Taskforce submitted to the study team of the East-West Needs Assessment, led by Sir Rod Eddington
• 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
• Janine Kirk announced her resignation after 11 years as Executive Director of the Committee for Melbourne.

2006

• The second Award to be launched the Melbourne Prize Trust, The Melbourne Prize for Literature is held
• 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 (ABCB)
• A Future Focus Group syndicate 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
• Committee Member The Boston Consulting Group conducts a review of the organisation and its brand positioning
• Committee Member Cornwell conducts rebranding of the Committee and a new brand identity is launched at the Annual Dinner
• The Cities Programme signs up its 16th member city and is rebranded by Committee Member, M&C Saatchi

• The first Award to be launched by the Melbourne Prize Trust, the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture is held
• The Premier launches a Committee for Melbourne/Victorian State Government initiative, the “Melbourne Diplomatic Network” to connect Melbourne globally
• Committee for Melbourne Member Mr George Pappas takes over as chairman from Mr Jack Smorgon AO
• The Prince of Wales launches Melbourne Cares, a Committee led initiative promoting corporate social responsibility
• The Committee’s Utility Debt Spiral Prevention Project Study is launched by the Deputy Premier of Victoria
• 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 syndicate 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

• The Committee establishes a Taskforce focusing on encouraging a creative Melbourne and initiates the Melbourne Prize Trust and Melbourne Prize

• A Future Focus Group syndicate develops ThinkCommunity, a program in which Melbourne professionals mentor disadvantaged 15- to 20-year olds. The program is still running five years later

• A Future Focus Group syndicate 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
• The Committee, in partnership with the BioMelbourne Network and the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development commissions Committee Member Ernst & Young to examine tax barriers for innovative industries and the report “Growing Our Knowledge Economy – Proposal for Further Reform” is released to the media and the Federal Government

• 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

• 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

• 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 for Sydney joins Committee for Melbourne and 14 state and regional organisations in a push for a national approach to a Very High Speed train
• 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 syndicate creates the concept for a children’s sculpture garden and commissions The Magic Pudding bronze sculpture in the Royal Botanical Gardens

• A Future Focus Group syndicate 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
• Melbourne Technology sub-committee facilitates the development of an innovation database highlighting Melbourne’s research and development strengths
• In partnership with the City of Melbourne, the Committee launches the “Thinking Melbourne” program

• The Board focuses on six key areas: Promotion, Investment, Technology, Infrastructure and Development, International, Future Focus
• The first intake of the Future Focus Group young leadership development program commences
• Committee Member The Boston Consulting Group completes a report for the Committee’s Financial Services Taskforce entitled “Melbourne’s Position in Financial Services”. 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). A financial industry conference (now the Melbourne Financial Services Symposium held annually) is established. A publication “The Melbourne Advantage”, promoting the importance of the sector in Victoria is launched by the Victorian Treasurer

• The Committee’s Transport Hub Strategy triggers 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

• The Australia-Britain Trade Conference, Partnership 2000, is held in Melbourne
• OECD Conference, Cities and the New Global Economy, is held in Melbourne
• Sir Russell Madigan leads a business delegation to Japan, together with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
• 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

• Sub-committee of the Board focused on: Melbourne Airport, Domain Tunnel/Western Bypass, Very Fast Train proposal, Accelerated progress towards improving Melbourne city through city works, Improved city management and promotion, Media and communications, Attracting regional corporate headquarters to Melbourne, Developing a Victorian Tourism Marketing Plan, International recognition of Melbourne as a centre of science, Recognition of Melbourne as Australia’s best host of international visitors, Regional development, Successful reform of the food processing industry, Making Melbourne Australia’s centre of education, Continuing the Committee’s international work, and Community integration of the Committee’s aims
• The Committee aims to have the Old Treasury Building refurbished, the new Exhibition Building completed, and a casino opened in 1994

• 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
• International Program progresses with the establishment of the Committee for Melbourne – Europe and European, American and Asian forums

• 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
• The Committee develops several prongs of the Transport Hub proposal
• Melbourne’s Docklands Authority is established

• Steve Howard takes over from 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 and hosts a Docklands Conference leading to the establishment of the Docklands Authority

• The Committee establishes the Business Policy Advisory Committee, Aviation Working Group, Tourism, Events and Festivals Working Group, Very Fast Train Working Group, Melbourne Olympic Bid Working Group, Science and Technology Working Group, Multi-Function Polis Working Group, Docklands Working Group, all of which fall under the Melbourne International Board umbrella, announced by the Premier of the day

• The Committee holds its first conference – Melbourne:  Leading the Way
• The Committee establishes the Arts and Cultural Forum and CBD Forum
• The Committee hold its second conference - Melbourne: Strategies for a Global Identity

• The Committee is officially incorporated and launches. 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

• Hugh Morgan hosts a foundation luncheon for the Committee at the Victorian Arts Centre
• The Committee 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