From the CEO - June 2021

May 2021 started with one of our popular New Horizons webinars featuring the findings of EY's report ‘How to turn CBDs into central experience districts’, which was completed in conjunction with the Property Council of Australia. The catchcry of the report, which grabbed media attention, is the question ‘How are employers and CBD’s going to earn the commute?’. The answer to this accords well with the finding of the survey undertaken for our Future of Work research project in that people felt they had more discretionary time working from home because they saved on commuting time to the workplace.

This and other issues were further discussed in the four Future of Work socialisation sessions held for the project. With 75 attendees from many sectors and professions, we focused the discussion on technology, skills, workplace/workforce agility and flexibility, along with global disruptors. We now have a long list of potential solutions that will inform the recommendations to be included in the final report due out in September. Thank you to everyone who came and shared their insights.

Speaking of insights, the results of our 2021 Perth Perception Survey, which was conducted by our research partner Ipsos, captures the perspectives of 600 people living across Greater Perth. This year’s results highlight the key drivers for living in the region as being family connections (48%), lifestyle (44%) and climate (30%). The Perth Perception Survey also gauged respondents’ opinions on the issues they would address if they were State Premier for the day. Cost of living (12%), healthcare (10%) and infrastructure/transport (10%) were ranked the top three priorities. Additionally, there is strong support for further deregulation of retail trading hours on the weekends.

The results of the Perth Perception Survey and our previous project Hashtag Perth will no doubt be instructive as Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas seeks to define ‘What is Perth?’. Whatever the deliberations to come, it is pleasing there is strong support that the ‘one big thing’ to put Perth on the map, is the much-touted National Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

I ended the month at a National Reconciliation Week event held by Reconciliation WA at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, yarning with Noongar leader Ingrid Cumming. What an honour it was to sit with her to discuss this year’s theme, ’Reconciliation takes action’. The Committee for Perth staff have and will participate in many activities over the week to further our commitment to Reconciliation.

In June we have planned plenty of activities for members: Kevin Brown, CEO of Perth Airport will address the Food for Thought Leaders Luncheon – COVID Recovery & Resilience, The Airline Sector; lead researcher Sally Braidwood will drill down further into the data of the Perth Perception Survey at the Annual Chairman’s Lunch; and our first FACTBase Bulletin with the team at Edith Cowan University will be released.

Amongst all of this, in our first Filling the Pool Summit we will revisit our landmark report on gender (in)equality to identify what’s working and what still needs to be done to increase the rates of participation and progression for women in the workforce.

Check our website and your inbox for invitations to these events and more.

Until next month,

Marion Fulker

CEO & Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at UWA

Photos: Future of Work Socialisation Workshops, May 2021