From the CEO - October 2021

September saw the successful launch of the output report from our latest research project The Future of Work: Equipping WA and its people to lead the Nation in the future world of work. Kicking off the launch on 1 September was a public Lunch & Learn webinar, while the following day we went deep into its key findings and recommendations with our members at the Food for Thought Leaders Luncheon. The report and its recommendations received positive media coverage across print, digital, radio and TV.

Since then, I have continued to brief government and industry about the ways in which technology and other global forces of change will disrupt work, the workforce and the workplace along with targeted action aimed to put WA at the forefront of change and opportunity. We are also planning a series of roundtable events with members to discuss how to enact a number of the recommendations to keep activity levels high.

The findings of The Future of Work as well as our Perth's Pathway to Prosperity report provided the basis of our submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into intergenerational challenges and opportunities for the Western Australian economy 2021-2041. Fittingly, the Committee for Perth was able to draw upon numerous recommendations targeted towards building a strong and resilient economy for the future.

On that note, there is strong alignment between The Future of Work report and the Business Council of Australia’s Living on Borrowed Time discussion paper. This provided the opportunity for members to be briefed on the paper and provided Western Australian perspectives on the issues raised.

Aside from The Future of Work the Committee's Reshaping Working Group reviewed our submission to Infrastructure WA on the Draft State Infrastructure Strategy ‘Foundations for a Stronger Tomorrow’ and were briefed by colleagues at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage on the revisions to State Planning Policy 2.9 ‘Planning for Water’. We are now in the process of preparing a submission ahead of the November due date.

Colleagues from Infrastructure Australia also provided a briefing on the refresh to the 2021 Assessment Framework during our New Horizons webinar.

Online meetings allow us to connect widely across our member and stakeholder base so keep an eye out for invitations to join discussions that will shape the Perth region’s future as we still have plenty of activities planned before the year ends, including the release of a FACTBase Bulletin.

We also held a Chairman’s 20 Luncheon with John Langoulant AO on the Infrastructure WA’s Draft State Infrastructure Strategy with a number of business leaders from our Gold and Silver membership. This event gave us the opportunity to wish our former Chairman well ahead of him departing for London to take up the position as Agent General. John takes a keen interest in all things Committee for Perth so I am sure that he will be watching our progress from afar and cheering us on from the sidelines.

The latest edition of Promoting Perth, our co-branded series with Business News is out. Rich in facts and figures, this edition focuses on manufacturing and trade, and in my opening article I talk about the richness and freshness of WA produce that is locally appreciated and internationally recognised.

Promoting Perth was created to provide the evidence to talk Perth up yet it was the recent AFL Grand Final weekend that provided an event of national status and delivered to critical acclaim that has given us a much needed confidence boost.

In closing, following the recent call to fill one vacancy on the Committee for Perth Board of Directors, we have received two nominations, meaning that as per Constitution, we will be holding an election. Further information will be sent to the Voting Representatives from our member organisations with instructions on how to complete the ballot.

Until next month,

Marion Fulker AM

Chief Executive Officer

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow UWA

Photo: The Future of Work report photoshoot; Lunch & Learn webinar and Food for Thought Leaders Luncheon, The Future of Work report launch.