From the CEO - September 2021
Our latest research project has concluded with the upcoming launch of the final report – The Future of Work: Equipping WA and its people to lead the Nation in the future world of work.
Earlier in August, our Future of Work Steering Committee and the Committee for Perth Board reviewed the final draft of the report. Following 12 months of concerted effort to understand the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, technology uptake and other forces of disruption, the report provides five key findings and outlines two scenarios, and makes 22 recommendations so that WA positions itself as a leader in the future of work.
As with all of our research, we share the information widely. There is still time to register for our Lunch & Learn webinar where we will be launching the report findings arising from the Future of Work project, and from 1st September you will be able to access the full report on our website.
Following the report launch, we will gather with members to discuss how best to bring action to the recommendations at our Food for Thought Leaders Luncheon on 2nd September.
Engagement with members remains high in the research space and our briefing activities. In fact, The Future of Work report wouldn’t be as good as it is without the input provided by our members during a number of workshops and roundtables that took place over the past 12 months.
As one project finishes, another commences. Research for the Future of Work project found that skilled, educated and creative people are our most valuable future resource yet are diminishing in supply. As a result, the Committee for Perth Board has approved the Race to the Top project and over the next 12 months, we aim to understand the reasons for Greater Perth’s human capital decline and pose solutions to increase the region’s talent pool. We are currently seeking funding partners to work with us on this exciting new tranche of work, please let me know if you are interested.
The latest Promoting Perth, our co-branded series with Business News, is out. The fifth edition focuses on global and regional headquarters and can be found here.
We have joined forces again with Business News on a new podcast series to mark our 15th birthday this year. Over six episodes, Managing Editor Sean Cowan and I will interview a number of Perth’s decision-makers and shapers to talk about what’s changed and what is yet to come. The first two sessions have been recorded and our guests included Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, social researcher Sally Braidwood and Perth Airport Chief Kevin Brown along with architects Bill Hames and Peter Lee, and Sonia Mackay-Coghill from ECU.
August has been a busy month with our events program, the Reshaping Working Group meeting and calling for Nominations for the Committee for Perth Board.
Our events last month included webinars to receive updates from Phil Helberg, CEO of Infrastructure WA (IWA) on the Draft State Infrastructure Strategy, and from Dr Julian Bolleter, Co-Director, Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC) at UWA on the Australia's New Cities research project set to examine where Australia’s future cities may be located to accommodate the expected population growth.
Moreover, female leaders from our membership met face-to-face to hear about WA’s reconciliation journey from Carol Innes, Co-chair of Reconciliation WA. Our Reshaping Working Group also met to receive a briefing from Tony Brun, CEO of City of Cockburn regarding the progress of the Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre project. The Centre represents a 20-year journey between the City of Cockburn and the local Whadjuk elders and community who have long dreamed of a centre to bring to the fore their knowledge, stories and connection to country.
We are currently calling for nominations from our membership to fill one vacant position of the Committee for Perth Board. If you are interested in understanding more, please contact Holly Fulker.
In September, we will be hosting a New Horizons webinar with David Tucker and Hamish Barnet from Infrastructure Australia who will provide a briefing on the changes to the 2021 Assessment Framework, while former Committee for Perth Chairman, John Langoulant AO will be our guest speaker at the upcoming Chairman’s 20 event to discuss the IWA’s Draft State Infrastructure Strategy and receive feedback from business leaders of our member organisations. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to hear from John ahead of his departure for London to take up the position of WA’s Agent General.
I will also be speaking at the ECU Business Flashlight Event - The Big Management Changes, Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Decade on 16th September. If you would like to join, please register here.
As engaged members and stakeholders, I urge you to read The Future of Work report over the coming weeks and look forward to discussing its recommendations with you.
Until next month,
Marion Fulker AM
CEO, Committee for Perth | Adjunct Senior Research Fellow UWA
Photo: The Future of Work final report filming; New Horizons webinar, Infrastructure WA's Draft State Infrastructure Strategy; New Horizons webinar, Australia's New Cities.
