NEW MEMBERS

We are delighted to welcome AIA Australia as our newest member. Recent and exciting news for AIA is their new Innovation Lab at their existing HQ in Melbourne, where digital experts and collaborators will explore artificial intelligence, data science and machine learning, as well as research on wellbeing and mental health. The soon-to-be-opened project will create 100 jobs and boost community wellbeing and mental health.

POLICY UPDATE

Although parts of East Gippsland and north eastern Victoria are, for the moment, unsuitable travel destinations due to the bushfires, most other parts of the state are open for business. We’re calling on governments to support local business and to encourage domestic and overseas visitors to do the same. 

In December, the Victorian Chamber launched a Climate Change Statement. We believe that Australia needs to lock in durable national frameworks for energy and climate policy, the lack of which is a serious barrier to much needed new investment that can help bring down emissions and energy prices. Also, we joined forces with a cross-sector group concerned about Climate Change.

Given the influential nature of the MCC membership, we are establishing a new network of Government Relations experts from MCC members and invite the relevant person within your organisation to connect with this network to share and discuss policy matters crucial to advancing Victorian business environment. Please email your nomination to members@melbournechamber.org.au. 

EVENTS

At our Leadership Luncheon with Lord Mayor Sally Capp, a large audience was hosted at Pitcher Partners’ excellent rooftop function area. The Lord Mayor spoke about the City’s new Transport Strategy to deal with congestion and how they will balance the needs of a rapidly growing population and delivering social services such as affordable housing. This was well reported through Chamber and PP social media channels.

Our Leadership Luncheon with The Hon Richard Wynne MP, Minister for Planning and Local Government, was co-hosted by Slade Group and the Minister spoke optimistically about wholistic state-wide planning, precincts, opportunities to unlock investment and planning as a means to address key social issues. A Cocktail event for Melbourne’s EA network was hosted at ‘State of Grace’. Our team values this network highly, especially their deep corporate knowledge of our membership and being excellent ‘go-to’ contacts for key executives.

At the large Victorian Chamber and Care Super present - Janine Allis event we heard about Janine’s entrepreneurial approach to launching the Boost Juice empire (now 220 franchisees worldwide) as well as how she survived reality TV show, Survivor.

We participated in an Industry meeting with the new State Government Rail Advocate, Jill Walsh who is reviewing Victoria’s transport industry, in particular local procurement and initiatives to increase innovation across the supply chain.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

In 2020, we will host a new event series - four Industry Round Tables with Secretary of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Simon Phemister, from March to August. These small events, to be held with Chatham House Rules, will be themed Precincts and Innovation, Regional and Visitor Economy, Advanced Manufacturing and Distribution, and Digital. They are an opportunity for you to provide insights to the Victorian Government’s most senior official on the economy and to hear his vision and strategy. Further information will be shared with members soon.

Our latest Calendar of Events for 2020 is available here.

MEMBER NEWS

• Dr Bronwyn King (Epworth) was appointed the City of Melbourne’s Melburnian of the Year
• Julien Dehornoy is the new CEO of Yarra Trams
• There is a new CEO of Bendigo Kangan Institute, Sally Curtain (formerly Department of Justice, the City of Casey and VicRoads)
• RASV’s new CEO is former COO Brad Jenkins
• After 8 years in the top job, Dr Michael Walsh resigned from Cabrini Health, and Sue Williams commenced in the CEO role
• Nicole Waldron has been promoted to Director Hospitals at Epworth Health
• Carsales.com has appointed Mr Ajay Bhatia to a newly created role of MD, responsible for Australian operations (reporting to Cameron McIntyre)
• Stephen Varty was appointed CEO of Chisholm Institute
• Mark Melvin appointed as interim CEO of Bank of Melbourne (previously MD of RAMS)
• First State Super and VicSuper officially confirmed the decision to merge by 1 July 2020
• QSuper and Sunsuper are in early-stage discussions to merge and form what would be the country’s largest fund of $183 billion in assets
• Bombardier won an $83M contract to deliver an additional 10 E-Class trams
• Melbourne Convention Bureau achieved the highest ever result for business events in Victoria with a 28 percent increase in economic contribution
• Sovereign Hill hosted the first regional Not in My Workplace forum in December, tackling sexism and gender inequality in the workplace
• Western Health announced a new 24-hour hospital in Melton
• Minister Melissa Horne officially opened the Port of Melbourne’s new office in Docklands, joining Delaware North which re-located to Docklands as well