Thirteen heavy-hitters to shape the future of Brisbane

A who’s who of business and community leaders will lead a new think tank to help guide Brisbane’s growth as Australia’s most successful and sustainable city. MEET THE TEAM

A WHO’S who of business and community leaders will lead a new think tank to help guide Brisbane’s growth as Australia’s most successful and sustainable city.

The Committee For Brisbane aims to be an ideas factory and a powerful lobby group influencing public debate and policy across the southeast.

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Leading stockbroker Steve Wilson, who chairs the group’s new advisory board, said its bold ambition was simple — to make this the best place in the world to live.

“It’s critical that we are independent. When we see what we think is a really good idea — or a really bad idea — we will come out and say it,” he said.

Steve Wilson AM posing at the Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane 14th of March 2019. Steve is part of the Committee for Brisbane. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

The board has recruited heavy-hitters from across commerce and industry, science and education, transport, tourism, entertainment, sports and the arts.

The 13 members include Infrastructure Australia chair Julieanne Alroe, Professor Ian Frazer, “Mao’s Last Dancer” Queensland Ballet artistic director Li Cunxin, triple Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Tracy Stockwell and Jude Turner, boss of Spicer’s Retreats.”

SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL BOARD LIST

The advisory group will work with a management committee led by RNA chief executive Brendan Christou.

The group defines Greater Brisbane as the area stretching from Toowoomba in the west to Moreton Bay, and from Noosa in the north to Byron Bay and Lismore, although there is no formal agenda to annex northern NSW to Queensland.

Committee for Brisbane members Li Cunxin, Tracy Stockwell OAM, Steve Wilson AM, Julieanne Alroe and Brendan Christou. Picture: AAP/Josh Woning

“But the Tweed River is not kryptonite. They look to Brisbane as their major centre,” Mr Wilson said.

The region was at a pivotal point in its history with the population forecast to balloon by more than two million people within three decades.

The Committee For Brisbane’s focus would be on both the ‘’hardware’’ of physical infrastructure and economic development, and the “software’’ of events, communities, people and identity.

“We think Brisbane is the quintessential Australian city — it’s the most friendly city in the country by a long way. It’s not stuck up or snobby like other cities,” Mr Wilson said.

In addition to highlighting gaps and needs, the group would be celebrating the region’s successes such as our unmatched achievements in commercialising university research.

And spotlight myths. “It’s had this image as a place to retire but that’s the wrong image. It’s a young and well-educated place.”

The group would analyse existing research and commission its own.

“The next stage is we want to hire an executive director and be on the front foot, ramping up advocacy.”

Advisory board members

Li Cunxin

Artistic director, Queensland Ballet

Tracy Stockwell

Deputy Chair, Swimming Australia

Steve Wilson

Founder, Wilsons stockbrokers; Chairman, Racing Queensland

Julieanne Alroe

Chairwoman, Infrastructure Australia

Prof. Ian Frazer

CEO, Translational Research Institute

Bill Grant

Director, New Hope Corporation

Sue Johnson

Group Executive Queensland, Transurban

Harvey Lister

Chairman, venue managers AEG Ogden

Jason Scott

Managing director Queensland, northern NSW & NT, NewsCorp

Raynuha Sinnathamby

Managing director, Springfield City Group

Jude Turner

Owner, Spicers Retreats

Peter Varghese

Chancellor, University of Queensland

Rosemary Vilgan

Chairwoman, Commonwealth Bank Officers Superannuation Corporation