City club set to focus on deals

A new business club backed by financier Mark Bouris, which already has successful venues in Sydney and Melbourne, has opened in the Brisbane CBD.

Daniel Hakim in the new Brisbane club venue

Move over Tatts, there is a new club in town. The Club of United Business (CUB), which already has successful venues in Sydney and Melbourne, has opened in the Brisbane CBD with the aim of helping Queensland businesses capitalise on the $200bn opportunity presented by the 2032 Olympic Games as well as expanding sectors such as tech.

CUB founder and chief executive Daniel Hakim says the Mary St clubhouse, complete with private bars, lounges and meeting rooms, is the biggest venue yet and will build on its 2000-strong membership base in southern states.

Already 100 Brisbane business people have shelled out $9000 plus GST to become foundation members of the club, with Hakim expecting that to grow to about 1000.

“After Covid-19, networking is cool again and is back with a vengeance,” says Hakim.

“This is underlined by the tremendous success we’ve seen with our clubhouses in Sydney and Melbourne where thousands of deals have been done.”

Backed by financier Mark Bouris, Hakim says the average age of club members is 41, and range from their 20s to their late 60.

Mark Bouris backing club roll out.

Approximately one third of members are women. With the demise of the city club greatly exaggerated, the new entrant on the scene in the city is set to provide more competition for more well-established establishments such as Tattersalls and the Brisbane Club.

Hakim says the business community wants a change from what was traditionally exclusive ‘men’s only’ clubs. “Some of Australia’s best business people are women, these old clubs are missing out on the amazing contribution they make to the community,” he says.

City Beat readers will recall that Tattersalls had a long debate over allowing women members before finally accepting the fairer sex in 2018. “The 2032 Brisbane Olympics means there’s an incredible pipeline of business opportunities on the way, with $200bn in Queensland Government procurement coming in the lead up to the games,” says Hakim.

He says entrepreneurs are flocking to Queensland from southern states attracted by the lifestyle and opportunities. CUB expects to open a Gold Coast venue by the end of next year.

Design gong

The new Thornton residential tower at Kangaroo Point has won an Australian Good Design Award after judges praised its innovation and role in shaping Brisbane as a world city.

Designed by local architectural firm bureau^proberts for JGL Properties, judges said the Thornton integrated a restored heritage building with a contemporary, sculptural design that reshaped the city’s riverfront skyline.

Bureau^proberts managing and creative director Liam Proberts says the design aims to show what’s possible for the future of subtropical urban living – particularly in Brisbane.

“We wanted to create a building of enduring quality and value,” Proberts says.

Thornton’s contributors include gallerist Philip Bacon, restaurateur Thierry Galichet, artist Ralph Wilson, and developer John Livingstone.

Thornton at Kangaroo Point has won a design gong

Big sell

Kudos to Anglicare Southern Queensland, which has been selected as a finalist in the Australian Marketing Institute Excellence Awards.

The organisation is up for a gong in the not-for-profit marketing category for its ‘We Are’ campaign. Anglicare Southern Queensland chief client officer Chloe Henry says the campaign was designed to showcase the group’s social and community services, particularly given the cost of living crisis impacting the community.

Originally published as City club set to focus on deals