March 2025 Update
CEO Update
Perth has come to life in the past month with a burst of energy!
Everyone I have met has been talking about the buzz – with business activity and the popularity of Perth Festival and Fringe World. Such a wonderful time of year to be in this part of the world.
As autumn rolls out in front of us – we’re heading into a new season in more ways than one, with this month’s state election bound to deliver change. No matter the outcome, we look forward to engaging with the next government on long-term, future focused planning for Perth.
Thank you to those who responded to our 2025 Member Survey. With nearly 40 responses from our 130-strong membership, providing excellent feedback on the membership experience.
The results showed 100% awareness of the Perth 2050 report, with the top four priorities for members being: economic diversification, inclusive communities, housing affordability & availability, and skills & educating tomorrow’s workforce.
I am also excited to announce in the first quarter of 2025 we will launch our Perth 2050 Working Groups Program. We will have three working groups to support the 3 ‘Ds’ – Decarbonisation, Densification and Diversification and will be seeking nominations for chairs and membership of each. Please email me if you would like to be involved. There will be more communications on this to follow.
The survey also revealed ‘Perth Happenings’ is your favourite part of Perth Update, so as you can see below, it has now been given its own section for this and future editions. I will be taking part in one of the events: Rewilding the City, a discussion presented by member Urbis on 26 March during Perth Design Week.
We actively encourage you to share this newsletter with colleagues. Perhaps you can add it to your intranet or staff portal? Let us know if we can assist with formatting to make it possible, supporting you to share the benefits of your membership within your organisation.
Welcome to new member Forrest Research Foundation. The Foundation attracts outstanding minds to WA doing high quality research with the potential to change the world. Later this month, we will host an event hosted by UWA with Professor Dame Sara Thornton, a former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, who is visiting Perth thanks to the Foundation’s support, no doubt raising considerations for Perth as we look to the future.
I am delighted to see continued and increasing efforts to prioritise future generational ambitions. Last April, we hosted Wales’ first Future Generation’s Commissioner, Sophie Howe, and since then have seen Federal Independent MP Sophie Scamps table her Future Generations Bill in Canberra. We continue to advocate for Perth and WA to be a place where young voices are prioritised, and a courageous future is planned with their hopes and dreams imagined.
Watch this space as we advocate for a Plan for Perth encompassing younger voices and ambitious ideas.
Until next time,
Paula Rogers
Chief Executive Officer
Committee for Perth