SINCE 2015 STARTING A DIALOGUE WESTERN SYDNEY LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE STARTING A DIALOGUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY & RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue acknowledges and honours the Aboriginal People who have lived on this land and continue to live on this land. We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians INTRODUCTION of the land, and we pay respect to Ancestors and Elders, past, present, and future. We recognise that there are more With the support of Kimberwalli than 30 First Nations represented and Deerubbin, the Dialogue in Greater Western Sydney (GWS), developed its first Reconciliation and that GWS has the largest Action Plan (RAP) reflecting population of Aboriginal people our desire to contribute to in Australia, represented by a meaningful approach to the Darug, Eora, Dharawal and reconciliation with local First Wiradjuri peoples. Nations communities. We also recognise the significant We are working to develop closer role of the Local Aboriginal Land relationships with Aboriginal Councils, which provide economic communities as part of our support to the current Indigenous own listening and learning, and communities of the region, most our ongoing commitment to specifically the Deerubbin Local reconciliation. Aboriginal Land Council, the largest Aboriginal organisation in Western Sydney and one of its largest private land owners. Aboriginal artwork Bianca Groves, a Dunghutti girl living in Western Sydney attending Quakers HIll High School. 2 3 WESTERN SYDNEY LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE STARTING A DIALOGUE A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN — I’m proud to say that six years on from its launch by NSW Premier Mike Baird, the Dialogue’s record of success is significant. We’ve been campaigning for infrastructure investment to end the tyranny of distance, smarter and better training for our kids, a focus on cultural and environmental amenity to make our communities healthier and appropriate governance regimes to ensure that transparency, competency and inclusion is the mantra of Greater Western Sydney. INTRODUCTION However, it is the partnerships we have forged and the collaboration we have enjoyed that has been the highlight of our first six years. Along the way we have created platforms and events to showcase and reward regional success and to bring support to areas where we need to do so Hon. Mike Baird AO with Christopher Brown AM much more. Our awards, summits, media activities, policy seminars, study tours, boardroom gigs, delegations and youth initiatives have helped Western Sydney to tell its story and to influence our national boardrooms, Christopher Brown AM newsrooms and Cabinet Rooms. Chairman Over the years, much like the region, the Dialogue’s role has evolved. Western Sydney We are proud of the work we’ve done in lobbying for airports, roads, rail Leadership Dialogue lines, hospital beds, schools, TAFEs and unis, museums, stadia and office towers to help this ‘boomtown’ flourish. However we are also now focused on access to clean and recycled water for our communities to play in and to drink, to address the regional shame of diabetes, domestic violence, housing pressures, youth unemployment and to The Dialogue Team - 2020 guarantee a permanent smart jobs legacy from the billions of dollars of shiny new infrastructure we are welcoming across the region. The Western Sydney We need to know that the cities that this hardware helps to build, and Leadership Dialogue was rebuild, are places where we empower women, advantage First Nations established in 2015 as a people, celebrate diversity, boost skills, repair our rivers and fix heat islands to ensure our economic growth comes with a deep social return. way to shine a light on the Our own mantra is that everything we do is best done in partnership with others. This doesn’t mean that we are not prepared to stand up key issues in the region, and lead on issues, but it does recognise that we are at our best when to spark and nurture a we are collaborating with industry, government, academia and the community. It’s always been the Western Sydney way. national conversation about the West and to It has certainly been a very busy six years of collaboration in Greater Western Sydney and we have lots to look back on with pride – but we help ensure it is better have an awful lot more to do. We will work with our partners, be guided equipped to shape its by our eminent Patrons and bring the public and private sector together, to help make the Central River City and the Western Parkland City the future. best they can possibly be. Christopher Brown with Deng Adut The Dialogue launches at ANZ Stadium in 2015 4 5 WESTERN SYDNEY LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE STARTING A DIALOGUE A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — In addition to the work we’ve done in advocating for the necessary building blocks to support the region’s growth, we’re proud of our efforts in bringing together diverse groups to share ideas and generate change. Much of this success is the result of the hard-working, talented, Dialogue team, which not only drive our annual program of events, thought-leadership and collaboration, but has helped embed a culture of partnership and participation. INTRODUCTION It is this collaborative approach, one which values public, and meaningful engagement, that’s at the core of the Dialogue, and one we see as critical as we look at what comes next. Hon. Rob Stokes MP with Adam Leto at Boomtown 2019 In many ways, the challenges we’ve faced in recent times, COVID-19, the bushfires, the floods, all of these crises, have in a way, also presented opportunities for Western Sydney. We’re now starting to see not just stronger awareness, but clear actions Adam Leto designed to improve liveability and urban heating in the region. Executive Director The COVID-19 pandemic has seen us look inwards towards the Western Sydney opportunities for industry growth, especially when it comes to advanced manufacturing. What better place to start than in Greater Leadership Dialogue Western Sydney – the one-time manufacturing capital of the nation. Traditional manufacturing hubs in places like Bankstown, Smithfield, Lidcombe – combined with the emergence of new-tech industrial sites within the Aerotropolis – provide a real opportunity for the region to Dialogue Patrons Peter Shergold & Kerry Schott combine the new with the old, to leverage the research and education links being delivered by our universities and TAFE to deliver the jobs of In its first six years the the future. Dialogue has not only While growing smart jobs remains a top priority, just as important is helped play a key role, providing support, services and opportunities for our young people, our migrant and Indigenous communities and those without the same level bringing a voice to the of access to housing, education or even the internet, things that many important issues in Greater of us take for granted. Western Sydney, but also A key focus for the Dialogue as we enter into this next phase, which will laid a valuable platform to see unprecedented levels of public and private sector spending roll in, is ensuring that its communities, at all levels, share in the value that help inform its future. it’s set to deliver – a big challenge – but one we’re keen to embrace. Premier Mike Baird launching the Dialogue in 2015 Minister Ayres at the Dialogue’s Launch 6 7 WESTERN SYDNEY LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE STARTING A DIALOGUE DIALOGUE PATRONS — The Dialogue’s esteemed Widely respected across politics, Cameron Clyne Mike Mrdak AO Dr Kerry Schott AO finance, infrastructure and Board Member, WSU Foundation Former Secretary, Commonwealth Chair, Energy Security Board Patrons have provided academia, this eminent group Department of Infrastructure & CEDA Board of Governors high-level oversight and brings a special skill-set to the Former Group CEO, NAB Transport Dialogue and have a special Former Chair, Sydney Metro Director, Whitlam Institute Chairman, NEC Australia direction to our program interest in the development of Greater Western Sydney. Cameron Clyne was Group Chief Mike Mrdak holds a number of non- Kerry was Managing Director of Sydney of activities, especially Executive Officer of National Australia executive and advisory roles. He is the Water from 2006 to 2011. Before that, Bank (NAB) from January 2009 until non-executive Chair of NEC Australia, Kerry spent 15 years as an investment when it comes to policy The Dialogue is grateful for the August 2014. He recently retired as a tenant of the Aerotropolis and a long banker, including as Managing Director guidance and wise counsel that Chairman of Rugby Australia. standing global Japanese technology of Deutsche Bank and Executive Vice development. our Patrons have offered over the company that is a leading edge provider President of Bankers Trust Australia. She past six years and look forward to Prior to NAB, Cameron was a Partner of IT services, digital communications was the founding Chair of Moorebank and digital smart technology in transport their ongoing support. at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, where he Intermodal Company and a former led the financial services consulting and safety. Director of NBN Co. practice across Asia. We recently welcomed Lucy Mike had a 32 year career with the She has been awarded an Order of Hughes Turnbull AO and Mike Cameron grew up in Western Sydney and Australian Public Service between 1988 Australia and Honorary Doctorates from DIALOGUE PATRONS DIALOGUE Mrdak AO to the board, replacing was educated at St Dominic’s College and 2020 and now serves on a range of the University of Sydney and Western Penrith. boards. Sydney University. founding Patrons, Hon. Nick Greiner AC and Hon. Craig Knowles AM, who have taken on roles as Consuls General in New York and Auckland. Founding Patrons Prof. Peter Shergold AC Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO Hon.