Dear {CONTACT.FIRSTNAME},
In February, the word of the month for Perth is ALIVE.
We’re alive culturally — Australia’s longest running festival, the Perth Festival, is about to kick off, Fringe World is in full swing, Perth Film Studios has reached practical completion, and the Terracotta Warriors are in their final weeks at WA Museum Boola Bardip.
And of course, along with the rest of Perth, we are excited to see the ECU City campus come to life when it opens its doors to 10,000 students and staff this month. |
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Back in 1994, world-renowned urban design consultancy Gehl identified Perth’s lack of students and residents as a key challenge to the CBD’s vitality. Fast forward 31 years and Perth’s first inner-city university campus is set to transform our City.
The momentum doesn't stop there — our sporting pulse is very much beating: if the adrenaline hasn’t been enough with the United Cup tennis, HoopsFest, SailGP, the Scorchers and road cycling, get ready for the Rugby Sevens, and top-level cricket, basketball, soccer, AFL and netball during February.
Of course, all of this is against the backdrop of a state economy that is very much alive and kicking, low unemployment, and a raft of major infrastructure projects under way. Tourism is booming, with a record one million international visitors and Western Australians are officially the most generous people in Australia, according to a report by KPMG. The defence sector is on a massive growth trajectory, and our innovation and technology capabilities are soaring.
However, rocketing rental values and limited supply are testing renters, and the continuing population boom brings as many challenges as opportunities. At Committee for Perth, we’re watching all of these developments closely and talking to our members about how together, we can drive a plan for greater Perth’s future that ensures we are healthy, wealthy and wise, long into the future.
We are continuing to advocate for a bold and ambitious narrative for Perth. We can all speak confidently and proudly about the place we are lucky to call home. You can read our collection of positive, easy-to-share facts and conversation starters, in our Perth Factsheet here. We’re eager to work with our members and broader stakeholders to drive a Plan for Perth that will see our city truly flourishing in all aspects by 2050. Stay tuned for more information as we progress this important initiative. |
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| Tania Hudson Chief Executive Officer Committee for Perth |
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The Noongar season 'Bunuru' (February to March) is represented by a blooming Wattle and Banksia flora while growing Jarrah Trees provide shade. |
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Thank you to everyone who has already participated in our 2026 Member Survey. To ensure we’re focusing on what matters most to you, we invite members to take a few minutes to complete our 2026 Member Survey, by Friday, 13 February 2026. Which events or speakers resonated with you last year? What issues do you want us to explore in 2026? Your feedback will guide our priorities across events, advocacy, communications and impact for the year ahead.
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Our top picks of culture, creativity and community events happening across the Perth region this month, celebrating what makes our city uniquely Perth. |
21 January – 15 February – Fringe World returns with over 600 shows. Let the local and international artists move, inspire, make you laugh and outrage you.
Until 22 February – The final weeks of the Terracotta Warriors, recently included in the list of 20 exhibitions to travel for by TimeOut Travel -
6 February – 1 March – Perth Festival – our picks: soak up the atmosphere at Casa Music at East Perth Power Station, or visit Perth Festival’s gift guide for program highlights
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6 February - 29 March - Awakening Histories explores the deep and enduring connection between First Nations Peoples across the north of this continent (now known as Australia) and the Makassan seafarers of South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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1 March - The Women's Soccer Asia Cup kicks off at Optus Stadium, with the opening ceremony and the Matildas taking on the Philippines.
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Opportunity in action: Perth's Billion Dollar Growth Corridor |
A sold-out forum hosted by the South East Corridor Councils Alliance (SECCA) — including the Cities of Armadale, Canning, Gosnells and the Town of Victoria Park — moderated by Business News, recently brought together industry leaders, planners, developers and senior government representatives to explore the future of Perth’s south-east growth corridor, with a current population of 387,000. The corridor is one of the State’s most significant development opportunities with 200,000 new dwellings planned by 2046 and forecast population growth to 520,000 residents.
City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall described the region’s momentum as transformative, calling SECCA “Perth’s next economic powerhouse” and pointing to $2.12 billion in development already approved across the corridor. Supporting 175,000 jobs — around one in every nine jobs in Western Australia — the south-east is fast emerging as a critical engine of economic growth.
Stretching through established communities and key transport links, the corridor reflects a broader evolution in urban thinking: denser, better-connected neighbourhoods supported by jobs, services and amenity instead of sprawl. It’s an approach increasingly shaped by collaboration between state and local government, planners, investors and communities. Find out more about these plans here.
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Perth and Japan Team Up Over Quantum Computing |
Perth’s Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre (home of ‘Setonix’, the most powerful supercomputer in the Southern Hemisphere) has announced a new partnership with Japan to advance quantum computing research and capability, strengthening WA’s links to leading international technology networks.
The agreement creates opportunities for shared research and skills development in quantum technologies, while complementing Pawsey’s existing strength in high-performance computing and supporting a hybrid future where supercomputing and quantum-computing work together to transform drug discovery, materials development and national security. The partnership signals growing global confidence in Perth’s research infrastructure and talent. It also reinforces the role advanced computing will play in WA’s long-term innovation and diversification. Read more. |
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New data from the Australian Government shows AI adoption among Australian businesses is accelerating — with WA among the leading states, particularly across knowledge-intensive sector like resources and energy.
Perth is home to some of the world’s most advanced remote operations centres including the use of AI to operate autonomous mining fleets, such as Rio Tinto’s autonomous haulage trucks, lifting productivity by around 15%, BHP's Integrated Remote Operations Centre (IROC), as well as initiatives like the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) and a recently announced WA Government investment of $700,000 in an AI pilot to improve hospital efficiency ahead of winter.
This local momentum mirrors the shift identified in Deloitte’s new Tech Trends 2026 report noting that AI is becoming embedded in everyday work rather than sitting on the edges of organisations.The next phase will be defined by how well businesses invest in skills, adaptability and workforce readiness to keep pace.
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The WA Government has announced a new Creative Industries Taskforce, which will play a key role in advancing the State Government’s long-term approach to the creative industries under Diversify WA. Bringing together leaders from across the creative ecosystem, the taskforce will help: |
- identify and accelerate high-growth creative industry sectors;
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strengthen commercialisation, innovation, and industry capability;
- support access to new domestic and international markets; and
- enhance collaboration across industry, education, government, and community.
The taskforce includes leaders from member organisations including Ian Booth (Committee for Perth Board member and Black Swan State Theatre Company), Rikki Lea Bestall (Screenwest), Tabitha McMullan (FORM), and Anna Reece (Perth Festival).
The announcement comes as WA records its highest ever international visitor numbers (1m) in 2025. It highlights the growing role of culture, events and creative experiences for liveability, diversification and WA's global story. |
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Leading the Nation in Giving |
New analysis from KPMG, based on 2022–23 Australian Taxation Office data, shows 4.48 million Australians donated to charities during that year. Western Australia recorded the highest participation rate and sum nationwide.
WA’s result was influenced by large-scale philanthropy, including a nearly $5 billion donation of Fortescue shares by the Forrests to the Minderoo Foundation — one of the largest charitable gifts in Australia’s history. Even without the Forrest donation, KPMG’s analysis shows WA would still rank as the most generous state, relative to population numbers, reflecting consistently high participation and average giving rates.
Alongside major philanthropy, recent creative, community-driven initiatives continue to deliver tangible impact each year. In 2025, the Giving Box campaign by Hawaiian raised $47,794 for Foodbank WA, helping provide 101,716 meals. The campaign also collected 4,581 kilograms of food, with 125 gift hampers delivered to families connected to Hawaiian’s centres.
The figures show generosity in WA operating at every scale, reinforcing the strength of community connection across the state. |
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Premier Roger Cook unveiled Western Australia: A Global Leader in Investment and Trade — a new resource highlighting the State’s strong economic performance and investment potential — at Committee for Perth’s Premier’s Address in December 2025. The discussion focused on Perth and WA’s growing global profile, the importance of long-term planning towards 2050, and the role of investment, diversification and collaboration in shaping a more competitive, liveable and climate-ready city. Thanks to Commonwealth Bank for sponsoring this event.
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At the end of 2025, we welcomed four new board members, while Paul Graham, CEO Perth Mint, was re-elected for a second term and has been appointed the Deputy Chair. Tony Joyner remains as Chair, and new Board members are Ian Booth CEO Black Swan State Theatre Company, Jody Nunn CEO Reconciliation WA, Judith Barker CEO Royal Flying Doctors WA and Mussaret Nagree General Manager Climate Opportunities & Environment Wesfarmers.
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Following the publication of the Perth 2050 report and our 2050 Summit last October, we are continuing in our quest to make Perth THE place to live, work and play.
We have now published the submissions of our three working groups on the topics of decarbonisation, densification and economic diversification on the Committee for Perth website. |
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT EXPERIENCE: TERRACOTTA WARRIORS WA Museum Wednesday, 4 February / 7.30am to 9.30am
Member-only event / Enquire
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| HON. JESSICA STOJKOVSKI HopgoodGanim Lawyers
Thursday, 26 March / 5.00pm to 7.00pm
Member-only event / Enquire
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Our member community is passionate about making Perth one of the world’s most liveable cities. Every month, we celebrate members who are helping make that vision a reality. Have news to share? Email us.
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A golden moment for WA exports - WA has a new (and shiny) export story to celebrate. The Perth Mint has ranked as the state’s third-largest exporter, sitting behind global mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP — an extraordinary achievement for a WA-owned precious metals business.
This milestone reflects booming global demand for gold and silver, driven by a renewed investor interest in safe-haven assets, alongside The Perth Mint’s long-standing reputation for quality and trust.
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With thanks to all our members for their ongoing contribution to promoting innovation and creativity to deliver a brighter future for Perth. View all of our members. |
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| DPLH Forrest Research Foundation Hawaiian |
| Jester Strategy Lamonts Ngala |
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Committee for Perth conducts its work on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. We recognise their peoples' ongoing connection to land, culture and community and in doing so, pay our respects to Elders past and present. |
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