PERTH UPDATE November 2025 |
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CEO Update | Shared Equity Home Ownership
Perth's Vibrancy | Curtin University goes Mars |
Water is Life | Two Years to Rugby World Cup |
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Reflecting on a bold, ambitious conversation for Perth’s future
It’s been 13 days since Committee for Perth’s 2050 Summit happened in Perth: 440 people in one room were engaged, inspired and motivated to imagine the best possible future for a Greater Perth. For nearly three years Committee for Perth has discussed the idea of hosting a large-scale, public-facing event to spark a collective response. After the publication of the Perth 2050 report in November 2024, a Summit in 2025 made sense. It felt like the natural next step.
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However, you never really know if others share your excitement until tickets go on sale. But we sold out within six weeks and the Committee for Perth team worked tirelessly to deliver a speaker line up almost entirely from Perth. 90% of the speakers were from Perth and only three flew in: Ludo Campbell-Reid (Melbourne), Juhi McClelland (Singapore) and Tremane Baxter-Edwards (Kununurra). We live in Perth, we love Perth and we believe the best ideas for our future come from within our own communities, hence the strong local focus.
So, what happened? The morning opened with Dr Richard Walley OAM providing reflections on how our First Nations people have discussed and negotiated over millennia to get the best community outcomes. He urged us to deeply listen and embrace discomfort. It was an honour to hear from Richard, whose address became a formative part of the Summit. He challenged us to reflect with our tablemates about the type of people we were, which set the perfect foundations for us all to have significant, bold and ambitious discussions. For the rest of the day, most speakers had just five minutes to make their point. As Mark Twain is alleged to have said, "I did not have time to write you a short letter," and each speaker was carefully briefed to keep to time and focus on 2-3 key messages, and they delivered!
Even my husband was concerned that we could not pull this off, but we hosted 30 speakers from 9–2pm! Director General of Health Dr Shirley Bowen gave a comprehensive vision for our future health system, Graeme Prior AM announced that by 2050, 1 in 5 would have dementia, and Professor Amanda Davies shared her prediction that we could reach a population of 3.5 million by 2040. A powerful reminder of the future we need to prepare for.
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We heard about global planning, decarbonisation, youth voices asking to be listened to, ideas about the future of work and the humanity needed for our tech future, sports and culture required for liveability and places using different ideas from population size to human height as means to making plans. The feedback so far has been extraordinary: "What a mammoth effort you put in for a fantastic result!" "Just wanted to say to you and the team that the Summit was a triumph!" |
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"I want to acknowledge the Committee for Perth team’s incredible efforts in putting the event together. I found the talks insightful and engaging, with a lot of food for thought. It was wonderful to meet so many leaders in the Perth business community."
"Firstly, allow me to congratulate you on a fantastic event. It was well organised and full of thought-provoking information."
"I have been to lots of long-term planning workshops for different cities in different countries in the last 20 years. I can honestly say this was the best one."
As for the next steps…watch this space. We are determined to deliver real, tangible results to share with members, the community and our leaders to devise a path to our biggest, brightest Perth future. Perth will be a global leader in the Indo Pacific region, with a diversified economy, and one of the most liveable cities, if we plan for this future today.
As Ludo Campbell-Reid said, city making is a team sport. If you were not able to attend – what ideas do you have to champion Perth’s brighter future? We would love to see you share your insights on socials by tagging us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and using #Perth2050, or emailing me directly. We received significant media coverage following the Summit for the event including; WAToday, Australian Financial Review, Business News, Channel 7, ABC Radio and 6PR.
In this edition of Perth Update, we have integrated quotes and sessions from the 2050 Summit to show where and how Perth is already leading the way to being the best place in the world to live, work, invest, study & visit. Until next month! Best wishes,
Paula Rogers Chief Executive Officer
Committee for Perth |
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Artwork by Dr Richard Walley OAM |
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4 November, Place Score Webinar: Join Place Score, Committee for Perth, and the City of Cockburn in this online webinar as we discuss liveability and how we can improve our local neighbourhoods. -
4 November, Elizabeth Quay Cultural Walking Tours: Every month from Oct to May ‘26 visitors can join a guided tour with Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours.
Ending 10 November, Irish Film Festival: Featuring every genre from comedies to dramas, psycho thrillers and award-winning documentaries, this is Irish story-telling at its best. -
8–15 November, Subiaco Murals, Music and Markets Tour: Organised by Oh Hey WA, this tour features Subi’s incredible murals, jazz music and vibrant night markets.
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9 November, Capital Breaths and Beats Ride for Research: Join heart and lung transplant recipients for a 34km or 60km ride fundraising for heart and lung research in WA.
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11 November, REMIX Summit: Explore the intersection between culture, technology and entrepreneurship at WA Museum Boola Bardip.
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21–25 November, West Fest / The Ashes: World class cricket takes on Perth Stadium, the WACA and Burswood Park.
- 21–22 November, Tim Minchin: Songs the world will never hear at Perth High Performance Centre.
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24 November, Perth Coastal Bike Ride: The Perth Coastal Bike Ride is the new look into hosting a safer and community engaging charity bike event along the West Coast of the Perth Metropolitan Region.
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28 November, WA Business Awards: From the non-profits striving to make a difference, to the large organisations making waves in their sector, right down to the small businesses creat, the WA Business Awards recognise the very best in their field.
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Innovative Solutions To Secure Perth's Water Supply |
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At the 2050 Summit, Water Corporation CEO Pat Donovan reminded delegates that “water is life and securing it is fundamental to how we grow.”
Coming fresh off National Water Week and Pat’s 2050 Summit spotlight, it’s clear that conversations about Perth’s water security need to stay front and centre, not just in times of crisis, but as part of how we plan for a city of over 3.5 million. With the population growing and water sensitivity declining, the question is: are we doing — and investing — enough to secure supply to 2050?
Water Corporation is taking an ambitious and innovative approach: expanding water sources, cutting emissions and deploying technology to detect and prevent loss across the network. Major projects include the Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant and new belowground pipeline to Wanneroo, alongside groundwater replenishment schemes that recycle treated wastewater back into aquifers. Innovation is also playing a role, from acoustic leak detection to a specially trained leak-detection dog named Piper, helping locate leaks before they waste a drop.
CEO Pat Donovan has set a bold goal for Water Corporation to achieve net z0ero, gas-free operations by 2035, ensuring the organisation not only secures supply, but does so sustainably. He reminded us that Perth’s water future depends on all of us — every drop is precious — and saving water wherever possible must become second nature to team Perth. Together, these initiatives are vital investments in Perth’s liveability, resilience and climate leadership. |
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Rugby World Cup in 2027 – 2 Years To Go To WA's Biggest Sporting Event Ever |
Bold decisions were a common theme at the 2050 Summit — the kind that put Perth on the global map and create opportunities that make people proud to live and work here. The upcoming Rugby World Cup 2027 is a perfect example of that vision in action.
With just two years to go from this month, excitement is building for what will be the biggest sporting event ever staged in Western Australia. Perth will host several key matches at Optus Stadium, welcoming the world’s best rugby nations and hundreds of thousands of visitors. The event will showcase Perth’s stunning waterfront precincts, world-class infrastructure and renowned hospitality to a global audience — while creating thousands of jobs across tourism, events, transport and hospitality.
As Committee for Perth is bringing together the results from the 2050 Summit workshops, events like the Rugby World Cup demonstrate how major investments in sport and culture can spark economic growth, community pride and international recognition. Read More |
| Keystart Makes Inner-City Living Attainable |
At the 2050 Summit, housing emerged as one of Perth’s biggest challenges and opportunities. Speakers agreed that we need to rethink density as a positive, with Daevid Anderson from Propert Council WA noting that “density is not a dirty word... It's about saving billions of dollars in infrastructure costs, reducing the cost of living for individuals, revitalizing our CBD, and giving people real housing choices."
That message aligns perfectly with Keystart WA’s new Urban Connect Shared Equity initiative, designed to help more Western Australians own homes in well-located urban areas. While Keystart has long offered low-deposit home loans to make ownership more accessible, Urban Connect goes a step further, focusing specifically on Perth’s inner and middle suburbs.
By making home ownership more attainable in Perth’s inner and middle suburbs, close to jobs, transport and amenities, Urban Connect directly supports the “20-minute city” vision discussed at the Summit by urban strategist Ludo Campbell-Reid, where daily needs are within easy reach of where people live, work and play. Read More
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Perth’s Vibrancy is Our Global Calling Card |
One of the most energising conversations last week centred on The Vibrant City — a session that explored how creativity, culture and sport can transform Perth into a truly global destination.
Chad Anderson, Director General for Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, challenged Perth to be “genuinely competitive on the global stage” — to be proud of who we are, to be aspirational, and “not afraid to fail — to take risks and think big.”
Tabitha McMullan painted a vision for Perth as a global cultural leader, one that succeeds when it finds its true cultural purpose. “Look at what the Silo Art Trail did for the Wheatbelt, or how the Giants of Mandurah transformed the Peel region — communities are brilliant at this when they’re empowered,” she said.
Tom Avison, CEO of Perth Film Studios, likened Perth’s growing screen industry to a living reef — “an ecosystem where big and small projects feed off each other, creating energy, opportunity and growth.” His analogy captured how creative industries can spark collaboration that benefits the whole region.
Together, the speakers made it clear that Perth’s vibrancy won’t come from a single project or policy — it will come from empowering communities, embracing creativity, and having the courage to dream big. Ultimately, culture, sport and storytelling are what make people fall in love with Perth, whether they’re visiting, returning, or calling it home. |
| Turning Perth Into a Magnet for Global Talent |
During the 2050 Summit, Committee for Perth CEO Paula Rogers reflected on a long-standing challenge for our city: “Too often, people grow up here, study here, and then feel they have to go elsewhere to reach their potential. That needs to change.”
Initiatives such as Curtin University’s global research into planetary exploration and autonomy are helping to make that change real. Curtin is leading an international effort to find life on Mars and advance next-generation robotics and autonomous systems, through its new international agreements signed at the International Astronautical Congress.
By bringing together world-class researchers and industry partners, the project builds on Curtin's involvement in internaional space and technology, and further positions Perth as a hub for space for global innovation into science, robotics and remote operations, all areas that will define the next generation of high-tech jobs. It’s a powerful example of what Paula described as “creating the kind of opportunities that make people want to stay and build their future right here in Perth.” Read More |
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An update from Hon Meredith Hammat MLA Wednesday, 5 November 2025 | 12.00pm to 2.00pm ENQUIRE // Gold and Silver Member-only event |
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The Festival Effect: Why Culture is Perth's Boldest Investment with Anna Reece Thursday, 13 November 2025 | 12.00pm to 2.00pm
WAITLIST // Member-only event |
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| Held at Lamont’s Bishops House Wednesday, 3 December 2025 | 4.30pm to 7.00pm
ENQUIRE // Member-only event |
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| With Roger Cook MLA Wednesday, 10 December 2025 | 12.00pm to 2.00pm ENQUIRE // Member-only event |
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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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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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