More than 50 experts have been selected to help guide the sustainable recovery of Sydney's economy and creative and cultural life and address the city's social issues.
The City of Sydney has engaged 53 people to sit on four new panels and provide expert advice about policies and operations across various priority areas.
Panel members were selected from 290 applications and will be appointed for a term of up to three years with the possibility of reappointment for a further three-year term.
The four new panels are: Cultural and Creative Sector Advisory Panel; Multicultural Advisory Panel; Housing for All Working Group; Business, Economic Development and Covid Recovery Advisory Panel.
They add to the City's four existing panels: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel; Inclusion (Disability) Advisory Panel; Nightlife and Creative Sector Advisory Panel; and Sydney Design Advisory Panel.
"The City's advisory panels play a crucial role in guiding our work, ensuring experts from a range of sectors – creative, business, housing, climate, multicultural, hospitality and entertainment – help us identify and respond to emerging issues and opportunities," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
"These panels are a reflection of our values and our commitment to the community. Enlisting the help new experts in housing, culture, business and social cohesion will help us navigate the challenges facing our city at this most critical time."
Business, Economic Development and Covid Recovery Advisory Panel
The panel will play an important role in the City of Sydney's Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 Continuing the Vision through the actions of the economic strategy discussion paper and development of the new strategy. Collaborative effort and partnerships between the public and private sectors is the key to this success.
The panel will provide high-level independent expert advice and support to ensure a sustainable recovery from the pandemic, including advice on innovation, growing business diversity and resilience strategies, and opportunities to develop a vibrant 24-hour economy and nightlife.
The panel comprises up to 20 members, from the private sector, state government and peak bodies including the Committee for Sydney, Australian Retailers Association, NSW Indigenous Business Chamber of Commerce and Canva.
"I am honoured to be invited to contribute to this important project and look forward to the panel's first meeting in September and hopefully we can help bring new life to the city's economy in spring," Paul Nicolaou, Executive Director Business Sydney said.
"The economic recovery of the CBD has slowed due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic and it's vital that business works closely with council to support its initiatives and programs as we try to reactivate the streets of our CBD.
"I applaud council's initiative in creating these panels to aid recovery, as well as its recognition of the value of including Business Sydney and the other stakeholders."
The focus of this working group will be to identify opportunities and develop solutions to address housing affordability.
The working group brings together industry leaders and experts who will share knowledge and provide advice and guidance on the development of strategies and initiatives to increase the supply of affordable and diverse housing across the City of Sydney's local area.
Up to 13 members from organisations including Homelessness NSW, Department of Planning and Environment and Community Housing Industry Association NSW will represent the interests of the City of Sydney's diverse communities.
The City of Sydney's area is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse in Australia, with almost 50 per cent of residents born overseas and more than 36 per cent of people speaking another language at home, including Mandarin, Thai, Cantonese, Indonesian and Spanish.
The Multicultural Advisory Panel will provide expert advice about policies, programs, services and practices that are important to our culturally diverse communities. It will also play an important role in advising on the needs and desires of the diverse local cultural groups, including the most appropriate methods of communication, strategies to combat racism and discrimination and ways to promote greater understanding and appreciation of multiculturalism.
The panel features up to 13 members from a cross-section of the community including members of the community with lived experience and expertise, government and university stakeholders and multicultural organisations such as Ethnic Communities' Council of NSW, Multicultural NSW, Counterpoint Community Services and the NSW Police Force.
"I am elated to be appointed as a community member on the Multicultural Advisory Panel," Afeeya Akhand, Youth Ambassador, Multicultural Youth Affairs Network NSW said.
"Young people are often overlooked in policy development and decision-making, so I want to ensure that the perspective of multicultural youth is heard. Specifically, I look forward to discussing ways to combat racism and further multicultural inclusion."
Cultural and Creative Sector Advisory Panel
The panel's priority will be to address issues affecting the sustainable recovery of local creative and cultural industries.
Panel members will provide strategic advice about retaining and building Sydney's creative workforce and the workspaces they use and focus on addressing the loss of creative studios and venues in Sydney – a critical issue that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
It features up to 20 members from the performing arts, festivals and events, music, creative production, film and visual arts sectors including Music NSW, Sydney Opera House and Spectrum Films
All applications for the new panels were assessed by the City of Sydney based on selection criteria in each of the advisory panel's terms of reference.
Panel members were selected based on their skills and experience, and with the aim of ensuring they represent diversity, including various age groups and cultural backgrounds, across the sectors.
Councillor representatives have also been appointed to each of the new advisory panels and working groups, which work closely with the City of Sydney to provide high-level independent advice and expertise. The new panels will form part of the City of Sydney's growing network of advisory panels which includes the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel, Inclusion (Disability) Advisory Panel, Design Advisory Panel, Design Advisory Panel Residential Sub-Committee, and Public Art Advisory Panel.
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