Committee for Adelaide

Adelaide works best when it works together

These projects start the hard work of delivering on the major themes of the Committee’s two publications; Earning our place in a global economy (Nov 2013), and Agenda for Growth (May 2014). According to Committee Chair, Colin Goodall “Adelaide works best when it works together. So importantly, each of these projects is being delivered in partnership with leading South Australian organisations. Our first year has been about bringing well-researched ideas to public attention. Our second year is about developing practical ways to bring these ideas…

Adelaide think-tank offers inspiration for city growth

The group describes itself as a non-partisan think-tank and is self-funded by its members, who are something of a who's-who of Adelaide. Ian Smith is one of the group's founders; a corporate lobbyist with strong Liberal Party ties, but his motivation is more personal than political. "I've got two young kids, a nine-year-old and a six-year-old and ... if you don't plan now for a sort of an Adelaide in which they can work, it won't happen," he said. Mr Smith is pleased the committee…

The Committee for Adelaide

Bold leadership, new partnerships the way ahead

The decision by GMH last week to cease production in South Australia by 2017 is a reminder that bold leadership and new partnerships are needed if we want to transform our economy to a more sustainable platform for innovation and growth. Much of this transformation will be painful and success is not guaranteed. Our industries are being asked to transform in order to compete in our region. Their success is essential to the wider regional economic development of South Australia. From the 1850’s to the…

SA: stop comparing and start competing INDAILY

Here's an opinion piece our Chair, Colin Goodall posted on Indaily, 2 December 2013, introducing himself and the work we hope to achieve with this new alliance. I came to Adelaide by choice three years ago, having lived and worked around the world with BP, in the US, UK and Europe. I liked the idea of a 'Committee for Adelaide' because the model works. It brings together a broad spectrum of people and organisations that think the same way but lack a common forum. Everyone…

Advertiser: New group to generate evidence-based ideas to revitalise Adelaide

Advertiser journalist Cameron England was one of the first to cover the Committee, writing in March 2013 that South Australia's best and brightest were quietly being tapped on the shoulder with a vision to drive economic growth and help the state play to its strengths.

Committee for Adelaide pushes transformation

Adelaide could be a smart small city built on nano- and bio-tech industries – if it can come to accept that old ways and old industries aren’t the future, says a high-powered new local think-tank. The Committee for Adelaide, a creation of local business and public service leaders, entrepreneurs, consultants, publishers and media identities, was launched today with the publication of its first manifesto for Adelaide – Earning our Place in a Global Economy. Advertisement The committee argues Adelaide should focus on newly emerging industries…

Ian Smith: Committee for Adelaide is based on a proven model with many possibilities for our state

But what if we started with the notion that the sky could be the limit for this state? That doesn't mean everything should be seen through rose-tinted spectacles; indeed, we must always be a community that has a healthy regard for debate and questioning. However, it seems we must address the prevailing attitude of despondency with more than an occasional gripe, or even a newspaper column. If we believe in pushing ideas, we need to be able to do it with the correct structures in…