Our region, our future, our legacy…our golden opportunity

This week I attended the #FutureBrisbane luncheon. After quite some time of being home bound, I was excited to catch-up with work colleagues that I haven't seen in a long time and to meet new colleagues in person! I also enjoyed meeting new people, getting to know about where they work and what they do, and what they were most excited about from the discussion.

Being there in person surrounded by business, sporting, and political leaders, hearing our Premier speak about her insights, and listening to Cate Campbell and the panel’s conversation about the future of Brisbane 2032 Olympics Games created a special a moment in time for me.

I loved the Welcome to Country by Spirit of Red Sands and the story of how the Brisbane River (which I learnt is called 'Maiwar') was created. Sense of culture, community and connection was grounded from the start through the electric performance about respecting mother earth.

I learnt that the founding editor of the @CourierMail in 1846 was Arthur Lyon and the Courier Mail still stands by his vision today. Gina Rinehart shared her insights into creating competitive world class facilities and having a can-do approach to the road ahead.

Cate Campbell was absolutely inspiring and authentic. She spoke to the heart of what athlete life is about. It gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation for our athletes and the physical efforts they must go through to put on a show like the Olympics Games for their country and the world. Hearing about her experiences from different Games and how each one created a different feeling based on the culture and atmosphere really got me thinking: I wondered what Brisbane, my hometown, is going to be like in 2032? I wondered, what and how I will be feeling in that moment when my home turns into an Olympic city? It's a bit surreal to imagine what it would all be like, but that thinking, and planning starts now.

The panel member discussion was equally captivating. The Games is such a positive event for us and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I hear this all the time but for some reason hearing it being said by the panel members impacted my thoughts and feelings more deeply of just how important and powerful this event is to unite people, help people, care for people and support each other. It's the people's Games and the work that we do for it makes a difference to people's lives.

It was equally exciting to hear about Brisbane's innovation capability, leveraging the ecosystem of research and development, industry, start-ups and what working together means for BNE 2032 in terms of what’s possible. The new skills and capabilities the next generation will acquire in technology is already underway in educational curricula throughout Queensland. We are a resource rich country and the question of how we keep more of our value chain in Queensland has continued to spark new pathways in me to consider how this would happen.

Lastly, I listened to Etienne Thobois, CEO of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee for Olympic and Paralympic Games, share his experience and insights into the planning and preparation for Paris 2024. The Games are inclusive: “Olympic and Paralympic, you cannot have one without the other”. This is so important and inspiring, and it has made me realise and appreciate how much effort is required to plan and deliver something of this magnitude and how each and every person has an important part to play.

It was an incredibly inspiring and thought-provoking session and has given me a deeper sense of appreciation and gratitude for every facet of thought and planning that goes into setting up an Olympic Games and the legacy each host city builds as a world class destination, economic hub and most importantly what it gives back to the community into the future.