The Andrews Labor Government has appointed members to Melbourne’s six Metropolitan Partnerships, a new platform for cooperative engagement between governments, businesses and communities.

These Partnerships will identify the opportunities and priorities that exist across government, business and community sectors so that all Melburnians have access to the jobs services and local infrastructure they need.

The Western Metropolitan Partnership extends from the inner suburbs of Moonee Ponds, Footscray and Williamstown, through the middle-ring suburbs of Essendon, Maribyrnong, Sunshine and Altona, to the growth area suburbs surrounding Werribee and Melton.

The Minister for Suburban Development Lily D’Ambrosio today announced the appointment of the Chairs and members for each of the six Metropolitan Partnership groups across Melbourne:

Associate Professor Alex Cockram, CEO of Western Health and Associate Professor and Honorary Principal Fellow at University of Melbourne Department of Psychiatry, has been appointed the Chair of the Western Metropolitan Partnership.

Professor Peter Dawkins, Vice Chancellor and President of Victoria University will be Deputy Chair. The other members include:

• Ms Anne Barker, is Chair of LeadWest and a commissioner of the Victorian Building Authority
• Mr James Fitzgerald, is Asset Manager with the Impact Investment Group https://vimeo.com/219614020/e3034d6978
• Ms Anna Reid, is Victorian Operations Manager for Asahi Beverages at its factories in Laverton and Tullamarine
• Ms Rhyll Dorrington, is CEO of Western Chances, an organisation that supports disadvantaged youth in Melbourne’s west
• Mr Christopher Campbell, is the CEO of Citywide
• Mrs Elleni Bereded-Samuel, is the Diversity Capability Development Manager at Australian Unity

Each Partnership includes eight community and business representatives with a variety of backgrounds, experiences and networks.

These members will be joined by the CEO of each council in that region, a senior Victorian Government official and a representative from the metropolitan Regional Development Australia Committee.

They will also strengthen communication and collaboration across Melbourne’s key business and community sector institutions to help shape the city’s future liveability and international competitiveness.

The work of the Metropolitan Partnerships will also help to align investments already being made by all levels of government.

For further information:

 www.suburbandevelopment.vic.gov.au/partnerships/metropolitan-partnerships

Quotes attributable to Minister for Suburban Development Lily D’Ambrosio

“Through Metropolitan Partnerships, we are giving Melburnians even more direct input into the planning and development of their regions so they get the jobs services and infrastructure they need and deserve”

Quotes attributable to Tim Pallas MP

“I look forward to working with the Western Metropolitan Partnership to help engage communities in determining regionally significant priorities. We will continue to deliver services and infrastructure to the communities of the West.”

Quotes attributable to Telmo Languiller MP

“These Partnerships members were nominated because they care about their communities and they were chosen because they bring a diverse set of skills and the breadth of experience required to make things happen.”