The Committee for Geelong provides strategic leadership, advocacy and influence to leverage the economic and social prosperity of our city-region. An independent, non-partisan, membership-based organisation, the Committee for Geelong works collaboratively with an authoritative group of stakeholders and influencers to design Geelong’s best future.
The Committee for Geelong was established by a group of Geelong leaders who identified an opportunity to collaborate and provide leadership for Geelong.
Strategic Objectives
• Stimulate economic and social prosperity
• Drive creativity, capability and liveability
• Deliver a collective voice and leadership
Purpose – Designing our best future
Geelong’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Design helps inspire the Committee for Geelong. It also informs the Committee to adopt systems thinking in the development of our strategy and actions. Our Best Future promotes the vision for local ownership of our unique identity as a global city focused on strategic analysis and scenario planning for our long term future.

Vision
Geelong as a thriving, inclusive and world-class place to live, work and prosper. Geelong as a city-region which:
• Is vibrant and innovative
• Participates on the world stage
• Has a strong sense of ‘place’
• Promotes the high value of its people and its natural environment
• Is considered a compelling choice that values both economic and social prosperity

Committee for Geelong’s
Strategic Framework 2019 – 2022
The Committee for Geelong’s 2019 – 2022 Strategic Framework informed a design-thinking approach to the development of our strategy and actions in advocating our vision for Geelong.
As this plan draws to its conclusion in 2022, the Committee for Geelong has commenced actively engaging with our Members to co-design a new four year strategic framework for 2023 – 2026.
This framework will capture current thinking and approaches, and allow space to flexibly build upon, in an agile manner, the Geelong region’s planning for our long term future.
Committee for Geelong Annual Leadership Award
Since 2010, the Committee for Geelong has awarded the Annual Leadership Award to a leader of significance in our community. The inaugural Annual Leadership Award that year was bestowed upon Frank Costa AO, for his services to the Geelong community.
The Annual Leadership Award was renamed the Frank Costa Annual Leadership Award in 2021, in recognition of Frank Costa’s legacy and leadership in the Geelong community and remembers him as one of the Committee for Geelong’s founders 20 years ago. Mr Costa sadly passed away in May 2021.
The inaugural Frank Costa Leadership Award was bestowed upon Frances Diver at the Committee for Geelong’s 20th Anniversary event in December 2021.
Annual Leadership Award Recipients
2010 Frank Costa AO
2011 Michael Dowling AM
2012 Barry Fagg
2013 Michael Martinez
2014 Professor Jane Den Hollander AO
2015 Fr Kevin Dillon AM
2016 Pat Murnane
2017 Michael Betts
2018 Award recipient not appointed
2019 Brian Cook
2020 Elaine Carbines AM
Frank Costa Leadership Award Recipients

Frances Diver, CEO, Barwon Health
2021 Frank Costa Leadership Award Recipient
Photo: Alison Wynd
“Leadership is not about the position you hold, but the difference you make.”
Toni Van Hammond, LfG 2006 Alumni
Leadership Portfolio
Since 2006, the CfG has delivered leadership programs to support Geelong’s transformation into a world-class city-region.
Applications for Activate are currently closed.
Activate is an eight-week program for emerging leaders to explore the foundations of leadership and gain confidence, knowledge, skills and strategies to lift their leadership capacity for personal, professional and community benefit.
Committee For Geelong
Deakin University Geelong Waterfront Campus Level 2 Sally Walker Building
(entrance off Cunningham Street)
Geelong, Victoria, 3220
PO BOX 1418
GEELONG, VIC, 3220
The Committee for Geelong acknowledges the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the lands, waters, seas and skies on which we operate. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people as Australia’s First Nations people.