President's Message

David Thomas BDA President 2005 to 2007

The Brisbane Development Association (BDA) has a long history engaging its members, business, the professions, government and the community to create a better Brisbane. 2007 was a milestone year for the association: we celebrated our 50th anniversary and staged a number of innovative events to commemorate this achievement. In addition to our monthly Seminars and quarterly Patrons' Breakfasts, we staged the inaugural Brisbane Awards presented by FKP Property Group and the 50th Anniversary Celebratory Dinner on Friday 18 May. The Awards were created to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of an individual, an organisation and/or a place, and their role in making Brisbane a better place. The inaugural award was presented to Brisbane City Council and accepted by Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

Looking forward, the Association initiated the Brisbane Future Roundtable presented by Brisbane Airport Corporation held on 5 July. The Roundtable also celebrated the BAC's 10th anniversary and helped to identify the most important issues affecting the future of Brisbane and the South-East Queensland region. It was an exciting think tank involving 15 leading professionals and renowned thinkers who discussed and debated Brisbane's future during the facilitated three-hour forum. To assist the Roundtable panellists, the BDA and BAC invited members, community leaders and government representatives to contribute their ideas and insights to influence this important debate. The Roundtable's outcomes will be used to guide the BDA's public forums over the coming three years and beyond.

These initiatives have and will continue to go a long way to acknowledging and celebrating the Association's people, projects and activities over the past 50 years.

On behalf of the BDA Executive I would like to thank you for your ongoing support and contribution to the association: it is your input which ensures the continued success and future purpose of the BDA. Our Executive members are listed in this document and on our website. If you have suggestions for issues which you think the BDA should consider or ways in which the BDA can better satisfy your requirements, we encourage you to mention them to an Executive member.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years as President of the Association and would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow BDA Executive members, Executive Director John Pettit, and the BDA Secretariat for their support and commitment during my presidency.

I congratulate and welcome the new President and Executive and wish them well as they continue to work to enhance the development and livability of our city.

DAVID THOMAS
President 2005-2007