Langoulant, Dowling join Committee for Perth board

Think tank the Committee for Perth has made two key appointments to its high-powered board - adding business leader John Langoulant and major accounting player Jeff Dowling - as it embarks on its first major steps to push for improvement to the city's amenity.

Formewr CEO of the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Langoulant is chief executive of Kerry Stokes' private company Australian Capital Equity. Mr Dowling is managing partner of the Ernst & Young Western Region.

Among the committee's initiatives are links with WA's two biggest universities, the University of Western Australia and Curtin University of Technology.

Speaking at the launch of the committtee's new headquarters in Hay Street, chairman Tony Howarth said it had committed $300,000 to a project called FACTBase which will help produce a liveability index for Perth.

Mr Howarth said UWA was funding an international research fellow to head the project.

The committee has also engaged well-known indigenous identity Richard Walley to consult with the Perth Noongar community in the first step to understanding how it would like the aboriginal culture represented in Perth. That study is being done in conjunction with Curtin's Centre for Aboriginal Studies, and follows calls from the committee for the city to better show off its indigenous heritage.

A third project is seeking to help create a vision for arts and culture for Perth, via funding from Lotterywest.

Below is the full announcement:

The Committee for Perth has announced the appointment of two new members to the Board of Directors.
John Langoulant, Chief Executive of Australian Capital Equity and Jeff Dowling, Managing Partner of the Ernst & Young Western Region, were welcomed to the board by Committee for Perth Chairman Tony Howarth at the official opening of the Committee's new West Perth offices last night.
"These men bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that will serve the Committee well," said Mr Howarth.
"Mr Langoulant's strong affiliation and love of Western Australia means that he is an ideal representative of the Committee for Perth, while Mr Dowling is widely acknowledged for his business acumen and relationship building skills," Mr Howarth said.
Mr Howarth said that the experience of both new directors would be of great benefit to the Committee.
"Mr Langoulant's expertise in development and governance, coupled with his work on various boards including the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and The West Australian Ballet, demonstrate his strong commitment to the continuing growth of Western Australia in all sectors."
"Mr Dowling has more than 30 years experience in his field. In leading more than 500 staff, he drives a business culture that promotes a philosophy of integrity and achievement - values and principles shared by the Committee," said Mr Howarth.
Mr Howarth said that the Committee for Perth was working hard to forge strong relationships between business, government and all levels of the broader community.
"Our members are a diverse group of Perth's business and community leaders who are all committed to the continuing progress of Perth and the wider metropolitan area.
"I am confident that our two new Directors will be of great benefit to the Committee for Perth and the work that we are doing, and I look forward to their involvement during the next three years," said Mr Howarth.
The Committee for Perth is an influential member-based organisation driven by a diverse assembly of Perth's leaders. Members collaborate with business, government and community groups to actively improve the liveability of our city, resulting in a real and enduring contribution to Perth and the metropolitan area.