Mayoral Candidate Spotlight: Lisa Scaffidi
The Property Council sat down with Perth Mayor Candidate, and current Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi to get some insight into what we can expect at the Property Council’s upcoming Lord Mayoral Election Debate.
What do you love about Perth?
Everything! Especially our human capital, natural capital and potential as a greater capital city. My focus is specifically on the role of the capital city as it is economic development and city activation that will maintain our liveability and attractiveness to investors and businesses choosing to have a presence in our City.
What made you decide to run for Lord Mayor?
A belief in my ability to connect people with opportunities. As a proud Perth born and bred woman who has worked in the City for 30 years I am well networked and able to bring the right people and opportunities together. I am experienced in Business Development and destination marketing and understand the need for efficiency and the right welcome when opportunities knock.
Where do you see Perth going over the next three years?
We are in a period like no other. I termed it that we were on the cusp of our own “Belle Epoch” in 2011. This current period, while being full of construction and change is setting us up well for the future. It is vitally important we concurrently implement sustainable and relevant operational guidelines to serve our stakeholders and all residents well. It is crucial we reduce double digit office vacancies in the immediate short term.
What can we expect from you at the debate?
A recommitment to ensure the voters – business owners and operators that I am across the facts and know what needs to be achieved right now to ensure we create and Strong and Vital Perth. In seeking to renew my contract with and for the people of Perth it is about completing the vision I promised to deliver.
When I undertook to “Get Perth Moving” who could have known how much we would achieved in 8 years. I have been supported by a diverse and diligent group of Councillors who feel similarly and we are mid-way through an organisational reform process that is enabling the City of Perth as an organisation to be more customer focussed, efficient and capable of delivering best practise in local government.
The City of Perth has embarked on a robust capital expenditure program that has seen us achieve a lot in the central city area in recent years. Given the recent change in the economy, our decision to create a new Directorate of Economic Development and Activation could not have been more astute. This Directorate will focus on investment attraction, real commitment to sectors that deliver for us such as education, science / medical and technology. They will focus on strategic international relations that will empower us as a true gateway city to connect for mutual benefit on a trade, commerce and a cultural level, with a particularly strong connection into SE Asia and China.
This next four year Council period must be about inner city activation and economic development with a strong focus on more industry diversity throughout the City. It needs to be about creating a strong and vital Perth.
Register here to attend the Lord Mayoral Election Debate on 2nd of October 2015.