Committee for Sydney
Committee for Sydney is an urban policy think tank and Approved Research Institute that researches and advocates for solutions to Greater Sydney's challenges across six program areas (Economy, Mobility, Planning, Resilience, Culture, Equity and Fairness), serving 160+ member organisations from corporate, academic, government, and cultural sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Committee for Sydney does
Committee for Sydney is an independent urban policy think tank and Approved Research Institute founded in 2003 and headquartered at Level 33, 200 George Street in Sydney's CBD. The organisation researches and develops solutions to challenges facing Greater Sydney across six program areas — Economy, Mobility, Planning, Resilience, Culture, and Equity and Fairness — and operates three major initiative pillars: Sydney Global (a multi-year coalition-building program to strengthen Sydney's international brand), Sydney Summit (an annual leadership conference), and Sydney Awards (an annual gala celebrating city contributors). It also publishes a Policy Library and annual reports such as Life in Sydney, Sydney Innovation Atlas, and thematic reports on care work, sport, and innovation.
The Committee is funded by a membership model involving more than 160 organisations representing 250,000 NSW jobs and 640,000 jobs nationwide, with membership tiers including Innovation Fund Partners (e.g., University of Sydney, JLL, UTS, Lendlease, Arcadis), Sydney Global Partners (e.g., Airbnb, BESydney, Destination NSW), and Resilience Program Partners (Ausgrid, Sydney Water, AECOM, Endeavour Energy). Since 22 September 2023 it holds Deductible Gift Recipient status as an Approved Research Institute, enabling tax-deductible philanthropic donations over $2 processed via Raisely. The small team of approximately 10-15 staff is led by CEO Eamon Waterford and COO Hannah Jamieson, supported by an executive team including a Head of Policy, Director of Resilience, and Head of Corporate Affairs. Governance is provided by a board chaired by Michael Rose AM, with deputy chair Gabrielle Trainor AO and directors drawn from academia, professional services, infrastructure, and government. The organisation does not operate proprietary technology platforms and has no disclosed API, AI/ML, or software products; its deliverables are research publications, events, and advocacy rather than commercial technology.
Committee for Sydney firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Committee for Sydney
- Legal name
- Committee for Sydney
- Website
- https://sydney.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Committee for Sydney is an urban policy think tank and Approved Research Institute that researches and advocates for solutions to Greater Sydney's challenges across six program areas (Economy, Mobility, Planning, Resilience, Culture, Equity and Fairness), serving 160+ member organisations from corporate, academic, government, and cultural sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Committee for Sydney industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Policy Think Tank Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Government & Public Sector Congress & Summit Planning (THAHACAC)
Keywords
Where Committee for Sydney is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Committee for Sydney business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees: The Committee is funded by Sydney's leading corporations, government agencies, and cultural institutions through membership fees. Member organisations contribute financially and provide pro bono expertise to enrich research and broaden influence.
- Philanthropic donations: Key research projects are backed by philanthropy. The Committee holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status as an Approved Research Institute, making donations over $2 tax-deductible in Australia.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Committee for Sydney product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Committee for Sydney is an urban policy think tank and Approved Research Institute that produces evidence-based research, policy advice, and convenes stakeholders across business, academia, and government to develop solutions for Greater Sydney's urban challenges. Its work spans six program areas (Economy, Mobility, Planning, Resilience, Culture, and Equity and Fairness), delivered through flagship initiatives including the Sydney Summit conference, Sydney Awards gala, Sydney Global coalition, and a Policy Library of research publications.
Product overview
The Committee for Sydney is the city's urban policy think tank and an Approved Research Institute. Its core 'product' is rigorous policy research and advocacy across six program areas (Economy, Mobility, Planning, Resilience, Culture, and Equity and Fairness). The organization operates three major initiative/product pillars: (1) Sydney Global - a multi-year coalition-building program to strengthen Sydney's global brand narrative; (2) Sydney Summit - the annual leadership conference setting the agenda for Sydney's future; and (3) Sydney Awards - the annual gala celebrating Sydneysiders making exceptional contributions. Supporting these are the Policy Library containing research publications including the Life in Sydney annual reports, Sydney Innovation Atlas, and thematic reports on topics including care work, sport, and innovation. The organization is funded by 160+ member organizations representing diverse sectors across Greater Sydney.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sydney Summit: Annual leadership conference that sets the agenda for the future of Sydney, bringing together bold leaders, thinkers, politicians and researchers to discuss critical questions facing the city.
- Sydney Awards
- Sydney Global
Products and services
- Organisational Membership Paid membership program for organisations across corporate, academic, government and cultural sectors. Members gain access to research, briefings, events, and advocacy opportunities; contribute pro bono expertise; and participate in shaping Sydney's urban policy. Currently 160+ member organisations representing 250,000 NSW jobs and 640,000 jobs nationwide.
- Sydney Summit Annual half-day leadership conference hosted by the Committee for Sydney. Brings together senior leaders, thinkers, politicians and researchers across government, business and academia to discuss and set the agenda for Sydney's future. Ticketed event.
- Sydney Awards Annual prestigious gala dinner celebrating people and projects that make Sydney special. Includes ticketed gala dinner and award categories such as Sydneysider of the Year, Young Sydneysider of the Year, Unsung Hero, Project of the Year, Local Project of the Year, and People's Choice Award. Includes sponsorship opportunities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Recommendations have been implemented in the NSW Consumer Energy Strategy and Transport Oriented Development Program.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Committee for Sydney
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Committee for Sydney technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Committee for Sydney partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- University of SydneycoreListed as an Innovation Fund Partner providing essential core financial support for the Committee's full annual research program.
- JLLcoreListed as an Innovation Fund Partner providing essential core financial support for the Committee's full annual research program.
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS)coreListed as an Innovation Fund Partner providing essential core financial support for the Committee's full annual research program.
- Sydney Local Health DistrictcoreListed as an Innovation Fund Partner providing essential core financial support for the Committee's full annual research program.
- LendleasecoreListed as an Innovation Fund Partner providing essential core financial support for the Committee's full annual research program.
- ArcadiscoreListed as an Innovation Fund Partner providing essential core financial support for the Committee's full annual research program.
- AusgridcoreListed as a Resilience Program Partner providing financial support and strategic guidance for the Committee's resilience program addressing climate change and energy challenges.
- Endeavour EnergycoreListed as a Resilience Program Partner providing financial support and strategic guidance for the Committee's resilience program addressing climate change and energy challenges.
- Sydney WatercoreListed as a Resilience Program Partner providing financial support and strategic guidance for the Committee's resilience program addressing climate change and energy challenges.
- AECOMcoreListed as a Resilience Program Partner providing financial support and strategic guidance for the Committee's resilience program addressing climate change and energy challenges.
- DeloitteflagshipCo-branded major research reports including 'Beyond the Postcard' (2026) delivered in partnership with Deloitte Access Economics, quantifying the economic value of Sydney's global brand at $3.3 billion.
- AirbnbcoreCoalition member of Sydney Global, the Committee's flagship initiative to strengthen Sydney's global brand narrative. Airbnb is listed as part of the coalition of organisations committed to building a stronger story for Sydney.
- University of Sydney (Sydney Global Coalition)coreCoalition member of Sydney Global, working to shape and champion a renewed city narrative for Sydney on the world stage.
- BESydneycoreListed as a Sydney Global Partner, contributing to the initiative aimed at strengthening Sydney's global profile and competitive edge.
- City of SydneycoreListed as a Sydney Global Partner and member organisation, contributing to urban policy research and advocacy for Greater Sydney.
- Destination NSWcoreListed as a member organisation and event sponsor. Destination NSW is a key government stakeholder in the visitor economy and Sydney Global initiative.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Committee for Sydney competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Committee for Perth: Perth's member-funded urban think tank promoting liveability and economic development. Same operating model, similar reliance on corporate and government membership.
- Centre for Cities: UK-based urban policy think tank focused on the economic performance of UK cities, producing research and influencing national and local policy. Closest international analogue to the Committee for Sydney's city-focused research and advocacy.
- Grattan Institute: Leading Australian public policy think tank producing independent evidence-based research with policy influence. Comparable on the research-to-policy advocacy pipeline, though operating at national scale rather than city-focused.
- The Australia Institute: Major Australian think tank producing public-interest research on economic, social and environmental issues. Comparable on mission (evidence-based policy advocacy) and Australian funding landscape, though broader than urban policy alone.
- Committee for Melbourne: Victoria's equivalent urban policy think tank, operating the same member-supported, cross-sector model focused on making Melbourne a better city. Closest structural peer: same organisational format, similar events (lecture series, awards, summits) and research-to-policy pipeline.
- Committee for Brisbane: Another member-based urban think tank from the Committee for X family of city-based policy bodies, focused on Greater Brisbane. Directly comparable on model, governance and revenue mix.
- Committee for Adelaide: Adelaide-based urban think tank of the same 'Committee for [city]' family, engaging business, government and academia on city policy. Directly comparable in scale and remit.
Broad incumbents
- Brookings Institution: Large US-based public policy organisation with significant urban and metropolitan policy programs (e.g., Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking). Wider agenda than the Committee but overlapping in metropolitan research methodology and stakeholder convening.
- Urban Institute: Major US research organisation dedicated to economic and social policy in cities and metropolitan areas. Comparable on evidence-based urban research influencing public policy, though significantly larger and federally oriented.
Emerging players
- Per Capita: Australian progressive think tank producing research on economic fairness, social equity and public policy. Comparable as an Australian policy-research competitor for talent, members and media attention, though thematically different in policy focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Committee for Sydney social profiles
Digital presenceCommittee for Sydney compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Committee for Sydney financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Committee for Sydney leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Committee for Sydney funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Committee for Sydney M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Committee for Sydney
What does Committee for Sydney do?
The Committee for Sydney is an urban policy think tank and Approved Research Institute that produces evidence-based research, policy advice, and convenes stakeholders across business, academia, and government to develop solutions for Greater Sydney's urban challenges. Its work spans six program areas (Economy, Mobility, Planning, Resilience, Culture, and Equity and Fairness), delivered through flagship initiatives including the Sydney Summit conference, Sydney Awards gala, Sydney Global coalition, and a Policy Library of research publications.
Is Committee for Sydney a public or private company?
Committee for Sydney is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Committee for Sydney founded?
Committee for Sydney was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Committee for Sydney based?
Committee for Sydney is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Committee for Sydney make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are philanthropic donations.
Who are Committee for Sydney's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Committee for Perth, Centre for Cities, Grattan Institute, The Australia Institute, Committee for Melbourne, Committee for Brisbane and Committee for Adelaide. Broad incumbents are Brookings Institution and Urban Institute. Per Capita is listed as an emerging player.
Does Committee for Sydney have an API?
No public API is recorded for Committee for Sydney.
What industry is Committee for Sydney in?
Committee for Sydney's product category is Urban Policy Think Tank Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAN, Public Sector & Policy Consulting, with a secondary code of THAHACAC, Government & Public Sector Congress & Summit Planning. Its NAICS code is 54172.