City of Melbourne’s Night-time Economy Advisory Committee’s James Young has resigned as Chair, leading to the appointment of a new chair to support the City’s post-COVID recovery as a twilight town.
Performing arts professional Penny Miles has been appointed as Chair of the Night-time Economy Advisory Committee.
The Night Chair is a voluntary position for the committee, which includes representatives from some of Melbourne’s best-known hospitality venues, creative events and arts organisations.
Ms Miles has served on the committee since its creation in June 2021, and will bring a wealth of knowledge from the performing arts sector to the role.
Ms Miles currently works as a consultant to the arts, creative and not-for-profit sectors, and has previously held executive and senior roles with Circus OZ, Australia Council for the Arts and Arts on Tour.
Ms Miles said it was an honour to lead the Night-time Economy Advisory Committee’s important work of enticing more people into the City after dark.
“Over the past year, the committee has contributed to several key initiatives that have supported night-time traders, and I’m looking forward to taking the reins and building on James’ outstanding work,” Ms Miles said.
Inaugural Night Chair, James Young, resigned to focus on his five live music venues.
In its first year under Mr Young’s leadership, the committee provided advice on a range of initiatives to reignite the night-time economy, including:
- Advocacy to the Victorian Government around the introduction of a health pass system to reopen venues more swiftly for vaccinated patrons
- An outline of five key priorities, including a specific focus on Melbourne as a twilight city, extended opening hours, increased activations and a new marketing campaign to encourage people to remain in the city after work
- The Melbourne Money and Midweek Melbourne Money programs
- Project Night Justice Night Safety Summit and Night Safety Charter and Toolkit to improve night-time safety for women and other vulnerable groups
City of Melbourne data shows average night-time activity at Southbank was at 146 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in June, while Lygon Street reached 92 per cent of the pre-COVID benchmark.
Night-time activity in Chinatown is also on the rise, reaching 81 per cent of the pre-COVID benchmark last month.
City of Melbourne said that as a city hospitality venue owner, Mr Young will remain an invaluable contributor to the City’s resurgence after dark.
City of Melbourne’s Acting Lord Mayor, Nicholas Reece, thanked Mr Young and wished him all the best for his nightlife venues.
“We’re incredibly grateful to James Young, who has brought so much to the committee through an extremely difficult time, to revitalise Melbourne’s night-time economy,” Acting Mayor Reece said.
“Penny Miles will bring a wealth of experience, energy and passion to the Night-time Economy Advisory Committee as its first female Chair.”
Mr Young said the decision to step down after a year of service as Chairman of the committee was not easy.
“It’s important that I fully turn my attention to my five recently reopened live music venues,” Mr Young said.
“It has been an honour and privilege to serve as Melbourne’s first-ever Night Chair, and to work with such a diverse and talented group of people.”
