Venues, festivals and music association reps part of new City of Sydney night-time advisory panel

The World Bar GM Greg Turton, Solotel Group CEO Justine Baker, DJ John Ferris, Fringe director Kerri Glasscock, Music NSW chief Emily Collins and Mardi Gras director Kat Dopper are among the 15 appointed to the City of Sydney’s new nighttime advisory panel.

From the 126 who applied, the final list came from those representing the hospitality, live music and performance, theatre, festivals, retail, business and public safety sectors.

The nightlife and creative sector advisory panel was set up to give the City advice on how it can best work with industry, business and other government agencies on providing a safe and diverse after-dark economy.

It will advise on new initiatives, identify emerging issues and opportunities for Sydney’s night-time economy, and help the City engage with local creative, cultural and nightlife communities.

Lord mayor Clover Moore said, “Sydney has the potential to be one of the world’s great 24-hour cities, with an exciting and diverse nightlife that matches our thriving daytime economy.

“Unfortunately, there’s no escaping the fact that the NSW government’s lockout laws have put the brakes on Sydney’s nightlife – they were a sledgehammer blow when what we needed was an evidence-based approach to the problems we share with other global cities.

“While we continue to advocate to the NSW government to relax lockout laws, provide adequate late-night transport and explore licensing reform to allow well-managed venues to continue to trade, we are doing everything we can as a local government to revitalise Sydney’s nightlife.”

The lord mayor added, “Since implementing OPEN Sydney in 2012, we have supported the development of a vibrant and safe night-time culture by leading Sydney’s small bar revolution, introducing food trucks, upgrading late-night taxi ranks, improving wayfinding, and increasing CCTV.

“Our live music action plan, funding for late-night safety ambassadors and grants for businesses to improve or diversify their evening activities all support a more interesting and successful night-time economy.

“This new advisory panel brings together passionate and experienced industry professionals to help us navigate the challenges and opportunities facing our night-time economy at this most critical time.

“These experts will advise us on how we can engage with and bring together the creative, cultural, nightlife, private and government sectors to boost our night-time culture, support businesses operating in the night-time economy and help us realise our vision for Sydney as a world-class 24-hour city.”

The panel will be similar to models already operating in other cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, London and New York.

It will meet four times per year and be co-chaired by a City of Sydney Councillor.

The panel members are:

Justine Baker – representing cafes and restaurants, Baker has 25 years’ experience in hospitality and is currently CEO of the Solotel Group, which includes Aria, Chiswick and the Kings Cross Hotel.

John Green – representing hotels, Green has vast experience in liquor licensing policy, including 26 years with NSW Police and as a director of the Australian Hotels Association since 2008.

Greg Turton – representing night clubs, Turton has worked in Kings Cross for 18 years and currently general manager of The World Bar and chairperson of the Kings Cross Liquor Accord.

Joshua Green – representing small bars, Green has worked in a wide range of licensed premises across Sydney, and is currently general manager of Side Bar in Haymarket.

Joy Ng – representing small bars, Ng is a member of the Redfern Small Bar Liquor Accord and the owner and licensee of The Bearded Tit, a small bar and alternative contemporary arts venue.

Kerri Glasscock – representing performance spaces, Glasscoc operated Venue 505 in Surry Hills for 14 years and been director and CEO of the Sydney Fringe since 2013.

Kat Dopper – representing festivals and events, Dopper is on the board of directors for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the founder of Heaps Gay, an event series for LGBTI young people.

Emily Collins – representing live music producers, Collins has extensive knowledge of the local contemporary music sector and is currently managing director of Music NSW.

John Ferris – representing electronic dance music producers, Ferris has 30 years’ experience as a club owner and DJ, and is an advisor to the Australasian Performing Rights Association

James Winter – representing theatre and performance producers, Winter is the director of not-for-profit arts organisation Brand X and is on the board of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership

Emilya Colliver – representing retailers, Colliver is founder of Art Pharmacy and Culture Scouts, and member of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Young Ambassadors Committee.

Stephan Gyory – representing retailers, Gyory owns The Record Store in Darlinghurst and is a founding member and the current president of the Darlinghurst Business Partnership.

Jacob Collier – representing business associations, Collier is the president of the Glebe Chamber of Commerce and the founder of Bird and Border, a local creative activations consultancy.

Michael Wynn-Jones – representing building and regulatory frameworks, Wynn-Jones is a UTS academic, lecturer and consultant with over 25 years’ experience in building regulation.

Phillip Wadds – representing public safety, Wadds holds a PhD in criminology and cultural studies and has been involved in research on Sydney’s night-time economy for the past 10 years.