Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull presented the inaugural Pemulway prize to Bankstown Poetry Slam at the Deloitte-supported Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue’s ‘Out There’ Summit held on Friday at Western Sydney University’s Parramatta Campus.

Named after a revered Indigenous warrior and leader, the Pemulway prize honours an outstanding contribution to the region. Bankstown Poetry Slam was one of six Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Award recipients, celebrating contributions from business and community to the advancement of Western Sydney.

Deloitte was amongst the winners, presented with the Business Leadership award for the firm’s Shaping Future Cities – Designing Western Sydney initiative; an economic blueprint setting out recommendations to generate 200,000 great new jobs for Western Sydney.

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Chair, Christopher Brown, AM said: “Shaping Future Cities is considered one of the most significant public policy contributions by a private company in Australian history. We are delighted to honour the leadership of Deloitte in developing the report, which is a game-changer for Western Sydney.”

Deloitte Western Sydney Managing Partner, Danny Rezek, said: “We are thrilled to have been recognised for our work on Shaping Future Cities, and congratulate all award winners who, in different ways, are committed to advancing the region and ensuring it has a strong future.

Shaping Future Cities was the result of the collective efforts of over 400 business, government and community leaders in the region, and has been endorsed by the NSW Premier.

“We are already seeing the positive impact of the blueprint, with a number of recommendations implemented or in the pipeline, including the establishment of a Western Sydney University campus at Olympic Park and the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) being located in Parramatta.”

Western Sydney Leadership Award winners were:

·         Business Leadership – Deloitte: Shaping Future Cities

·         Regional Advocacy – News Corp/Daily Telegraph: Fair Go for the West Campaign

·         Corporate Philanthropy – Crown Resorts Foundation: Western Sydney Arts Initiative & Sydney Training College

·         Community Engagement – Bankstown Poetry Slam

·         Productive Partnerships – Lendlease/TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute: Barangaroo Skills Exchange (BSX)

·         Brand Champion – Western Sydney University 

For more on the prize winners go to: www.westernsydney.org.au