Seeking a better Melbourne

Drinks with John Denton & The Hon Ted Baillieu AO

Hosted by John Ridley AM

A city lives and dies by being a lively and interesting creative centre, supporting new ideas and great architecture. Planning controls don’t help and need some sort of design review process.

In the first instalment of our new Melbourne Series, we are privileged to welcome Melbourne Forum member and renowned architect, John Denton, and former Premier of Victoria and fellow architect, The Hon Ted Baillieu AO.

John Denton is a Director of Denton Corker Marshall. The practice is noted for projects such as the Melbourne Museum, the Stonehenge Exhibition and Visitor Centre UK, the Civil Justice Centre in Manchester UK, and the Australian Pavilion for the Venice Biennale.

John Denton has lectured at the Architecture League in New York and was a Visiting Professor at the Royal Danish Academy of the Arts. He has also lectured at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and The Royal College of the Arts, London.

He is a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and in 1996 received the RAIA Gold Medal.

In 2007 he received a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from Monash University, where he is an Adjunct Professor of Architecture. In 2015 he received Doctor of Architecture (honoris causa) from the University of Melbourne for services to architecture.

In 2006 he became the inaugural Victorian Government Architect. The OVGA continues to this day.

The Hon Ted Baillieu AO served as Premier of Victoria and Minister for the Arts from 2010 to 2013. He was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2014, representing the electorate of Hawthorn, and in 2006 was elected leader of the Victorian Liberal Party.

He is an Adjunct Professor at Swinburne University School of Design, and Melbourne University's Honorary Enterprise Professor with the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning.

Mr Baillieu Chaired the Australian Heritage Council (2021-2024), Co-Chaired the Victorian Government’s Cladding Task Force (2017-2019), and Chaired the Victorian Government's ANZAC Centenary Committee (2013-2019).

He is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, Fellow of the Chief of Staff Association, Chieftain of the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association and Member of the Global Advisory Council of Tobacco Free Portfolios. He is Patron of a number of organisations including Multicultural Arts Victoria, Public Record Office of Victoria, The Sovereign Hill Museums Association, Queenscliffe Historical Museum, Friends of Auburn Uniting Church Tower, HMAS Castlemaine, Victorian Schools Rugby Union, Australia India Chamber of Commerce and Africause.

Mr Baillieu was appointed to the THRIVE Advisory Board, Queensland University of Technology in 2023 and joined the Committee of the Melbourne Cricket Club in 2017.

He was a member of the Australian Government’s Urban Policy Consultation Network (2023-2024) and the Selection Panels for the Rhodes Scholarship (2017-2021) and John Monash Foundation Scholars (2016-2023). He is a former Trustee of the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre Trust and Board Member of the Australia India Institute, the Australia-India Council, Tourism Victoria and the Australian Children’s’ Television Foundation.

In 2022 Mr Baillieu was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Swinburne University and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2020 for his service to the people and Parliament of Victoria and to international engagement.

The Melbourne Series will delve into the issues shaping our city’s future. From urban design and planning, to arts and culture, and everything in between, this series will explore the unique challenges and opportunities that define Melbourne. Join us as we bring together panels of experts, leaders, strategic thinkers, artists, politicians, planners, architects, creators and more.