LCI Melbourne is officially inaugurated

LCI Melbourne was officially inaugurated on Wednesday 2 May 2018, at an event attended by 300 VIP guests including government ministers, creative industry professionals, representatives from higher education, partners and staff.

LCI Melbourne was honoured to have the new campus launched by the Honourable Philip Dalidakis MP, Victorian Minister for Trade & Investment, Innovation & the Digital Economy, and Small Business. In his speech, the minister indicated his government's commitment to LCI Melbourne.

“LCI Melbourne will strengthen our global connections and drive new partnerships in the creative industries that will benefit us all,” said Minister Dalidakis.

President and CEO of the LCI Education network, Claude Marchand, gave a speech reminiscing on the three year journey to this moment, and his commitment to establishing a successful higher education institute in Australia.

"As a quintessential cosmopolitan and creative hub, Melbourne perfectly reflects the key aspects of our network which are dynamism, creativity, design and diversity as well as our mission to connect people to opportunity through high-quality education. We are sure our students and faculty around the world will love the opportunity to study or work in such an inspiring and creative city,” said Marchand.

Marchand also extended a special thanks to Coralie Morrissey, LCI Education Asia Pacific President, architects Gray Puksand and builders Renascent, as well as the faculty and staff who worked tirelessly over the past eighteen months to make the new campus a reality.  

The launch event took the form of a street art takeover of the new campus, and was delivered in partnership with renowned street art company Juddy Roller. Artists painted onto walls and canvas, and a new exhibition of Juddy Roller’s famous street artists was opened.

Over 300 guests gathered in the converted warehouse campus to hear speeches, tour the building, view artwork, and witness the ribbon cutting. The ribbon was officially cut by Claude Marchand, Hon Philip Dalidakis MP, new Chair of the Board of Directors Prof. Bebbington, Yarra City Councillor Mike McEvoy, and Coralie Morrissey.

A new plaque was installed inside the building entrance to mark the occasion of the launch. It was designed and produced by LCI Melbourne Communication Design Coordinator Donna O’Neill and partner Patrick Thomas O'Neill, through their company Zom8ie Inventions.

Special guests at the launch included Mary-Lou Hayman, Government of Canada, Martin Enault, C2 Asia-Pacific CEO, Graeme Lewsey, CEO of Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, Steven Abela, Executive Director of Peter Rowland, Lorenzo Petroro, Senior Manager at Invest Victoria, and Rhod Jones, Director of Ellis Jones; the creative agency who led the rebrand of the Academy of Design Australia to LCI Melbourne in January 2018.

Renowned Juddy Roller street artists Rone and Adnate were also in attendance, along with artists Michael Peck, Mitch Walder (alumni) and Juddy Roller's Kitt Bennett.

Thank you to event sponsors Project 49, Grolsch, Rossdale and Montana Cans.

Image: Hon. Philip Dalidakis MP addresses guests.