The Local Organising Committee was established to oversee WYD08.

His Eminence, Cardinal George Pell AC chairs the LOC. The LOC supports the WYD08 office in its responsibility to organise WYD08 in accordance with the requirements of the Archbishop of Sydney and the Vatican. It also reviews and endorses strategic and operational plans and monitors progress.

The LOC has 21 members, with representatives of the Sydney Archdiocese, Australian Bishops, Federal and NSW Parliaments, Australian youth, business and community representatives

Current members (as at January 2008) are:

Archdiocesan representatives

• His Eminence - Chair
• Bishop Anthony Fisher OP - Coordinator of World Youth Day
• Fr John Usher - Chancellor and Priest of the Archdiocese
• Mgr Vince Redden - Consultor, Chair of CEO and Priest of the Archdiocese
• Mr Danny Casey - Chief Operating Officer

Archdiocesan Finance Committee representatives

• Mr John Phillips
• Mr Richard Haddock
• Mr Bill d'Apice

Australian Bishops

• Bishop Christopher Prowse - Bishop nominated by ACBC
• Bishop Kevin Manning - Bishop from Province of Sydney and also nominated by ACBC

State Parliament representatives

• The Hon John Watkins MP - Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport, Minister for Finance
• The Hon John Della Bosca MP - Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for the Central Coast, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Finance
• The Hon Kristina Keneally MP - Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services
• Mr Barry O'Farrell MP - Leader of the Opposition, and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney

Federal Parliament representatives

• The Hon Martin Ferguson MP, Minister for Resources and Energy, Minister for Tourism
• The Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Prime Minister for Social Inclusion
• The Hon Mark Vaile MP, Federal Member for Lyne
• The Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Federal Member for Menzies

Youth representative

• Mr Lyndon Cox - Director Catholic Youth Services and member Feasibility Committee
• Ms Grace Nader - Project Manager and participant at previous WYDs

Other business and community representatives

• Mr Ted Exell - Business Manager, Archdiocese of Melbourne
• Mr Tim O'Leary - Business Executive, National Australia Bank, Melbourne