I’ll be speaking at the Accelerating Asia Conference in KL next week.

Should be a great conference with a strong focus on sustainable growth through technology enabled innovation, and the role of NGOs in empowering city communities

Future Cities Institute will launch its Global Forum and Awards Program, at the Rutherford Innovation Showcase, 26 to 28 September

The Innovation Showcase will be attended by a range of delegates from NZ Government Ministers and Chief Executives, Asia Pacific and New Zealand business leaders, Local Government Mayors and Councillors, Industry, Academia and Entrepreneurs.

Opening remarks from Mayor of Auckland Len Brown

Innovation is the key to our future. We are entering an age of fierce international competition for resources such as skilled labour, raw materials and energy.

Innovation – doing more with less, doing it smarter and cleaner is the only way we can continue to prosper and live better lives on a healthy planet.

The good news is that the innovation sector is growing – in fact it is Auckland’s fastest growing employer.

My council has placed innovation at the heart of our Economic Development Strategy. We will support our innovative firms, universities and research and development organisations to take their genius to world markets. The Rutherford Innovation Showcase will show the world how innovative we already are.

The Future Cities Forum will challenge us on the role Auckland, as New Zealand’s international city, needs to play in transforming this country’s well-being. Be excited – this is just the beginning.

Event overview

This forum day highlights opportunities for New Zealand cities to develop as world leading communities driving economic growth and social cohesion. It will include an evaluation on opportunities for public private partnerships and will feature leading international speakers who will discuss global best practice for transforming cities and towns into digital communities. Of special note is the government-industry panel session that will bring together economic development agencies, the keynote speakers and urban innovation experts to discuss critical challenges and opportunities to achieve sustainable urbanisation, and economic growth, through the creation of high skilled jobs, entrepreneurship and innovation in the local economy.

The Forum Day culminates at an invite only leadership dinner hosted by Auckland Mayor Len Brown, and will include an update on the latest initiatives for Auckland as a ‘Hub of Innovation’ for the South Pacific, and the launch of the Future Cities Global Forum and Awards Program.

World Bank Cities Alliance Manager William Cobbett to open the event

We are proud to announce that William Cobbett, who is the manager of Cities Alliance, will be the opening speaker at the Future Cities Forum.

The Cities Alliance is a global partnership for urban poverty reduction and the promotion of the role of cities in sustainable development. The Cities Alliance prioritises support to cities, local authorities, associations of local authorities and/or national governments. William will speak of his experience and empowering local communities in the digital world.

William Cobbett has been Manager of the Cities Alliance since May 2006. He joined the Cities Alliance in March 2001 from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in Nairobi, where he had designed and launched the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure. Prior to joining the United Nations, he was Director of Housing for Cape Town.

If you have any queries or if you would like to get involved in this event, please contact Michaela Clark: events@futurecitiesinstitute.org

REGISTER HERE

Just received confirmation I’ll be speaking at the 14th TCI Annual Global Conference “Competitiveness at the Edge” in Auckland, New Zealand. 28 November – 2 December 2011.

Looks like a busy 2^nd half of the year…more.

I’ll will be speaking on National Competitiveness and Local Innovation during the Rutherford Innovation Showcase, 28^th September 2011, in Auckland New Zealand. See http://rutherfordinnovationshowcase.co.nz/