The north’s future and how to get there

Community and business leaders, researchers and commentators will present their visions for our region’s future at a forum convened by Advance Cairns and the Cairns Institute at James Cook University in Cairns on Monday 30 September.

The forum is titled The Future of our Region – fostering innovation and collaboration.

“We are asking some of the region’s best thinkers, as well as other commentators with an interest in Australia’s north, to present their visions for the future, examining the assets and opportunities that will assist us, the values that inspire us and the challenges we might face,” Professor Sue McGinty, Acting Director of The Cairns Institute said.

Topics to be discussed include: governance in northern Australia, the State of the Tropics report, the future of regional communities, and thinking big for northern Australia.

“The challenges and opportunities that lie before us are significant,” Mark Matthews, Chief Executive of Advance Cairns, said.

The day will conclude with a panel discussion of visionary approaches to the region’s development. At the conclusion of the forum key ideas will be brought together in a document that will provide a reference point for further discussion and development.

“We hope anyone with a stake in our region’s future will consider attending and contributing. This will be a day of discussion, with plenty of time for questions and input.” Mr Matthews said.

“The theme of the forum casts our vision to the future, what it may look like, and some of the influences, challenges and opportunities that will shape our thinking.”

Speakers include:

Hon Warren Entsch MP, Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Northern Australia on the topic of Thinking big for northern Australia.

Professor Sandra Harding, Vice-Chancellor of James Cook University, on The state of the tropics, with an assessment of critical questions facing one of the world’s most important and fastest growing regions – the tropics.

Robert Prestipino, Founder and Director of Vital Places, will discuss using development to help shape our regions to deliver good growth – change that will make our communities stronger economically, socially and environmentally.

Associate Professor Allan Dale, The Cairns Institute, on getting the governance right for northern Australia. To move beyond the boom and bust cycle, Australia’s north needs a regionally driven approach to planning of land use and infrastructure. This contrasts with past approaches driven by either southern-based conservation campaigns or major development projects that emerge in bull markets.

Rowan Callick, Asia-Pacific Editor for The Australian, and a noted author of a number of books (the most recent being Party Time: Who Runs China and How published earlier this year) on the topic of The North Queensland Neighbourhood – what’s happening and what opportunities are there?

The forum will be held at The Cairns Institute at James Cook University on Monday 30 September from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Admission is $95, and registration can be completed online at: payments.advancecairns.com.au/events/Future2013

For more information, please contact Linda Richardson at Advance Cairns on 4080 2900.

Issued September 18, 2013

Media enquiries: E. linden.woodward@jcu.edu.au T. 07 4042 1007