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Forum 2 - Sustaining Melbourne's Prosperity

Date: Wednesday 20th Jun 2007
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Venue: Bio 21 Theatre, 30 Flemington Rd Parkville

What happened at this forum?

The forum raised some of the drivers behind Melbourne's future prosperity and how the city can use it strengths and weaknesses in the future. From some of our panellists we heard about the emerging environmental changes that will shape our city's prosperity and how measures of prosperity should be broadened beyond economic terms. Our audience raised topics as diverse as the need to overhaul education systems to advocating better transport links to what measures should be used to gauge Melbourne's future prosperity.

Have your say

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Speakers

Jo Cavanagh
Professor John Freebairn
George Lekakis
Professor Chris Ryan

Moderator
Dr Gael Jennings

Description
700,000 people come to Melbourne each day to work. Business provides jobs, finance and investment. It is vital to Melbourne’s future viability and is a major avenue for people’s participation in the community. Melbourne is the economic heart of Victoria. The traditional base of business in Melbourne, finance and manufacturing has been sharply eroded. What business future should we try to create?

Melbourne’s traditional business strengths in manufacturing and finance are growing again. Melbourne is also the focus for much research and development, venture capital activity, education and is the traditional home of important Australian enterprises such as BHP, ANZ and NAB. Its bio-medical capacity is world-class. Oil depletions, increased energy costs and the economic boom in China and India may create new risks and opportunities. What does the future hold for doing business in Melbourne? What is our niche and how do we best leverage that? Does Melbourne provide a business friendly climate?

Speakers

Jo Cavanagh Chief Executive of Family Life

Jo has over 30 years experience in the social sector, working with government, business and community organizations. Jo has held leadership positions on regional, state and national peak and government advisory bodies. Jo is a frequent speaker at national conferences and forums and has authored numerous papers and reports.

George Lekakis Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission

George has extensive experience as an advocate for ethnic communities at the local, state and national levels, which is illustrated by his tenure as both the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of Victoria's peak multicultural umbrella organisation, the Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria. Professor John Freebairn Professor of Economics, University of Melbourne

John joined the University of Melbourne in 1996 following distinguished appointments in government, business and education. His research interests are in applied economic policy analysis, with current interests in taxation reform options, unemployment and water markets. Professor Chris Ryan Co-Director, Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Melbourne

Chris Ryan has worked for over 30 years across various areas of science, technology and environment policy. He has worked both nationally and internationally establishing programs and research exploring new possibilities for sustainable design and eco-innovation.

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