Smart Cities Council ANZ launched

Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand has been launched, with a goal to make cities livable, workable and sustainable.

Jesse Berst, the chairman of Smart Cities Council Global, acknowledged the sustained efforts in ANZ to understand and use technology to develop smart, sustainable cities.

“Launching the council in Australia and New Zealand is the next step in the region’s contribution to solving global problems of climate change and the need to innovate to resolve inequality and deliver economic development,” Berst said.

“Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand has been positioned as a market accelerator and advisor. Through advocacy and action, capacity building and knowledge sharing, we hope to shape a common language for the market, and support projects, policies and plans that harness the benefits of digital technology and intelligent design,” he said.

Adam Beck is the founding executive director for the region. Formerly director of innovation at Portland-based think tank EcoDistricts and prior executive director at the Green Building Council of Australia, Beck has a solid reputation in the sustainable cities movement in Australia.

Beck was uniquely impressed with the Smart Cities Council efforts in India, Europe and the USA and resolved to develop a council uniquely positioned to accelerate the smart cities marketplace in Australia and New Zealand. He sees real advantages to being part of the world’s largest network of smart cities practitioners.

“Adam’s depth of experience in city-building, collaboration and helping to build mission-driven organisations is exceptional. His deep knowledge in market transformation practices and sustainable community development will be a significant benefit not only to the Australia New Zealand smart cities marketplace, but in other regions as well,” Berst said.

Beck said the council’s first task is to develop and publish a readiness guide for the region.

“The time has come to build on existing successes and unleash the full potential of the smart cities movement here in the region, to apply digital technology and intelligent design practices to build the best cities we can, for our communities to thrive and prosper,” he said.

Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand will now mobilise a range of activities to help strengthen the marketplace, including the development of the 'Smart Cities Readiness Guide' for the region, assembling advisory and leadership committees, and collaborating deeply with other organisations to advance sustainable cities outcomes.

“We want to show cities that it is possible today to solve many of our global problems one city at a time and that great progress is being made around the globe,” Beck said.