The Sunshine Coast is one step away from being named the world’s most intelligent community, with the winner of the prestigious award to be announced in New York next week (14 June).
Mayor Mark Jamieson will travel to New York where he and other local business and community representatives will represent the Sunshine Coast at the Global Intelligent Communities Forum and awards ceremony.
“The Sunshine Coast is the only city in the southern hemisphere named in the Top7 finalists for this award, which itself is a tremendous honour and fantastic recognition for our community,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“I am looking forward to sharing with the rest of the world, the progress we are making in investing in renewable energy, through initiatives like our solar farm, and how we are establishing direct connectivity with global markets with our international broadband submarine cable.”
Co-founder of the ICF, John Jung was impressed by what he saw when he visited the Sunshine Coast in April as part of the judging process for the 2019 Intelligent Community of the Year.
“There are so many things that you are doing here – you are innovating, you have great spirit, but at the end of the day it is how you are embracing the use of technology in a very positive way,” Mr Jung said in April.
“What this community is doing is setting a great standard for other communities, not only in Australia but around the world, to look at how a great quality of life evolves.”
Joining Mayor Jamieson on the business mission will be Innovation Centre Chief Executive Officer, Mark Paddenburg, and HeliMods Head of Strategic Engagement, Sandra Arico.
Both Ms Arico and Mr Paddenburg will join the Mayor in a panel discussion at the Summit to pitch the Sunshine Coast’s credentials as a global intelligent community.
Ms Arico said that as a long-standing Sunshine Coast business and proud ambassador for the region, HeliMods is honoured to be part of this mission and to represent the Sunshine Coast community on the global stage.
“It’s fantastic to be part of a region that is progressive and committed to investing in the future, as well as passionate about making the Sunshine Coast the best place in the world to have a great career, an amazing lifestyle and a true sense of community belonging,” she said.
The Mayor will also meet with the Investment Director, New York, Trade and Investment Queensland and the Chief Technology Officer for the City of New York to exchange ideas and initiatives and promote the opportunities available on the Sunshine Coast.
The Summit will also provide opportunities to engage directly with leading global entrepreneurs and connect with companies, investors and other cities and discuss the opportunities they are examining for the future.
