Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand launches

The Smart Cities Council, a Seattle-based provider of smart cities resources for government and the private sector, has launched Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand as part of its goal to make cities liveable, workable and sustainable.

According to Jesse Berst, chairman of Smart Cities Council Global, Australia and New Zealand have made sustained efforts 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,” he 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.”

The founding executive director for the region is Adam Beck, formerly director of innovation at EcoDistricts and executive director at the Green Building Council of Australia. Beck had been impressed with the Smart Cities Council efforts in India, Europe and the USA and resolved to develop a council positioned to accelerate the smart cities marketplace in Australia and New Zealand.

“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,” said Beck.

Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand will now mobilise a range of activities to help strengthen the marketplace, with its first task being to develop and publish a Smart Cities Readiness Guide for the region. Other initiatives will include assembling advisory and leadership committees and collaborating 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,” said Beck.