“I stand on my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way”. Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society.
The Smart Cities Expo and World Congress is my opportunity to look up and around and see the work of Committee for Ballarat differently. It’s the chance to get off the dance floor and onto the balcony, and be inspired by possibility.
The 2025 World Congress again delivered, as myself, Federation University Vice Chancellor Prof. Duncan Bentley, and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Global and Engagement Carolyn Chong, were immersed in all things that make great, future-focused, sustainable and liveable cities.
Whilst AI in all its various forms was mentioned in every discussion, the overwhelming reference to what makes a smart city is how it engages its people and how it is builds for its future generations.
The changing climate and its impacts on cities and communities were also a feature of every discussion. Cities all around the world are looking for and finding ways to adapt. Paradoxically, in Australia at the same time, whilst one side of politics was struggling to determine whether it could speak the words Net Zero, the smart cities and countries of the world are getting on with the work to achieve it, and well before 2050.
For cities all around the world facing the pressures of growing populations, getting the balance right between increasing housing supply and providing quality of life is the challenge. Public open space is the identified link between the two. The provision of space that is both unique and creates a sense of belonging can help preserve the qualities of a city as it grows. Re-purposing, re-using and re-designing how we use space means we don’t always need to look for more, but rather how we choose to look differently.
A relationship we have established over the past two years through the Congress is with the Cities of Stockholm and Helsinki and their Positive Clean Energy District projects. We are all working to aggregate locally generated renewable energy, combine it with storage and energy management systems, and invite active community participation in the energy transition.
The challenge for us all is to establish the appropriate commercial and governance model to manage and invest in the orchestration of new and existing distributed energy assets, for the benefit of the community and the consumer.
Perhaps if we stand on the desk and look from a different perspective, the solution will appear.
Michael Poulton
CEO, Committee for Ballarat