Parramatta City Council will host a summit of international Smart City experts and local industry leaders aimed at positioning Parramatta as one of the country’s future leaders in the field.
The summit is being held on Tuesday 10 November and will feature speakers from Amsterdam and Chicago exploring leading-edge technologies and innovations that can be incorporated in Parramatta’s future planning.
The conference will be opened by The Hon. Victor Dominello, the State’s first Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, and the Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Paul Garrard.
Guest speakers include Amsterdam’s Smart City Senior Strategy Advisor for Low Carbon and Connected Urban Planning Frans-Anton Vermast, City of Chicago Former Chief Technology Officer and PostivEnergy President John Tolva and Meld Strategies Director Bruce Duyshart.
Council is partnering with Future Cities Collaborative, a strategic policy and research support unit, to host the event which is being held on the same day as the opening of a new technology ‘Launch Pad’ initiative by Western Sydney University and KPMG.
“The Summit is designed to spark discussion about how Parramatta can transform into a globally recognised Smart City where clever design and innovation become part of the fabric of our community,” Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Paul Garrard said.
“It’s about fostering an environment of collaboration where we can work together to uncover solutions to improve the City’s liveability and to encourage investment into the region.”
John Tolva and Frans-Anton Vermast will also take part in a panel discussion with Baxter Asia Pacific Information Technology Director Marise Hannaford and ParraConnect Chairman Cr Steven Issa, led by Future Cities Collaborative Founder and Chair Professor Ed Blakely.
Parramatta Councillor Steven Issa, who is chairman of the ParraConnect Committee that has been driving a number of smart city projects, said now is the time for Parramatta to plan for a digital future and ensure high-tech initiatives are incorporated in new developments across the City.
“The summit is an important step in our Council’s journey to becoming a Smart City. It is about working collaboratively to solve our City’s ongoing challenges, to make the city more liveable and shape our future identity,” Cr Issa said.
Parramatta City Council adopted a Smart City Masterplan in August this year and appointed a Strategic Smart City Officer to guide the integration of leading-edge technologies and planning across the City, including major urban renewal projects such as the $2 billion Parramatta Square development.
The event is invite only. All media wanting to attend should email media@parracity.nsw.gov.au.
