Growing Regions Conference

25-27 July 2006, Brisbane, Australia
www.dotars.gov.au/regional/growingregions

Register before 24 March 2006 to receive a great early bird discount deal! You are invited to attend the prestigious Growing Regions Conference, the premier international regional development conference for 2006. Growing Regions is proudly hosted by the Department of Transport and Regional Services, on behalf of the Australian Government.

Themes and issues

This event will draw together leading contemporary regional development practitioners, researchers and policy makers from Australia and across the globe to present on key themes, including:

  • regional and national development best practice
  • maximising economic and sociocultural opportunities in rural and remote regions
  • improving opportunities and outcomes for indigenous communities
  • regional governance
  • regional youth leadership
  • new trends and approaches in regional and territorial development.

Growing Regions will provide delegates with a unique opportunity to hear about how different regions are addressing common issues across the world. There will be a strong emphasis on innovative approaches and the lessons to be learned from them.

The issues to be addressed include:

  • the role of governments in regional development
  • economic development – infrastructure, innovation and structural adjustment
  • managing change – demographic, environmental and social, including maintaining community cohesion and resilience.

Plenary sessions will feature prominent speakers from Australia and overseas to give delegates the most up to date and international perspective on regional development. Panel discussions will give delegates the opportunity to ask questions and to explore issues close to their interests.

Speakers

Delegates will benefit from the wisdom and experience of eminent speakers in the field of regional development. Speakers will include:*

  • The Hon Warren Truss MP, Australian Government Minister for Transport and Regional Services
  • Commissioner Danuta Hübner, European Union Commissioner for Regional Policy
  • Mark Drabenstott (TBC), Vice President and Director of the Centre for the Study of Rural America at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
  • Maria Helena Henriques Mueller, Head of Section for Youth, Bureau of Strategic Planning, United Nations Educational and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
  • Edward Bergman, Director, Institute for Regional Development and Environment, Vienna University of Economics and Business
  • Ann Markusen, Professor and Director of the Humphrey Institute’s Project on Regional and Industrial Economics, Minnesota University
  • Allan Fels, Dean of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) and former Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
  • Margaret Clark, Director, Commission for Rural Communities, Countryside Agency, United Kingdom.

Check the website for a full draft program.

* Please note there will be no call for papers. The program will feature invited speakers only.

Pre and post conference technical tours

A variety of optional technical tours, showcasing innovative solutions to regional issues in Australia, will be offered on 24 and 28 July 2006. These will include visits to:

  • North Stradbroke Island – to learn about the Nunukul Ngugi Cultural Heritage Corporation’s Sea Cucumber Processing Plant
  • Esk and Ipswich regions – to learn about Olive Products Australia; the Fernvale Community Project; the local Toogoolawah Community radio station and Warrego Wines/Custom Crush Facility
  • Coomera/Beaudesert Shire – to learn about the Coomera Mariner Precinct; the Riviera Boat Manufacturers; Albert River Winery; Wadham Park Equine Centre and the Story Bridge Adventure Climb Project.

You are encouraged to register for this important event. Growing Regions is a unique opportunity to discover how different solutions to similar problems are working in Australia and across the world.

For more information

Visit www.dotars.gov.au/regional/growingregions, email growingregions@dotars.gov.au, phone (02) 6274 7126 or (02) 6274 7358 or fax (02) 6274 8116.