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SpeakingupforRegionalAustraliaSEGRA2016Communiqué
ThisyearSEGRAcelebrated20yearsofspeakingupforregionalAustralia.Inreflectingonpastthemesandactionagendas,apessimistmightsaythatthemorethingschangethemoretheystaythesame.Howeverinperusingmanyofthepreviousconferencepapersitisapparentthattherehaveinfactbeensignificantshiftsnotjustinthethinkingunderpinningregionaleconomicdevelopmentbutinthewayswegoaboutbusinessasorganisations,individualsandcollaborators.
ThisCommuniqueaddressessomeofthekeychallengesofregionalAustralia:multipleoverlappingjurisdictions,conflictingsocialobjectivesanddeepuncertaintyaboutthefuture.Twokeyideasfocusedthediscussion:theimportanceofqualityplanningtoincreasecertaintyandtheimportanceoftheprocessthatproducedittorespondtotheuncertainty.
Thepaperspresentedatthisconferencecanbeaccessedat:http://2016.segra.com.au/resource-centre/past-conferences/2016-conference-proceedings
ThethemeforSEGRA2016wasNaturallyStrongerRegions:realisingthepotential
Keyactionagendas:
• Regionalpolicy–SpeakingupforRegionalAustralia• Diversity,specialisationandcreativity–buildingresilience• Sustainabilityofland,waterandcommunity–asenseofplace• Regionalhubsandnodes–improvingconnectivity• Regionsasprovidersofeducation,healthandlifestyleservices• Attractinginvestmenttoregions–findingfundingpartners• Sustainableindustries–theregionaladvantage• MaximisingFreeTradeAgreements–ensuringyourregionisready• Aviationandregionaleconomies• Innovation,technologyandentrepreneurshipinregionalAustralia
Sixunifyingideasemergedacrosstheconferenceprogram:
• CollaborativeGovernance• Entrepreneurship• Technology,innovationandconnectivity• Economicfutures• NaturalCapital
CollaborativeGovernance
Operatinginthe21stCentury
Operatinginthe21stCenturymeansconstantlycreatingnewvalueforcustomers/constituents.Howeverthemeaningofvalue-economicandculturalhasbecomemorecomplexanduncertain,drivenbycompressedattentionspan,self-interest,increasingrecognitionandacceptanceofdiversity.Similarly,theconceptofrationalhasbecomemorecontestedastheunderstandingandavailabilityofinformationandmisinformationisenabledthroughsocialmedia.Thishasparticularimplicationsformarketsbutalsoforgovernmentasdriversofpolicy.Howtodeliverpredictable,stable,effectiveandconsistentgovernmentpolicy,programsandservicesthatarealsoflexible,clientcentredandprofessionallydrivenhasbecomeasignificantconundrum.TheconferencewassetinthecontextoftheRegionalDevelopmentAustraliaForumanddiscussionaboutpotentialrolesandfutureactivitiesoftheRDA.Theconditionsandcontextsofgovernanceinthe21stCenturyarevastlydifferentfromthosethathavegonebefore.Itwasparticularlynotedthatlocalgovernments,especiallyinmoreremoteareas,haverolesbroaderthanthatofenablers.
Therewasconsiderablediscussionabouttheroleofgovernmenttodeliveragainstprudentpublicexpectationsandhowitcouldbestfacilitateinnovationandunlockpublicsectortalentinthisspaceandalsotheirroleinenablingcommunitiestounlockinvestmentcapital.
Individualismandconnectivity
Justasglobalismwasmetbylocalism;individualismseemstobejuxtaposedwithoverwhelmingrequirementstooperateinaneverincreasinglyconnectedworld.Inanageoframpantpoliticalandsocialindividualismitisalsotruethatourlivesasindividualsareonlypossiblethroughincreasinglycomplexrelationshipsofcollectiveefforts.
Theleadershipandgovernancechallengesofrelentlessinnovating,connectingmultiplegroups,rapidmovementandspeedydecisionmakinginthe21stCenturyorganisationincludingstakeholderengagement.
Conversationsrevolvedaroundthe:
• Apparentindividualismofentrepreneurs,• Needforgroupleaderswhocandrivechange,• Changesrequiredoforganisationstoflourishinthe21stcentury,• Theimpactofcompetitivegovernmentfundingoncollaboration,and• Learningtolivewithco-opetitionandco-operation.
Therewassomediscussionabouttheapplicabilityofvariouspolicyprocesstheoriesformanagingambiguity,systemsversusseparateunitsofanalysis,fluctuatingattention,problematicpreferencesandabsenceofanevenshorttermstateofequilibrium.Thenotionsofadvocacycoalitionframeworkswherethepolicysubsystemsaredefinedbyapolicytopic,territorialscopeandtheactorsdirectlyorindirectlyinfluencingthepolicysubsystemswerealsodiscussed.
Implicationsforpracticeemergingthroughthesediscussionsincluded:
• Therearemanymodelsofcollaborationandthattheseneedtobeappropriatelymatchedtothecircumstancesparticularlyinrelationtowherethedecisionmakingauthoritylies.
• Purposefullycreatingdifferent‘coalitionsofinterest’,referencegroups,informationnetworks,communitiesofpracticewillinlargepartneedsomefundingtodeliveroptimaloutcomes.
• Theimportanceoftalkingtoeachotherandconnectingcommunitiesinorganisational.Inter-agencyandcross-jurisdictionalcontexts.
• ThepotentialforRDA’sandLocalGovernmentascoordinatorsofcollaborationandmulti-agencyalignment.
• Recognisingandactivelyplanningforthinkingandcreativetime.• Understandingtheprinciplesofdeliberateinnovationanddesignthinkingandincorporating
themintoorganisationalcultureandstructure.• Allowingstakeholderstotakerisks.(Andinparticularquicklyrecognisingwhenthingsaren’t
workinganddesigningnewresponses).
CommunityDiversityAgreaterrecognitionoftherangeofcomplexhumanbehaviourandmotivationisdemandingmorenuancedinteractionsbetweengovernmentanditscitizens.Thesenuancesarebestrecognisedandvaluedincommunitiesthatactivelyseekout,nurtureandpromotediversityonboards,committeesandmanagementteams.Therewasaparticularemphasisondrawing/retainingmillennialsinthe
regions.ThiswastheWinningChallengeforSEGRA2016-17.Moredetailsaboutthischallengecanbefoundathttp://2016.segra.com.au/program/segra-challenge
However,itwasalsostressedthatleadershipcanemergefromanywhere.
Implicationsforpracticeemergingthroughthesediscussionsincluded:
• Providingscholarshipstoencourageyoungerpeople’sparticipationinthecommunity(RDA’shaveawardedscholarshipsfor6youngpeopleforthelasttwoSEGRA).
• Deliberategrowingofacreativeworkforce,Bringingtheartisticintothecommunity.• Includingcreativity,designandthinkinginKPI’s.• Consciousengagementofyoungpeopleinleadershipandentrepreneurship.• Targetingknowledgegraduateswhenrecruitingintoregions.• Gettingyoungpeopleto‘bounceback’toregions.Therewerereportedsuccessesbasedon
regionalinternshipsandselectivemultidisciplinarypostgraduateprojectsinregionalareas.• Activelyengagingandwelcoming‘Peopleunlikeus’.• Activelycreatingopportunitiesforleadershiptoemergeoutsidethenormalchannels.
Entrepreneurship
SEGRA2016attractedanumberofEntrepreneurswhogavekeynoteaddressesandconductedworkshops.TroyHaines,theSpaceSEGRA2015-16challengewinnerconductedanimmersionsessiononBuildingEntrepreneurialEcosystems.TroyisnationallyrecognisedforhisworkregionalAustralia.Therewasaparticularemphasisonthedifferencesinentrepreneurshipandstartupsinregionalareasincomparisonwithhighlyurbanisedareas.CharlesSturtUniversityhasprovidedsignificantresearchsupporttothistopicandpapersareavailableathttp://2016.segra.com.au/segra-challenge/-2.SEGRAhasalsopreviouslypublishedoninnovationinregionalAustraliadrawingonresearchandcaseexamplestodemonstratethenaturaladvantagesregionalAustraliahasinthisspace.ToorderRegionalAdvantageandInnovation:AchievingAustralia’sNationalOutcomesbySusanKinnear,KateCharters,andPeterVitartas(editors)[email protected].
Implicationsforpracticeemergingthroughthesediscussionsincluded:
• Recognisingthedifferencesinregionalbusinessforexamplescale(usuallySME’s)anddependencyoflocaleconomy
• Activelypromotinghubsandbusinesshybrids• Activelyseekingcollaborativeinvestment• Appreciatingthecriticalroleofsupplychaininregionalbusiness• Takingeveryopportunitytocatalyseentrepreneurs–bigbusinessgrowfromsmall
businesses.
Technology,innovationandconnectivity
TheNBNismuchanticipatedinfrastructureforregionalAustraliathatwillbecriticalinopeningfurthereconomicopportunities,howeveritisnotinitselfapanacea.Anumberofothernetworkse.g.AARNetandtheopportunitiestheyprovidewerepresented.Technologyalsobringsuncertaintyandincreasesthepaceofchange,howeverthereispathdependency.
Muchhasbeenmadeoftheimportanceoflinkinginnovationandtechnologytoresearchcapacityandviceversa.Therewasalsoconsiderablediscussionofevidenceandpolicyintheposttrutheraandtheroleofuniversitiesinthe‘Impact‘agenda.Thisisadifferentdiscussionfromtheissuesthatarisefrominformationversusmisinformationinsocialmedia,butratherlooksattheissuesofdatarelevanceduetolaggingtimesandthebalanceofresearchknowledgeandpoliticalimperative.
Somekeymessagesformaximisingtechnology,innovationandconnectivityintermsofenergyincluded:
• Avisionandbeliefthatitcanbedone• Politicalwilltoinitiateanddeliver• Appropriateindependentcorporateentitytodrivetheinitiative• Powerpurchasingagreementstoguaranteecashflow• Suitableplacestolocateprojects• Eclecticandopenmindstowardsthetechnologymixtogenerateandstoreelectricity• Identifiedcollaborative/innovativePPPfundingsources.
Implicationsforpracticeemergingthroughthesediscussionsincluded:
• Researchorganisationsbeingmoreagileandresponsivetogapsinunderstandingandknowledgeearlier.
• Activelyencouragingresearcherstoactlocal.SEGRAoffersscholarshipstoemergingacademicstoencourageandmentorregionalresearchinterest.
• Appreciationofhowresearchandevidencecaninformpolicyratherthandeterminepolicy.
EconomicFutures
ThreekeyelementsemergedduringSEGRA2016:
i. Livingwithuncertaintyii. Livingwithinvestmentcyclesinresourcereigonsiii. Financingregionalbusiness
i. LivingwithuncertaintyRegionalAustraliahasalongtraditionofinnovationparticularlyinagriculturehowevertheimpactoftheincreasinguncertaintybroughtaboutbymacroissues(waterallocation,climatevariability,marketandmonetarytrends)affectingtheirlivelihoodishavingsignificantimpactsonsomesectorsofregionalAustraliaproductivity.Theoptionstodiversifyandbeagileareconstrainedformanyruralandregionalenterprisesastheyarefacedwiththedubiouschoiceofsurfingorstandingagainstthewavesofuncertainty.
ii. Livingwithinvestmentcyclesinresourceregions
Manyregionshavestruggledwiththetransitiontopostminingconstructionphaseanddownturninthecommodityprices.Theuniqueissuesassociatedwithprovidinghousingandthedramaticimpactofmarketforcesonhousingpricingisaparticularplanningchallenge.Therewasconsiderablediscussionbetweenregionsaboutthevariousalternativesandhybridmodelsofaccommodatinglargeshorttermworkforcesinimpactedcommunities.Therewasalsoattentiongiventostrategiestomaximisethewellbeingofflyin/flyoutordrivein/driveoutworkforcesandtheirfamilies.
Diversityoflocaleconomiesisseenasonewayofincreasingregionalrobustness.Inparticulartheneedtoidentifyandperuselocalvalue-addingopportunitieswithinaregionwasidentified.
Agricultureandfood
TherehavebeensignificantattitudeshiftsinAustraliatosupportlocalfoodwithanumberofregionalcitieslookingmorecloselyatthevalueaddoffoodandfibreasaregionalbrand.Therapidapplicationofnewwatertreatmentandhydroponictechnologyhasalsoopenedopportunitiesforlocalfoodhubsinconjunctionwithcollaborativemodelsofbusiness.Againtheroleofresearchpartnershipswashighlighted.
InrecentyearsAustraliahassignedanumberofhighqualitycomprehensivefeetradeagreements.Thesehaveimprovedmarketaccessforgoods,servicesanddeliveringmorebusinessandinvestmentopportunities.Alongsidethishasbeenanincreasingfocusonfactorssuchasstandardprofessionalqualificationsintellectualpropertyrights,tariffbarriersandbiosecurity.Akeyfocusof
theconversationsaroundfreetradeagreementsrelatedtowherethebenefitsfallandhowtomaximisetheretentionofbenefitsinregionalAustralia
Tourism
Foranumberofyears,theemerginginterestingeotourismhassparkedalotofinterestwithanumberofsignificantprojectsbeingconsideredbythiscluster.CulturalandIndigenoustourismwerealsofeaturedatSEGRA2016.Theimportanceofplaceagaincomingtotheforeandtheappetiteoftouristsforuniqueexperiencesandregionswithuniqueattributes.Theimportanceofcollaborationonbrandingandattractionwasarecurringtheme.
AwordofcautionForsometimetherehasbeenconcernabouttheplanningaroundregionalsettlementattraction.Issuesraisedhaveincludedthetwoedgedswordofdevelopmentanddisruptiontocurrentlifestyles,therisksoffurtherurbanisationofproductivelandscapes(especiallyinperiurbanareasofregionalcities)andtheoverregulationandlackofharmonisationofregulationinmanyagriculturalendeavours.ThislatterissueiscurrentlybeforetheProductivityCommission.iii. Financingregionalbusiness
TheissueofattractinginvestmentintoregionalAustraliahasbeengainingmomentumatSEGRAforanumberofyears,andacollaborativeinvestmentchallengearisingfromSEGRA2013isclosetofinalisingandtriallinganASICcompliantplatform.TheinvolvementofanumberofsuccessfulregionalentrepreneursatSEGRA2016hasopenedopportunitiestoexpandunderstandingandcapacityamongstdelegatesinhowtoaccesswealthgeneratingexpertise,businessinvestmentandindustryvalueaddingintoregionalAustralia.Thesewillbefurtherprogressedthroughout2016/17andreportedbackatSEGRA2017
Implicationsforpracticeemergingthroughthesediscussionsincluded:
• Ongoingeffortstocreateregionalbrandinghighlightinguniqueregionalattributesviaasingle,consistentmarketingeffort.
• LeveragingthesuccessfulexamplesofIndigenouseconomicdevelopmentmodelsshowcasedatSEGRAtofurthereconomicdevelopmentopportunitiesespeciallyinremoteAustralia.
• Trackingtourists’behaviourintermsoftravelmodesandmeans,recreationalactivitiesandexpenditurebehaviours.
• Activelydevelopingagri-tourism,geotourism,restorationtourismandIndigenoustourism.Examplesoftheroleofstoriesandthecontextualnarrativewasfeaturedandhadsomeusefultransferrablelearnings.
• AgreateremphasisonhighlyplannedurbanisationofregionalAustraliawithdueregardtothescaleandfootprintofsettlements.
• Theimportanceofunderstandingandleveragingthecurrententhusiasmforlocallysourced
productandemergenceoffoodfestivalsandfoodhubs.• Thevalueoffoodandfibreaspartofaregionalbrand.• ActiveengagementofinvestorsandbusinessdevelopersinregionalAustraliaparticularlyin
catalystinfrastructureandvalueaddingopportunities.• Implementingstrategiestosupportandencouragethecreativeeconomy.
Economicparticipationandproductivity
Overthelast50years,asaresultofinnovationandtechnologytherehavebeenlargechangesintheskillcompositionofemployment,withconsistentgrowthinemploymentofhigh-skillworkers,alargedeclineintheshareofmiddle-skillworkersandasmallerdeclineinlow-skillworkers.Understandingandappreciatingthesetrendsataplacebasedscalewasseenascriticalaswastheimperativetoimprovethelevelofeducationparticipationandskillsretentioninregionalcommunities.ThePeople’sChoicewinneroftheSEGRA2016/17ChallengedirectlyaddressestheseissuesandtogetherDeakinUniversityandBendigoBankarefacilitatinglocalpartnershipwithleadersfromindustry,education,communityandgovernmenttodevelopeducationandskillsplansthatunderpinregionalgrowthandprosperity.TheChallengehasalreadybeenpilotedintheWesternRiverinaandanumberofregionsintendconductingfurtherdemonstrationprojectsinto2016/17.TheoutcomeswillbepresentedatSEGRA2017TheWinningChallengeforSEGRA2016/17was:Howmightweretainyoungtalentinregions?OverthenexttwelvemonthsthisChallengeGroupwilllookathowtoinspire,empowerandharnessthepassionthatlieswithinmillennialsintheregionsandenablethemtobeactiveparticipantsinthenewandvibranteconomy.
Implicationsforpracticeemergingthroughthesediscussionsincluded:
• Understandinganddevelopingtheabstractandcreativethinkingskillsrequiredforthefutureregionalworkforce.
• Understandingthedifferentrequirementsforworkforceswiththeseskillsandthereforebusinessstructures.
• AppreciatingthelikelycareerprogressionsforSTEMlivingandworkinginregionalAustralia.• Identifyingthemiddleorderjobsinthefieldoftechnologyandtheskillsrequiredtofill
them.
NaturalCapital
SinceitsinceptionSEGRAhasbeencommittedtointegratedregionaldevelopmentandassuchthesocio-ecologicalsystemhasalwaysbeenanimportantpartoftheSEGRAprogram.Thisyeartherewasastrongfocusonsystemsthinkingasamethodformanagingconditionofambiguityanduncertaincontextandwhatgovernancemodelsmightsystemstheorypropose.AnumberofcasestudiesbyNaturalResourceManagementbodieshighlightedtheopportunitiescreatedbysupraregionalcollaborations.ForanumberofyearsSEGRAhasbeenconductingachallengeontheengagementoflocalcommunitiesintheimplementationoftheMurrayDarlingBasinPlan,workingcollaborativelywiththeMurrayDarlingAssociationandlocalgovernments.
TheSEGRAchallengeonsafeandsecuredomesticwaterforpeoplelivingoutsideoftownwaterhasgainedconsiderabletractionwithanumberofprivatepublicpartnershipopportunitiesemerging.AgainsupraregionalcollaborationhasbeenafeatureofthisinitiativeledbyEtheridgeShireCouncil.
Also,itwasrecognisedthatwealreadyhaveproventechnologytostoreelectricitychemicallyandthermally.However,itwasalsoacknowledgedthatwedon’tyethave24/7atthedecentralisedcommunityscalesinAustralia.Andthatthetechnologyusedoverseasforthermalstoragewasdevelopedinthiscountry.Conservationandenvironmentalvaluescanaddconsiderablytothesenseofplaceandregionalbranding.
Implicationsforpracticeemergingthroughthesediscussionsincluded:
• Greaterrecognitionofsocio-ecologicalsystemsinpolicyagendasetting,scopingandscale.• SeizingtheopportunitiesofthedevelopmentofnorthernAustraliatoimplementbest
practicesustainableeconomicdevelopment.• Applicationsofdigitaltechnologytoincreasepeople’sunderstandingoflocalenvironments
asresidentsandtouristse.g.geotourisminterpretiveapps.• Minimisingimpactsoftourismthroughbestpracticeecotourism.
SEGRAwouldliketoacknowledgeandthankoursponsorsfor2016
JoinusforSEGRA2017
PortAugusta,UpperSpencerGulf,SA
18-20October2017CallforspeakerswillopeninlateFebruary,subscribetoouremaillistforupdates.
FormoreinformationaboutSEGRApleasevisitwww.segra.com.au.ContactKateCharterson0408882871
AboutSEGRA
SEGRAisrecognisedasAustralia’smostcredibleindependentvoiceonissuesaffectingregionalAustralia.
SEGRAactstoprovideendtoendvaluetoregionalAustraliausingasystemsapproachto:
1. RaisetheprofileofregionsasessentialwithinAustralia’snationaloutlook.2. Empowerregionstoberesponsiblefortheirowndestinies.3. Identifyideas,regionalissuesandopportunities.4. Influence policy by encouraging evidence based responses and supporting practice-based
researchandprojects.5. Promoteregionalconnectivity.
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