The themes for this year’s AEDA Business Summit are top of mind for many Adelaide businesses, said AEDA acting managing director Greg Ratsch.
“They have come through in our discussions with businesses over the past 12 months… Things like workforce [shortages and training], cyber security, rising vacancy rates in property and the potential university merger,” Ratsch said.
He said the speaker line-up was designed to stimulate thinking about possible responses to these and broader global trends.
Speakers include international and national experts, as well as “people who are deeply embedded in Adelaide and have particular views on the direction of the Adelaide economy”.
The AEDA Business Summit 2023 is being headlined by Technology Council of Australia chief executive Kate Pounder, whose executive roles and expertise in tech policy span the public, private and non-profit sectors.
Another standout, Ratsch said, will be demographer Simon Kuestenmacher, whose work focuses on global socio-economic trends and their impact on Australia.
He said Kuestenmacher’s presentation will unpack the resulting opportunities for Adelaide, with the summit taking “a very granular view” of the city.
“Kate will be talking on what Adelaide could do to become a magnet for tech worker talent … and what Adelaide specifically has that we could harness better to attract technology workers,” he said.
The line-up of speakers also includes South Australian Productivity Commission chair Adrian Tembel on the role of the city in driving innovation, and Shane Quinn and Ross Pelligra, who as active investors in the city “will provide a real-time perspective” on investment opportunities in Adelaide.
Technology Council of Australia’s Kate Pounder said the summit would give Adelaide business leaders a chance to come together and inspire an even better future for Adelaide.
“My focus at the summit will be on the steps SA needs to take to capture the huge opportunities to accelerate growth of its tech sector and tech jobs, building on the state’s strengths in areas like defence, medical, space and communications technologies,” Pounder said.
“Importantly, the growth of the tech sector is not just relevant to tech companies, it is important for the whole Adelaide business community.
“In the 21st century, every business has skin in the game when it comes to issues like ensuring we have enough tech workers, that we have strong cyber security settings, and that we are encouraging technology investment.”
The AEDA Business Summit 2023, supported by the City of Adelaide, is on Wednesday, May 24 at Adelaide Oval from 9am – 3pm. Registrations open at 8.30am. Tickets are available individually or as a table of 10.
Purchase early bird tickets now.
