In 2016 South Australia’s economy is at a crossroad. The pending closure of Holden and associated decline in jobs and economic activity force us to face tough questions about how we build a positive social and economic future.

But there is no silver bullet solution. Success will depend on how well we prepare ourselves to compete in the global knowledge economy. It will require taking risks on big ideas. Sharing knowledge through collaboration will be necessary to encourage innovation and achieve economic transformation.

It is impossible to accurately predict what South Australia’s economy will look like in 2050, but we do know that economic transformation is essential. This will require a clear strategy covering a range of factors:

• the importance of recognising interdependencies between our manufacturing and services sectors;
• the role that knowledge and social capital play in strengthening networks of innovation and the importance of ‘economic complexity’;
• the ability to capture new economic opportunities – such as in the ‘circular economy’ and ‘green industries’ – as natural resources become constrained;
• how we can shape positive outcomes by learning from the success stories of other nations that have leveraged entrepreneurial ideas to pursue collaborative economic transformation; and
• the implications of transformation for jobs, work, employment and the shaping of Adelaide’s urban fabric.

This forum will provoke a much needed conversation about how shaping our economy for a better future requires building a collaborative ecosystem. A whole-of-state approach that forges partnerships between government, industry, research and the community is essential to taking South Australia from where it is to where it needs to be. Aligning that future with our values, morals and ethics, and investing in building capacity that is good for people and the planet is vital for a sustainable economy.

Speakers:

• Andrew Culley – Managing Partner, Deloitte
• Lance Worrall – Director, Industry Transformation, Innovative Manufacturing CRC, Flinders University
• Jodie Bricout – Senior Sustainability Specialist, Lifecycles
• Barbara Pocock – Emeritus Professor, UniSA

Speaker presentations will be followed by a group discussion and audience Q&A.

This event is organised in collaboration between the Australian Institute for Urban Studies – SA Branch (AIUS-SA) and Deloitte.