This session is a special edition organised in conjunction with the 47th anniversary of the George Town ( Penang ) - Adelaide Sister City Relationship.

George Town has embraced the concept of Smart City, and is also looking at its own transformation into a Smart City by 2030. Aiming at enhancing the liveability, economy, civic participation, and balanced development in Penang, the Penang state government launched its vision in August 2018 of Penang2030: A Family-focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.

George Town’s Sister City - Adelaide has been recognised by global think tank The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) as one of the top 7 intelligent communities in the world’s top smart cities. Adelaide, as part of the Smart21 Communities demonstrated how their workforce’s development, innovation ecosystem, digital inclusion, engagement and sustainability, were all underpinned by digital connectivity as the key enabler of economic growth.

Drawing on the common aspirations of both sister cities, this session will explore the role of education partnership in the ecosystem in transforming the cities for a sustainable future.

This session will focus on:

• Brief update on the response of Adelaide and George Town, Penang to the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Penang and South Australia’s aspiration in developing and positioning each state as a prominent centre for research, learning and education
• Update on the latest initiatives on Smart Cities Development and the Role of Education partnerships
• City of Adelaide’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan
• Penang’s Vision 2030 as a Family-focused, Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation
• The road forward to actioning the sister cities agreement first signed on the 8 Dec 1973
• Aligning the sister cities’ sustainability plan with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030

OPENING SPEAKERS:

1. The Rt. Hon. Chow Kon Yeow - Chief Minister of the State of Penang, Malaysia

2. Premier (or Representative)- South Australian Government (TBC)

MODERATOR:

Michael Fay

Michael Fay is Convenor of the ASEAN-Australia Education Dialogue (AAED) and a Director at the Australian Corporate Advisory firm - ASEAN Focus Group (AFG VG). Michael is based in Sydney and advises a range of international education institutions, associations, media groups and peak bodies in relation to Asian education activities.

He has a regional specialisation on India, Indonesia and the ASEAN region and was on the National Board of the Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC) from 2015-19. He has also been a board member of the National ELT Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) and is a Gold Friend of the Duke of Edinburgh Award/The International Award for Young People.

Michael is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Technology Sydney in recognition of his pioneering work in establishing UTS Insearch, developing IELTS Testing at UTS, an IELTS publishing business at Insearch and setting up transnational education centres in Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

PANELLISTS:

1. Haji Mubarak Bin Junus, Director of Urban Services, City Council of Penang Island

2. Michelle English

Ms English is the Associate Director for Economic Development and Sustainability, City of Adelaide.

With over 25 years’ experience in planning and environment sectors leading on policy and projects, Michelle has worked in state and local government as well as private practice. She is currently responsible for the delivery of City of Adelaide’s ambitious economic development and sustainability agendas.

Prior to joining the City of Adelaide, Michelle managed the SA Government’s Climate Change Unit and was responsible for climate change mitigation and adaptation policy and programs, secretariat support for the Premier’s Climate Change Council, as well as national and international engagement. Highlights included delivery of South Australia’s Climate Change Strategy 2015-2050, supporting regions to deliver climate adaptation plans across the state, representing the Minister for Climate Change at COP20 in Lima, and attending COP21 in Paris as part of the South Australian delegation.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Planning from the University of South Australia, and a Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources Management and a Master of Sustainability from the University of Adelaide.

3. Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng

Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng is Executive Director of Penang Institute. He is a member of Penang State Government’s Penang2030 Advisory Committee and the WCIT2020 Steering Committee, representative in the Integrity Institute of the State of Penang (June 2019- ), and co-chairman of Penang Green Agenda, Penang Green Council.

He is Adjunct Professor and member of the Industry Advisory Committee (School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Taylor’s University; Honorary Fellow, Center for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS, USM); Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Contemporary China Research Center, Hong Kong Shue Yan University; Senior Fellow, Jeffrey Cheah Institute for Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur; board member of the International Association of Fish Inspectors (IAFI); and member of the Asian International Arbitrator Centre (AIAC).

He entered think tank work in 2004 when he joined Singapore’s ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, functioning as its Deputy Director in 2011-2017. He gained his PhD in Sinology from Stockholm University, where he lectured in Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy and Introduction to China. He was Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Public and Social Administration, City University of Hong Kong (2009-2012).

He is founder-editor of Penang Monthly, ISSUES Policy Briefs, and ISEAS Perspective; and long-term editor for Trends in Southeast Asia, and is a long-time columnist for The Edge Malaysia.

His books include The Eurasian Core and Its Edges: Dialogues with Wang Gungwu on the History of the World; The Reluctant Politician: Tun Dr Ismail and His Time; Yusof Ishak: A Man of Many Firsts; In Lieu of Ideology: An Intellectual Biography of Goh Keng Swee; Lim Kit Siang: Defying the Odds and Catharsis: A Second Chance for Democracy in Malaysia.

His forthcoming books include As Empires Fall: The Life and Times of H.S. Lee, the First Finance Minister of Malaya.

4. Thomson Ch’ng

Thomson Ch'ng is a award-winning international alumnus and a global citizen.

Born and grew up in Penang, Malaysia, Thomson co-established the ASEAN-Australia Education Dialogue (AAED) in 2018 which was held in Penang in 2018 and 2019. He is currently an International Specialist Advisor at the Australian Corporate Advisory Firm - ASEAN Focus Group (AFG VG).

Thomson is based in Sydney and Penang and advises a range of education and training institutions, governments, associations and media groups in relation to Australian and ASEAN education and training activities. He is also a founding member of the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) Youth Action Hubs.

Prior to this, Thomson was the Vice-president of the ASEAN Youth Organization and was a Project Officer for the Education Malaysia Australia (EMA)'s inaugural Malaysia-Australia Tertiary Education Conference (MATEC) 2016 in Sydney. During his student days, he was a Founding Delegate and the 4th National President of the Council of International Students Australia (CISA) Inc.

In Dec 2019, Thomson was awarded the Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year by the Australian High Commission in Malaysia and the Malaysian Australian Alumni Council (MAAC). In October 2020, he was awarded the prestigious International Alumni of the Year - Global PIEoneer Awards 2020.

This event is presented to you by the ASEAN-Australia Education Dialogue (AAED) with the support from the City of Adelaide. This event is organised in conjunction with the 47th anniversary of the George Town (Penang) - Adelaide's Sister Cities Relationship.