by CLAIRE FIELD

Last week’s Clean Energy Showcase hosted by the University of Wollongong, the University of Newcastle, and business peak bodies Business Illawarra and Business Hunter, left me feeling both inspired and optimistic about the future

Optimistic not just about Australia’s transition to a low emissions future but also about the capacity of the communities of Wollongong and Newcastle to lead that transition, and equally importantly, optimistic also about the new political mood and what that means for universities, governments, business and communities.

Keynote speaker NSW Minister Rob Stokes warmly recognised newly elected Federal member for the Wollongong seat of Cunningham, Alison Byrnes, and then delivered his address without need for a written speech. His knowledge and passion for what can be done in the “city regions” and the role governments can play was impressive. No political point scoring, no talking points, instead a serious contribution on a critical issue.

It was not just the Federal and state governments which were represented – mayors and other local government representatives were in attendance too, along with major global and very local businesses, university leaders and leading academics – all with a common interest in the future of their regions and in reducing Australia’s emissions.

Some of you may be reading this with a sceptical eye and if I had not attended perhaps I might have had the same response.

This was something quite different from the usual “university-industry-community” event. Rather, it was a “new public square” for a critical conversation which will shape Australia’s future. It drew on the history and expertise embedded in the Illawarra and Hunter communities, recognising how their pasts as mining and manufacturing regions combined with their universities now serve to position these city regions as leaders in Australia’s low carbon transition.

Dr Saul Griffith, who spoke at the Forum, summed up the mood for optimism in this recent piece.

Finally, as someone who lives over the road from the social housing where our prime minister grew up, and with our new federal education minister recently sharing that he was the first in his family to finish Year 10 let alone attend university – it has been quite the month for inspiration and for reflecting on the power of education.

Claire Field is an adviser to the tertiary education sector. She thanks Uni Wollongong for the invitation to the Forum