Key players from Australasia’s Smart City network will share their insights in Hamilton later this month. Hamilton City Council, Hamilton Central Business Association and CultivateIT are presenting the Smart Cities Lunch as part of Techweek19 Waikato.

The smart city initiative is being embraced by local authorities around the world to improve liveability, encourage innovation, and solve problems identified by their communities.

The Smart Cities Lunch, sponsored by UltraFast Fibre, will feature guest speakers Adam Beck, Chelsey Stewart, John Heard and Matthew Ensor.

Mr Beck, Executive Director of Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand, has more than 20 years’ experience influencing infrastructure and urban regeneration projects across the world.

Ms Stewart leads the Smart Hamilton programme at Hamilton City Council, which has delivered initiatives such as the city’s conversion to LED streetlights and contributed to the launch of the Waikato Data Portal.

Mr Heard is Chief Technology Officer for Smart Parking and will share the potential of emerging technologies, and innovations in the pipeline of the parking industry.

Mr Ensor is an expert in Artificial Intelligence conversational agents having developed Beca’s Beca.ai programme, a market-leading AI tool for public consultation, feedback, crowd-sourcing and engagement.

Ms Stewart says the event is a chance to hear about exciting developments being introduced in Australasia and around the world, and those being applied in Hamilton.

“Hamilton and the Waikato are currently the fastest growing tech industry in New Zealand and have a growing reputation as leaders in innovation and technological advances,” she says.

“Improving the wellbeing of the community is at the heart of our Smart Hamilton approach, and participation and collaboration are a key part of the process. Come along and engage with what we are doing to help create a smart society.”

The Smart Cities Lunch is on Thursday 23 May from 12pm to 2pm at Waikato Innovation Park’s conference centre in Ruakura.

The event is free and attendees can arrive at any time.

Places are limited, click here to register.