COLLABORATION A BEAUTIFUL THING
THERE’S a real focus on collaboration in Geelong, and while it may not be a distinctly Geelong approach there’s little doubt we are now doing it better than most other regions.
A general commitment to working together is playing a significant role in shaping our city’s future, and that’s a very good thing.
There’s an old paradox in game theory economics called the prisoner’s dilemma, it shows two individuals acting in their own self-interests do not produce the best overall outcome. You might remember the Nash Equilibrium from Russell Crowe’s A Beautiful
Mind — it further showcased this theory in a distinctly Hollywood way.
In the end, economics proves that it’s always best to work together and that’s why it’s so positive to see the city’s businesses and stakeholder groups collaborating more effectively these days.
Last week, the Geelong Chamber of Commerce partnered with Runway and the city’s Clever and Creative team to deliver a masterclass that included some of Geelong’s best content developers, pitchers and influencers.
This class was followed up by Geelong’s inaugural PitchFest, which saw Felicity Dunn, founder of start-up eQIPd, win $2500 cash in front of more than 150 business leaders in attendance.
The recent G21 stakeholder forum in Torquay was an outstanding success that saw many significant local organisations contribute to a timely discussion on our environment and how we are preparing for the future.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews also presented, offering constructive advice on how the region can best plan for the future while avoiding the environmental impacts that can often accompany growth.
Stakeholder groups are also working together to support big ideas such as the City of Design and the Clever and Creative vision put forward by the City of Greater Geelong.
The broadly consultative approach to these endeavours has reesulted in na a supportive rtive group of vision partners who h are each h collaborating with their own stakeholders to bring these ideas to life and achieve some collective success.
Working groups have also been established to facilitate fast rail, carbon footprint reductions and more inclusive communities.
The renewed spirit of collaboration across Geelong’s, business community, advocacy groups and government is fostering significant outcomes that will shape the future of our city.
Increasingly we are seeing people and organisations come together to build the capability of everyone, support each other and foster a culture that is committed to building our community.
At the chamber we represent a diverse business com
m munity who are working togethe gether to build our city and it’s this overwhelmingly hl i l collaborative culture that is driving innovation and growth in our region.
Established businesses are supporting start-ups and the increasingly inclusive approach is fostering a can-do culture that is spawning a whole new generation of entrepreneurs and industries.
Having everyone committed to growing our city together is a giant step towards gaining the momentum we need to make Geelong an internationally recognised clever and creative city.
We are all aspiring towards that vision and I look forward to supporting everyone as we work together to own our future. Ben Flynn is chief executive of Geelong Chamber of Commerce. geelongchamber.com.au