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Starting out – the first blog
And so it begins. I’ve talked for too long about starting a blog, and finally here it is. This will start out as my thoughts on economic development, as I head to the US, Europe and China on a Winston...
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Winston Churchill Fellowship
A huge thank you to the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, for awarding me a Winston Churchill Fellowship. This also wouldn’t be possible without the support of my employer. It was a huge surprise for...
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The brief – step change economic development
Here’s my brief for the Winston Churchill Fellowship. The elevator pitch To research what makes places grow, stagnate or decline with a focus on small locations outside cities. Identify the actions...
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Population drift and aging
According to the United Nations, 54 per cent of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 66 per cent by 2050. The National Institute of Demographic and...
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The start of a long journey
A slightly different post today, as I pen this on the bus north before the first flight from Auckland to San Francisco. No facts and figures but instead some thoughts on the first step of a long...
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Travel – paradoxes, realities and opportunities
We’ve all got “those” travel stories from experiences we will never forget. Day one had some interesting experiences with travel companies, although nothing (yet) like the stories we could all tell....
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The future of shopping. Resist or adapt?
Following on from yesterday’s post about travel, this blog is about retail and the future of shopping, which is timely given the plethora of shopping options in the United States. It’s got me thinking...
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Competitive places – what makes them?
In search of the secret recipe At the heart of my current research is the question – why do some places thrive and others not? Is there a secret recipe? In spending the last year organising my trip...
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It started in a garage
Huge day as I sit here after midnight. Today was the first day of scheduled meetings, so the real start of the trip and a test of my logistical skills. I started the day in San Francisco, before...
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The pack of cards…when in Reno
Another full on day with a lot driving made easier with the freeways, beautiful scenery and very welcoming people. Sacramento County I sought out Rami as he was recently named one of the Top 25 Doers,...
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Road tripping
Today I travelled over 460 miles which is well over 700km, so it’s timely I post about roading – both the serious and light-hearted side. I started in Reno, Nevada which is like the Desert Road and...
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Fish, frogs and caviar
Today started with a run in Twin Falls along the top of the Snake River canyon which was stunning scenery. I’m trying get some exercise at least every second day to help me sleep at night, maintain...
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Beautiful Boise, events and the end of week one
The last day of the first week offshore and I’m not sure if it feels like just yesterday I left home or a month ago. Today was in Boise, Idaho which is a beautiful ‘city of trees’. Idaho Commerce First...
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Reinvention – the new normal
The weekend was full of lots more driving and some sightseeing, but most importantly time to recharge the batteries after an incredibly demanding week. There was probably no better place to do it than...
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Rural, workforce development and best places
So it’s a broken record but another day from dawn until dusk including an overnight flight from the West Coast to the Kansas City in the Mid-West (what was I thinking when I booked that?). Tuesday was...
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Leaving a legacy – entrepreneurship and education
I’ve moved from the West Coast over to the Mid-West, if you want to take a look at how the 50 States of the US are grouped, here’s a good image. The temperature here is pushing 30, with high humidity...
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What makes a Boom Town?
The last couple of days have been in Effingham, Illinois. Effingham is the home of Jack Schultz, the author of author of Boomtown USA: The 7-1/2 Keys to Big Success in Small Towns and CEO of Agracel,...
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Strategic doing
This weekend was spent in Illinois having a further look around. A day exploring Effingham some more, a quick look at the Amish community (it was quite a sight seeing horses and cars on the road...
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Champion the entrepreneurial spirit
Edward Lowe Foundation Onwards into Michigan to met with the Edward Lowe Foundation and some more incredible hospitality from Dino and the team at the 2,600-acre Big Rock Valley. The Foundation was...
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Inspiration from innovation
Back into Indiana today from Michigan and onto one inspirational place to another. Here’s a view across Lake Michigan…it’s nearly 100 times bigger than Great Lake Taupo… Northeast Indiana Innovation...
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Smart cars, civic innovation and makers
Todays destination was Columbus, Ohio for a mix of disruptive technology, urban regeneration and a maker organisation. Tesla If you don’t know what these are – you should because Telsa is changing cars...
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Independent, Insignificant and International
Independence Day Over the weekend it was onwards to the East Coast to mark the halfway point with my sister and her husband in Maryland. I had a great peek into the star spangled banner that is...
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Change from the bottom up in the Capitol
Last day in Washington today and everything was going smoothly until the bus that was due every 10 minutes took 30 minutes and then my suitcase ‘Big Red’ self destructed before some number 8 wire...
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An economic view – when are places no longer relevant?
On the final stretch here in the US before two different journeys begin into Sweden and Denmark and then onto China. Today was the ‘big apple’ New York. A google search brings up 2,390,000,000...
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Harvard clusters and MIT entrepreneurship
Today was northward through the maze of highways from New York up to Boston. I’m writing this with a sense of relief having made it through a month in US with only a few less possessions than I...
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Sweden – European Union and regional development
I spent the weekend in Stockholm, recovering from the third of five overnight flights on the trip. Stockholm is an amazing city to explore on bike or foot, with the whole city geared around cycling –...
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The Paper Province and the future of primary industries
Another full day of immersion in Karlstad, this time on economic development at a very local level focused on wood processing. Here’s a view from on top of the water tower by Karlstad University...
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Infrastructure – why it matters, how it is changing and disruption
I’m travelling all day today by trains and ferry so I’ll wind back the clock to Sunday where I spent the day with Johan and his family with some incredible hospitality in rural Sweden which gave me a...
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Tourism and niche food – a powerful intersection to build on
After a full day travelling I arrived on the island of Bornholm and cranked into another packed day of meetings all over the island and yet again more productive discussions and outstanding people....
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Bornholm and government as an enabler
I’m sitting in Dubai airport in the middle of the night waiting for a connecting flight to Beijing and forcing myself to avoid the procrastination of shipping my last blog of the week. 1am in the...
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Beijing – cross a river by feeling the stones
Onto the last leg of the journey in Beijing, China now. Dubai was absolutely humming, as you can see by the departures board from 1am-7am in the morning. They are all Emirates flights, with one...
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China – different perspectives on development
I’m writing this on the bullet train from Beijing to Suzhou travelling at over 300km/hr. Not bad being able to travel over 1000km in 5 ½ hours for around $250NZD. I’m having problems getting internet...
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Economic transformation and transition
On home stretch now, I’m jaded after nearly 6 weeks travelling but stimulated (hard not to be in China). Another productive day thanks to the Suzhou municipal government. It’s been a great getting a...
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Development zone ecosystem
What I’ve seen the last few days is a great ecosystem centred on economic development. This is local innovation in action and NZ could learn a lot from this at a time when we seem with obsessed with...
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And that’s a wrap – an initial summary
One final meeting today with the Suzhou Human Resource and Social Assurance Bureau to compare notes. This afternoon it was into Shanghai where I depart tomorrow to have a much needed holiday with my...
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Starting out again –“what is the secret to growth?”
It’s been a couple of months since I’ve returned from offshore and I’m starting out blogging again. I’ve tried to start again a couple of times and I’ll make no excuses, I haven’t “shipped”. All...
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Special economic zones – special?
There’s been a fair bit of media flying around about Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in relation to their application in regional New Zealand. Kicked off by another great piece of research from the NZ...
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