“Sustainable and inclusive government” will be a key requirement to build strong cities in the future, SAP ANZ president and CEO, Tim Ebbeck, has told attendees at the Commonwealth Business Forum 2011 in Perth.
The event, which was held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2011, saw Ebbeck participate in a panel discussion on ‘Cities of the Future’. The forum provided an opportunity for business and government to network on best practice.
Ebbeck said, “This forum is a great opportunity for the private and public sector to come together. Planning for the future is a great start but we also need to make sure these plans become reality.
“Strong leaders who are willing to step out of their comfort zones are an essential part of achieving this. There is a real need for sustainable and inclusive government, service excellence, intelligent, knowledge-led strategies, informed and engaged communities and collaboration,” he said.
During his presentation, Ebbeck said the global financial crisis has resulted in a need for governments to be more transparent while making better use of public funds.
On the use of technology, he spoke about how the ability to capture data and qualitative indicators from a variety of sources could be used to identify patterns and trends.
“They allow cities to use risk-based decision-making in choosing the right investments, setting priorities and allocating resources, while providing a safer and more secure environment. Systems that incorporate demographics, economic indicators, security risks and crime statistics with environmental scanning will also be invaluable in making strategic policy decisions,” Ebbeck said.
He also commented on how collaboration and innovation, already utilised by safety and security agencies, could be used across city administrations to coordinate services and share information.
Ebbeck was joined on the panel by the Hon. Brendon Grylls, Minister for Regional Development; Lands, Government of Western Australia; former Commonwealth Secretary-General Sir Don McKinnon; and Bernard Salt, partner, KPMG.
