Showcasing Ipswich to the Asia Pacific region
10 September 2021
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding joined civic and business leaders from across the Asia Pacific for a summit on how to capitalise on current challenges and opportunities for the region.
Mayor Harding was a guest speaker at the 2021 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum Special Edition (2021APCS Special Edition), which was held live and online at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this week.
This year’s theme was 'Redefining Cities through Opportunities and Challenges', with keynote speakers including UK infrastructure heavyweight Simon Wright OBE, former US Presidential Candidate and Governor of Maryland Martin O’Malley, and Kurt Fearnley AO, one of Australia’s most well-known and respected athletes.
Mayor Harding said she was honoured to be selected as a speaker at the 2021 APCS Special Edition and have the opportunity to showcase Ipswich to participating civic and business leaders.
“The Asia Pacific Cities Summit provided an opportunity to exchange new ideas, lessons and connections with city and business leaders from across Australia, and virtually, across the world,” Mayor Harding said.
“As Queensland’s fastest growing city, Ipswich is set to welcome another 325,000 residents by 2041. We face many of the same challenges and opportunities of councils from across the nation.
“In our first 16 months in office, the new Ipswich City Council has taken significant steps to address many of its challenges.
“From our nation-leading Transparency and Integrity Hub, innovative Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Directive, and progressing a $250 million redevelopment of the Ipswich CBD, it was fantastic to share our experiences at 2021APCS Special Edition.”
This year’s summit came after Brisbane was elected as the host city of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, an opportunity estimated to bring $8.1 billion in social and economic benefits to Queensland and $17.6 billion to Australia as a whole.
Mayor Harding participated in the Women in City Leadership panel discussion on Thursday and the Future Cities: SEQ Mayors panel discussion on Friday.