Conference Agenda
The agenda is divided into:
- Visits - meeting people along the journey for interactive sessions & presentations (input still welcome). These will attempt to balance content across a number of core themes to ensure there is something for everyone, including for instance energy and climate change, community, policy, environment, business responses and of course, fun & general interest!
- Workshops - working amongst our group based around the theme of ’scaling up the impact of strategic sustainable development’
- Reflection - time to chill, think, discuss and generally hang out with people or otherwise contemplate alone. A key part of an intensive experience that is as important as any other!
- Travel Time - in our biodiesel bus, moving between places! This offers opportunity for fun and presentations from the group. Importantly, there will never be a single day with more than four hours of total travel time (generally not more than 2).
- Global Connections - using web platforms we will connect with thought leaders and others in our network who are convening regional events in American and European timezones.
For now, the emerging schedule (with specific focus on Visits at this time) looks like this:
Tuesday 3rd, February, 2009
- Alan Attkisson: public event launch
- Reunion BBQ for MSLS alumni and friends
- Overnight Sydney
Wednesday 4th, February, 2009
- Travel to Hunter Valley/Newcastle region
- Port Stephens Dolphin Research Cruise
- Tom Farrell Institute
- Overnight Newcastle
Thursday 5th, February, 2009
- Newcastle - Crucible Carbon + CSIRO Renewable Energy Park
- Sydney – Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
- Manly beach
- Overnight Sydney
Friday 6th, February, 2009
- Bus to Canberra
- Reception with H. E. Sven-Olof Petersson, Ambassador of Sweden in Australia
- Intention to meet with The Hon. Peter Garrett, Federal Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts…and former Midnight Oil frontman + The Hon. Penny Wong, Federal Minister for Climate Change
- Visit National Gallery, Parliament House
- Dinner with Prof. Will Steffen, Director of the Climate Institute, Australian National University
- Overnight Canberra
Saturday 7th – Wednesday 11th February, 2009
- Early bus to Thredbo – retreat begins
- Includes a return hike to the top of Mt Kosciusko, for those ready and willing to scale Australia’s highest peak!
- Overnights Thredbo YHA
Wednesday, 11th February, 2009
- Bus to Albury
- Visit Murrary River/Dept. of Environment & Climate Change: sustainable agriculture
- Barnawatha Biodiesel plant
- Historic Beechworth
- Pennyweight organic winery & Milawa cheese factory
- Overnight Albury
Thursday, 12th February, 2009
- Bus from Albury to Melbourne
- CERES Community Environment Park + Permaculture workshop
- The “Renegade Economist” – simulation/game
- Public event: dialogue cafe!
- Overnight Melbourne
Friday, 13th February, 2009
- BIG (Being Integral Group)
- Earth Sharing Australia: Economics Game
- Event concludes @ Soul Mama with guest speaker
Summarised features of the event so far:
- A week of workshops, presentations, forums and innovation-laboratories to design systemic interventions to address compelling challenges.
- A mobile gathering, covering Australia’s unique landscape, challenges and solutions: including Sydney, Hunter Valley, Canberra, High Country, Albury and Melbourne.
- Dialogues with leading international researchers, politicians, activists and business leaders.
- Site-visits showcasing the latest in sustainable technology, communities and business.
- A programme co-created by the participants, exemplifying the organising principles that will characterise the social systems of the future
- Concrete outputs including a book, and broad event exposure through networks and media.