‘Skilling the Community - Preparing for the Upturn' Conference July 2009

Author: Karley Wilks-Forde
Date posted: 04/08/09

The ‘Skilling the Community - Preparing for the Upturn' Conference was held at SIT in July 2009.

The day was spent considering how the social impact of increasing unemployment in this current economic climate can be minimised with a focus on upskilling the changing workforce and those seeking employment.

The aim of the conference was to look at what is happening globally, nationally and locally and how we can best provide the skills that will be needed in order for our region to be equipped to make the most of the economic upturn when it arrives.

Speakers included:

• Hon John Key - Prime Minister
  
• Hon Anne Tolley - Minister of Education
  
• Dr Ronald Williams - Vice President, The College Board, Washington DC
  
• Dr Ganesh Nana - Chief Economist, BERL
  
• Brett Gamble - General Manager New Energy, Solid Energy
  
• Kate Cherrington - Ambassadors for Maori Opportunity (AMO)
  
• Dr Bob Elliott - Living Cell Technologies
  
• Simon Hopcroft - NZ Young Farmer of the Year 2006