ANZSOG’s Annual Conference 2012 Confronts the Critical Issues, Wellington 24-26 July

ANZSOG's Annual Conference 2012: Future Proofing the State, Risk, Responses and Resilience, focuses on the challenges facing governments in preparing for and responding to the hard-to-predict and unavoidable challenges posed by crises and disasters.

Future proofing the state means taking long-term problems seriously, managing risk, showing astute leadership, building resilience and reducing future vulnerability.

The conference opening features the Paterson Oration which celebrates Dr John Paterson AO, one of Australia's most esteemed public servants, to be delivered by The Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand. The oration recognises the contributions of Dr John Paterson AO, to advocating the benefits of a world class school of government in Australia and New Zealand.

ANZSOG are privileged to be hosting an array of distinguished speakers, including:

• The Hon Bill English, Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
• Mr David Kirk, former All Black Captain, co-founder and Managing Partner of Bailador Investment Management
• Mr Roger Sutton, Chief Executive, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA)
• Mr Bryan Dunne, General Manager, Strategy, Policy & Legal, Earthquake Commission, New Zealand
• Ms Christine Nixon APM, former Chair, Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority
• Mr Pierre-Alain Schieb, Counsellor, Head of Future Projects, OECD
• Mr Peter Ho, former Head of Singapore Civil Service and Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry

The Hon Jocelyne Bourgon PC OC, former Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet Over two days delegates will have a unique opportunity to hear from local and international thought leaders and expert practitioners, to consider four major dimensions of future proofing:

• What does the future hold, and can we predict and manage it better?
• Can we realign or transform our shortening policy and political cycles to better prepare us to meet future challenges and ensure long-term problems receive attention?
• What can we learn as policy-makers and public managers from recent experiences in our region in recovering from natural disasters?
• How do we (re)build trust and resilience, which hold our nations and communities together in the face of significant challenges or natural disasters?

For more information on ANZSOG or the Annual Conference 2012, please visit www.anzsog.edu.au.

ENDS