Showcasing innovative regional development in Gippsland
More than 70 stakeholders and partners from across the state met in South Gippsland over two days to learn about how we apply Smart Specialisation (S3) methodology in the Latrobe Valley Authority’s (LVA) work across the region.
Supported by Regional and Rural Victoria, the LVA coordinated the S3 showcase with our partners at Gippsland Climate Change Network (GCCN), Food & Fibre Gippsland (F&FG), Destination Gippsland, and academics from RMIT and Federation University.
S3 is a regional development model used throughout the European Union. Its focus on strong partnerships based on a shared understanding of barriers and how to overcome them complements traditional methods of regional development rather than replacing them.
The system aims to unite experts and representatives from each of the four key sectors – government, education and research, industry and business, and the local community – to discuss key issues that provide evidence and direction for chosen projects.
It is a matter of significant pride that Gippsland is the first region outside Europe to be registered on the EU smart specialisation platform.
Highlights of the S3 showcase included an evening presentation by RMIT’s Smart Specialisation academic team member Bruce Wilson and LVA’s Ash Hall and Jeanie Hall. Their talk had previously been well received at the National Economic Development Conference in October this year.
LVA’s Director of Economic Development and Investment, Mike Timpano facilitated questions to a panel of our S3 practitioners, F&FG’s Ben Gebert and Nicloa Pero, GCCN’s Darren McCubbin, Bruce Wilson, and Ash Hall. This gave the audience the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the LVA’s partnerships and how we apply S3 in Gippsland.
Led by F&FG’s Elena Nauta, the following day’s program focused on a deeper dive into our S3 practitioners’ experiences in using the model. This session showcased the value of partnerships in delivering our work, and shared opportunities to embrace the different ways of working in a variety of locations. Leaders, partners, and practitioners had the chance to network and chat with each other to learn about the benefits and tips when working in different settings across Gippsland.
A special thank you to Food & Fibre Gippsland, Gippsland Climate Change Network, Bruce Wilson, Elena Nauta and Jeanie Hall for coordinating a fabulous event.