flavoured dishes with many layers of flavour and a unique, modernist aesthetic. His personal favourite dessert and signature dish, the Guava Snow Egg, which he describes as “a poached meringue egg, with a ‘yolk’, consists of a mouth-watering concoction of custard apple ice-cream, coated in a crunchy golden praline maltese shell, sitting on a bed of guava granita and a slick of guava fool.” Just writing it sounds like a an eating adventure! The diversity of the city has also given rise to other interesting intersections. Aheda Zanetti, was born in Lebanon and moved to Sydney with her family at the age of two. Growing up in Australia, enjoying the Australian lifestyle and climate, Zanetti realised that traditional Muslim women had extremely limited options when it came to participating in swimming and surfing, due to their burka. Thus the burqini was born.
Frans Johansson
Intersecting innovation Cross-cultural innovation Entrepreneurialship and passion
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hat do locusts and fast food have in common? How about astronomy and the study of human cells? And, what does all of this have to do with snow eggs, light festivals and surfboarding for Muslim women? The answer is simple. Each and every one of these concepts is an example of the new types of connections being made at the intersection between different fields, industries and cultures in Sydney – and that is very exciting to see.
The University of Sydney’s, Charles Perkins Centre, is a multi-disciplinary institute dedicated to finding the connections between healthcare and other industries. They have clinicians and health scientists working together with philosophers, marketers, architects, economists, and many others to uncover exciting, innovative insights.
In fact, it is Sydney’s openness to different perspectives, fields and cultures that make it such an exciting city to keep a watch for in the future. Great innovations are bound to keep coming from these types of intersections!”
As our world continues to accelerate, so does the rate of convergence between different cultures, disciplines and ideas. As a result, the future of innovation will be interdisciplinary, collaborative, and cross-cultural in nature. Sydney has long been a hub of cultural convergence, and the intersectional nature of the city is showcased by some of the breakthrough entrepreneurs, scientists and artists that have risen from it.
For example, by applying largescale mathematics necessary in cosmology, scientists can gain a better understanding of what is happening to the protein structure in our own cells; while new discoveries in obesity research are coming from understanding how swarms of locusts feast and famine.
These intersections between different fields and cultures in the city has also given rise to innovative food concepts. Chef Peter Gilmore’s, Quay Restaurant, has held Australia’s Restaurant of the Year award a number of times, and it is Gilmore’s innovative and forwardthinking approach to his culinary creations that has brought this success.
Seizing an opportunity for her community, this entrprenerial woman designed a head-to-toe, two-piece swimsuit made from high performance fabric. When she opened her online store, ‘Ahiida’ (meaning ‘to promise’) she was quickly swamped by orders from around the world. No matter where I am, people are always surprised by this story. This is what happens when you combine bikinis and burkas – a uniquely Australian idea. In fact, it is Sydney’s openness to different perspectives, fields and cultures that make it such an exciting city to keep a watch for in the future. Great innovations are bound to keep coming from these types of intersections! * Article written by Frans Johannson, Chief Executive Officer of The Medici Group. Frans, is an author, entrepreneur, and acclaimed international keynote speaker. His debut book, The Medici Effect, available in 18 languages, was named one of the “Best Books on Innovation” by BusinessWeek and one of the top 10 best business books of the year by Amazon.com. His follow up book, The Click Moment, rewrites the rules for success. Frans has advised Executive Leadership from the world’s largest companies, including BAE Systems, Caterpillar, MetLife and Nike; as well as startups, venture capital firms, government agencies, and universities around the world. He sits on the Diversity and Inclusion Board of Novartis, and has been featured on CNN, ABC, and CNBC among others. .
Come shine in Sydney Lyn Lewis-Smith CEO, Business Events Sydney People power
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n August, we celebrated our Business Events Sydney Ambassadors and the significant contribution they make to New South Wales (NSW) and Australia. Our nation is home to some truly remarkable people. Created in 2009, the Ambassador Program recognises bid leaders and their role in helping to secure strategically important business events for Sydney. These events confront and create solutions for some of the most important issues communities around the world are facing: health, technology, urbanisation, renewable energy, and more. Also important are the opportunities these events provide for innovation, trade, investment, education and employment. Our Ambassadors are the best brand champions our state has. They are the faces and voices of our business and innovation achievements. In this edition we share the stories of some of our friends – bright minds who are working to create a better future. They are pushing the boundaries of science, research and innovation. Why is this important? Tomorrow will look very different from today, and its people who are helping to create this landscape. It’s this people power – their knowledge, skills and talent – that have become a new global currency as cities vie to attract, and of course keep their ‘intellectual capital’, and develop the skills for tomorrow’s business and industry. It’s our people and their innovation that will drive growth and cement our place as a competitive global city: a city where ideas happen – where people want to live, work and visit. Come shine in Sydney.
Gillmore utilises technology and draws inspiration from an eclectic array of influences to create unexpected, richly
fransjohansson.com
sydneyshines.com.au
The City of Sydney is experiencing exponential growth, here’s a snapshot of how the city is evolving and ensuring it’s ‘fit for the future’
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS PLANNED
GENERATING:
OVER THE NEXT
10 YRS 10S MORE THAN 400+
OF MILLIONS OF NEW CONTRACTS FOR BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES
& 2,000 NEW JOBS PER YEAR
+3.9BN
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS
(source: City of Sydney)
INNOVATION LEADS TO GROWTH –
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