Thriving Neighbourhoods is a Conference Series that explores the impact of the built and natural environments on communities' health, wellbeing and productivity.

The 2011 conference focuses on the role of Local Governments in creating livable, sustainable and healthy communities; how they engage stakeholders including the property, planning, parks and recreation, health and other government sectors.

The conference will take these diverse groups out of their silos and work collaboratively to create a living environment where residents are healthy and productive.

Paul Hawken, renowned author whose works have transformed businesses' thinking about their impact on the environment, will be in Melbourne to address the conference.

In The Ecology of Commerce, he argues for "full cost accounting"; taking account of social, environmental and economic costs to truly gauge the impact of a business decision. Natural Capitalism argues for consideration of the Earth's limits and carrying capacity in business decision-making.

And Blessed Unrest examines the movement of non-profit groups and community organisations that has become an unstoppable force in redefining people's relationship with the environment and with one another.

Other key speakers and topics

• Urban density: panacea or placebo? - Tony Arnel, Building Comissioner Victoria; Chair, World Green Building Council and Green Building Council of Australia

• The economic value of a healthy neighbourhood - John Fitzgerald, CEO, VicHealth

• Greening neighbourhoods in dry, arid areas - Anne Barker, Managing Director, City West Water Ltd

• Challenges in creating a thriving neighbourhood in greenfield areas on the urban fringe - Peter Seamer, CEO, Growth Areas Authority Victoria

• Challenges in creating a thriving neighbourhood in infill, inner city developments - Sam Sangster, CEO VicUrban

• Intelligent systems for smarter, greener connected and productive cities - Catherine Caruana-McManus, Smarter City Executive, IBM Australia
  

For the full programme and to register: http://thrivingneighbourhoods2011.org

Conference host	Principal partner	Sponsor