Great achievements and big ideas will be the order of the day at Redland City Council’s RedGen <30 Youth Innovation Forum on Friday 7 April, when an exceptional line-up of successful young innovators will inspire participants by sharing their personal journey of how they turned their dream into reality.
The first in a series of Council forums to explore how innovative businesses can grow the local economy, RedGen will bring together current and aspiring young entrepreneurs whose vision will help shape the Redlands of the future.
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Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the forum would discuss the rate of young people leaving the Redlands in search for opportunities elsewhere, an issue that had been identified as a significant challenge to the City’s economic growth.
“It is no secret that one of our city’s biggest exports is our youth, and as our graduates, students and young workers leave our city they take with them the knowledge, skills and experience needed to build the Redlands of tomorrow,” she said.
“We want to find ways to arrest this exodus of youth and talent and the best place to start is by asking local youth what they think would make the Redlands a great place to live, work and play.
“While for many young Aussies travelling is a rite of passage, we want to make sure that when the wanderlust wears off for our young Redlanders, we can harness their spirit and that the Redlands is still the place they want to call home.”
Cr Williams said RedGen was part of a series of innovation forums being held in the Redlands to help generate innovative solutions to the city’s economic future.
“These forums were a suggestion from the Redland City Economic Development Advisory Board and are part of Council’s commitment to supporting a vibrant and innovative local economy,” she said.
Applications to attend RedGen are now open. Applicants must be 18 to 30 years old, and live – or have lived – in the Redlands. The entrants with the best big ideas to make Redlands a better place to pursue their professional or entrepreneurial goals will secure their seat at this prestigious event.
Cr Williams said that while places to attend RedGen were limited, Council was keen to make sure that no one missed out on a chance to have their say and so was inviting young Redlanders to complete an online survey.
“Within 24 hours of the survey going live, we received over 100 responses. This is a clear indication that our young people really do want to have a voice, and we’re hearing some great ideas on what they would like to see in the Redlands,” Cr Williams said.
Eighteen- to 30-year-old Redlanders can complete the survey and go into the draw to win an iPhone 7.
