How California can Learn from the Australian Experience of Drought

As the drought in California continues to bite hard on the lives of millions, a recent article on Triple Pundit suggested that many people want to help save water, they just don’t know what else to do. Which is why California needs to look beyond its borders to the driest inhabited continent on the planet – Australia. And specifically, to the recently drought ravaged State of Victoria

 

Because having endured a decade of drought that defied all of the expert and Government estimates for ‘coming rainfall’ the fact is, large parts of the State went without water for years, other parts were trucking in water to keep towns alive and one water agency handling the population of a few hundred thousand people, came within just a few days of running out completely. So in this quick piece, here’s more than a dozen simple ideas for individuals and municipalities that will help them save the most precious of all resources – water: What California Can Learn From Victoria

 

Queues – coming to an Emergency Department near you

May 1, 2014

Health Care costs in Australia are rising and are likely to continue doing so as our population both grows and ages. Which means attempts to address this issue are warranted. Equally warranted is an assessment of the impacts for addressing or ignoring the issue. If, as has been mooted, the Australian Government introduces an $8…

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Towards the one step replacement of damaged DNA & promise of living forever

Apr 12, 2014

We’ve been getting far more effective at understanding the way our brains work especially as they relate to the idea of ‘mind’. Simply, the idea that we make decisions based on our conscious understanding, appears limited at best and highly flawed at worst. And now, the step towards longevity, perhaps even the fountain of youth,…

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The next great space age – inside the human brain

Mar 18, 2014

n a recent piece in the New York Times, Thomas L Freidman’s article ‘If I had a hammer’ discussed the new book by Erik Brynjolfsson & Andrew McAfee’s new book ‘The Second Machine Age’ and the development of computing power now making even complex employment positions redundant. Whereas in the first machine age, human muscle…

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Jobs of the future – some advice for parents

Mar 17, 2014

I was interviewed for this article earlier last year and now it seems it has more currency than ever, so I’m reposting the link here. As a parent, what steps can you take to ensure   your kids are well placed for a fulfilling career? This article offers some thoughts

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When Organisational Visions are Statements of Delusion

Mar 2, 2014

For over a decade I worked with organisations in for profit, not for profit and government sectors. I’ve advised organisations in Europe, North America, Asia and beyond. Some organisations have been multi nationals, long standing, privately owned, publicly held, socially aware, profit focused and more. I’ve managed million dollar portfolios and client accounts of just…

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Robotics, Ageing, and Employment – where are we and what’s next?

Feb 27, 2014

The link to the article below will take you to an overview of how robotic design is developing towards a more ‘natural’ form of human movement. To a larger extent, this is part of the normalisation process so that those of us exposed to robotics can be more accepting of their presence. This is indeed…

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What type of Homework should kids be doing?

Feb 16, 2014

Occasionally I see a post that leads me to slap my forehead with the sheer simplicity of its brilliance. The post in the link below discusses the idea of homework for kids and I flag that I’m on the School Council of my kid’s Primary School, where this discussion runs rampant.   The research we…

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Environmental Factors and the Future Consumer

Jan 22, 2014

I’m part way through a small research piece for an FMCG company that is interested in exploring the future consumer and what kind of environmental factors might influence their purchasing decisions. Interestingly enough toward the end of last year I had three FMCG firms approach me about a similar challenge, so ‘Future Consumers’ must be…

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A quick look at the ‘Repeal Day’ concept – almost right

Jan 15, 2014

The Australian Government has announced a ‘Repeal Day’, intended to be used to axe the existence of hundreds of outdated laws. The concept is a good one, though for me, doesn’t quite get the Australian Parliament into a forward looking setting in how it could develop FUTURE legislation. So what could be done instead and…

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2014 – The International Year of Food Security

Dec 30, 2013

Continuing his run of suggesting an annual theme and idea of world focus for the year ahead, Futurist Marcus Barber has declared 2014 to be the International Year of Food Security. ‘The year ahead is going to bring into sharp focus, what has often been seen as an ‘other-world’ problem’ Barber says. ‘For a number…

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