Context: Covid-19 has completely changed how organisations around the world, including local government, deliver their services. 2020 is being defined by the need for new service delivery models to be designed and rolled-out in a leaner and smarter way. In this evolving narrative, and the global recession that will certainly follow, hard decisions will have to be made on what services get prioritised. We are undoubtedly (re)imagining the future city.
Covid-19 has had a devasting impact on the high street, as a place of business and a vibrant public realm. High streets across the island have already experienced ‘casualties’; with some retail bodies predicting a 50% reduction in shops on a typical high street in the short-term. Tourism and travel behaviour have also been heavily impacted by Covid-19. In 2019, tourism on the island of Ireland employed 300,000 people and was worth more than €6 billion. The seasonality of the sector, together with challenges posed by on-going social distancing requirements, makes it unviable for many businesses to reopen in the near future – if at all.
The mobility landscape is changing rapidly in response to Covid-19, as cities experiment with solutions that balance public health and safety with accessibility, social equity and climate issues. Places increasingly need to be creative and inclusive as they reconsider the delivery model for transportation and mobility.
Across Government, departments such as ICT are now recognised as being critical to the effective functioning of society. This is particularly true of the support functions it plays in enabling remote working, and facilitating the dissemination of valuable communications to citizens. Across local government, all departments have shown an incredible agility and commitment in ensuring ongoing provision of services, and adapting places to provide communities and citizens with the spaces needed to ensure safety and well-being. Consideration must be now given to how we harness that network in building responsive and resilient places of the future.
AISCF Conference: This half-day conference will examine how cities/local government across the island of Ireland responded to the challenges of Covid-19; in terms of how service delivery had to adapt, the role digital played in supporting this adjustment, and how these experiences will assist cities, and local government, in building responsive and resilient cities post-crisis.
This 2.5hour event will run from 14.00 – 16.30; with participation free of charge. This half-day event will focus, in particular, on
• Reimagining the City;
• Transforming Tourism; and
• Disrupting Mobility.
Further details will be available shortly on the ‘Events’ section of the All Ireland Smart Cities Forum website – see https://smartcitiesireland.org/events/
Registration is required
Programme
13.50-14.00 REGISTRATION / LOG-ON TO WEBINAR
Delegates will receive their webinar link by email in advance of the webinar
14.00-14.10 WELCOME REMARKS
Welcome by Moderator Mr. Colm Gorey, Senior Journalist, Silicon Republic
Welcome by AISCF Chair Prof. Brian Donnellan, AISCF Chair & Vice President, Engagement and Innovation, Maynooth University
14.10-15.50 SESSION 1: REIMAGINING THE CITY
Milan 2030: Smart Living and Digital Inclusion in a ‘Green, Liveable and Resilient City’ (draft title)
Ms. Roberta Cocco, Deputy Mayor for Digital Transformation, City of MilanReimagining Cork City: Creating People and Business Friendly Places through the Pedestrianisation of the City Centre
Mr. David Joyce, Director of Services, Roads and Environment Operations, Cork City Council
14.50-15.30 SESSION 2: TRANSFORMING TOURISM
Daily Changing Challenges for Tourism: Being Agile in Response to the Impact of COVID-19 - Reflections from the SalzburgerLand Tourism Board
Ms. Yvonne Rosenstatter, Head of Marketing & Market Management Benelux, Romanesque Markets and UK, SalzburgerLand Tourismus GmbH
Digitally Enabled Tourism Sector Responses to COVID-19 Challenges Mr. Dave Vincent, Chief Digital Officer, Tourism NI
15.30-16.15 SESSION 3: DISRUPTING MOBILITY
The Fifteen Minute City - Rethinking mobility through the lens of liveable communities (draft title)Prof. Carlos Moreno, Mayor of Paris’ Special Envoy for Smart Cities
Panel Discussion
• Prof Carlos Moreno
• Mr. Alan Murphy, Regional Manager, Smart Dublin
• Dr. Maria José Rojo, Project Manager - Coordinator Active Travel and Health, POLIS
• Ms. Caroline Bloomfield, Director, Sustrans NI
16.15-16.30 CLOSING ADDRESS
COVID-19 and the Future of Local Government: A Catalyst for Innovation (draft title)
Ms. AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council & Dr. Jayne Brady MBE, Belfast Digital Innovation Commissioner, Belfast City Council
16.30 Conference Close
Registration is via Eventbrite at this link: Register Here
Further details will be available shortly on the ‘Events’ section of the All Ireland Smart Cities Forum website – see https://smartcitiesireland.org/events/