Venture Forum - a first for Auckland

Venture Forum - a first for Auckland

Promoting a business and enterprise culture in New Zealand is an essential link to a stronger economy and enhanced social well-being for New Zealanders.

That is one of the key themes behind Auckland’s first ever ‘Venture Forum’ tonight (25 June) at the Maritime Museum.

“An enterprise culture means an environment that supports the use of creativity, imagination and entrepreneurship to turn great ideas into world-leading products,“ says Julian Moore, General Manager Marketing at Industry New Zealand.

“That in turn leads to increased productivity, technology breakthroughs and higher economic growth.”

Venture Forums, a nationwide concept, are designed to provoke thinking and action on topical business issues. This evening’s forum follows on from the recently released Industry New Zealand research that revealed most New Zealanders do not recognise the role businesses play in creating a well performing economy nor do they see the connection between a strong economic performance and quality of life.

“Creating a culture that embraces and encourages business success is extremely important to New Zealand if we want to grow internationally competitive businesses and boost our economy,” says Mr Moore.

How we create this culture will be a point of discussion by over 200 business people, educationalists, local government representatives and students from across Auckland this evening.

The Venture Forum concept is a part of Industry New Zealand’s Enterprise Culture Programme. The programme comprises communication activities and events celebrating business success and innovation as well as a contestable fund (The Enterprise Culture Skills and Activities Fund) to support private sector initiatives.

The Enterprise Culture programme will continue after Industry New Zealand merges with Trade New Zealand to form New Zealand Trade and Enterprise on July 1.

Venture Forum presenters and panel members include:

Hon. Jim Anderton, Minister for Industry and Regional Development

Michael Barnett, Chief Executive, Auckland Chamber of Commerce

Andrew Hamilton, CEO, The Icehouse

Tony Falkenstein, Founder of the Onehunga High Business School

Howard Frederick, Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UNITEC's Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

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