Business View Oceania - Oct 2023

5 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 5, ISSUE 10 AUSTRALIAN SMART COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATION (ASCA) SUPPORTING SMART COMMUNITIES OPENING L INES O p e n i n g L i n e s Australia’s only not-for-profit peak body representing the interests of smart communities throughout the country, the team at Australian Smart Communities Association (ASCA) have worked to advocate on behalf of governments since the organisation’s establishment in 2006. What began as a small working group in Southeast Queensland that brought together local governments and regional organisations to help them understand the digital economy in the context of local communities evolved into a national organisation in 2008, which allowed ASCA to expand their reach to all layers of government in all states and territories. Following the beginnings of a global movement towards the development of smart cities and communities in 2010, ASCA began to champion the leveraging of technology, data, and innovation across all levels of government and industry to improve efficiencies, increase quality of life, and support sustainability. Today, the association works closely with members to solve problems through smart solutions and enhance policy, capacity, and confidence across Australian smart communities. ASCA’s members in government, industry, and academia have access to a range of services and benefits including representation & advocacy, policy & research, sector development & learning, partnership & networks, e-news promotions, event listings, and more. President Laura Baker begins, “Smart communities bring together the best of data,