[March 2023] 2023 CLAIR Forum and Farewell to our staff

CLAIR Sydney hosted the 2023 CLAIR Forum on 3 March 2023 with UTS: IPPG (University of Technology Sydney: Institute of Public Policy and Governance). This forum is a one-day seminar held to provide an opportunity for Australian and New Zealand government officials and academics to exchange knowledge and ideas with peers on topics of mutual interest. This year’s forum was held in hybrid mode between online and in person for the first time.

This year, we chose the theme of ‘Multisectoral Collaboration’ by local authorities. In recent years, multisectoral collaboration between local authorities has become more important than ever in response to climate change, pandemics and natural disasters. In both Australia and Japan, local governments are working together across sectors, including the private and education sectors, to create sustainable cities and address population decline. This forum highlighted some of these cross-sectoral collaboration initiatives by local governments in Australia and Japan.

On behalf of all the staff of CLAIR Sydney, I would like to take this opportunity and thank all those who participated. I would also like to especially thank UTS: IPPG for their support and co-hosting the event.

CLAIR Sydney will continue to work closely with organisations and institutions, such as UTS, to provide relevant and informative content relating to local governments in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

On another note, our 5 staff members return to Japan at the end of March as it is the end of their term. I believe they had made all efforts to accomplish our mission, even though their activities had been restricted due to Covid-19. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you all who showed your kindness to them.