The 8th International Urban Design Conference will be held at the Sofitel Brisbane from Monday 16 November to Wednesday 18 November 2015. This years’ theme titled Empowering Change: Transformative Innovations and Projects will focus on inspirational changes in urban environments.
The Conference is pleased to announce Mr Michael Dixon, General Manager for IBM’s Global Smarter Cities Business will be a keynote speaker at the event.
Michael leads IBM’s vision, strategy and operations for teams active in cities around the world which are focused on a core element of IBM’s long term strategy. The integration of transport, health, public safety, energy, utilities, social services, education and urban management are at the heart of numerous initiatives.
Prior to a brief period as the Managing Partner for IBM’s consulting and systems integration business (GBS) in Central / Eastern Europe in 2011, Michael was the Vice President of Public Sector for GBS in the growth markets, leading teams focused on supporting client initiatives in Government, Healthcare Payers and Providers and Education across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Central / Eastern Europe and Latin America. Client success in numerous projects resulted from IBM providing strategic advice, business change and process transformation to improve services and deliver cost efficiencies.
During an IBM career spanning 30 years, Michael has held a series of sales, management and executive positions associated with the public sector across increasingly broad geographies. His depth of industry experience has seen him range from working with policy makers and senior executives in public sector organizations through to presenting to Government leaders at APEC summits; and from advising Public Sector CEOs on strategy development and project implementation through to partnering with private companies to deliver associated services. Michael spent several years based in Tokyo and was a Brookings Congressional Fellow, based in Washington, D.C..
Before joining IBM Michael completed a BBSc at La Trobe University, an MSc at the University of Melbourne and a PhD at the University of Alberta.
Michael is an Australian and spends his time in Melbourne, New York and all parts of the world.
Follow Michael’s Twitter: @leading_cities
Urban Design Australia Blog 