#Keynote speaker Melbourne

[talkville05]

Best Keynote Speaker Melbourne | Emcee in Melbourne

Brett elevates your event. He's a high-energy, low-maintenance, best keynote speaker in Melbourne and comes with rave reviews and happy clients.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The Australian Chokepoint Capitalism Tour

Last October, Scribe Books published the commonwealth edition of Chokepoint Capitalism, the book Rebecca Giblin and I wrote about how monopolistic labour markets are rigged, and how we need to think beyond copyright to get artists paid:

https://scribepublications.co.uk/books-authors/books/chokepoint-capitalism-9781915590015

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/30/i-come-to-a-land-downunder/#anti-podean-pro-artist

Now, I’m headed to Australia to tour the book there with Rebecca, with dates in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra (no Perth or NZ this time, alas). It’s my first time back to Oz since the Walkaway tour in 2017 — the tour where Rebecca and I conceived of this book, as it happens!

First up is Brisbane, with a talk and signing at Avid Books on Feb 8 at 6PM, hosted by The Griffith Review’s Carody Culver:

https://avidreader.com.au/pages/6834-ChokepointCapitalism-RebeccaGiblinandCoryDoctorow

Next is Melbourne, where we’ll be back at ACMI on Feb 14 at 630PM, in an event hosted by Esther Anatolitis:

https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/in-conversation-cory-doctorow-rebecca-giblin-esther-anatolitis/

Then we’re in Sydney for a Feb 15 event at the State Library of NSW, starting at 6PM, hosted by Maddison Connaughton:

https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/chokepoint-capitalism-rebecca-giblin-and-cory-doctorow

We close out the trip with two nights in Canberra. First, we’re at the ANU Cultural Centre with Dr Andrew Leigh, Australia’s assistant Competition minister, on Feb 16 at 6PM (co-sponsored by the Canberra Times):

https://www.anu.edu.au/events/in-conversation-with-rebecca-giblin-and-cory-doctorow

And finally, we’re giving a keynote address for Australian Digital Alliance’s Copyright Forum 2023 on Feb 17:

https://digital.org.au/2022/11/08/doctorow-giblin-first-speaker-announcement-ada-forum-2023/

I hope you can make it! Australia is one of my favourite places in the world and I’ve never had a bad event there.

[Image ID: The Australian flag. The Union Flag motif in the top left corner has been replaced with the word 'CHOKEPOINT' and hourglass motif from the cover of 'Chokepoint Capitalism.']

[mettamemories]

Capturing Corporate Events: The Role of Photography in Melbourn

Corporate events are pivotal moments for businesses in Melbourne, serving as platforms for networking, showcasing innovations, celebrating milestones, and fostering professional relationships. Capturing the essence of these events through photography is not just about documenting moments; it's about creating compelling visual narratives that reflect the energy, spirit, and objectives of the occasion. In this article, we delve into the critical role of photography in Melbourne's corporate events and how skilled melbourne photographer contribute to the success and impact of these gatherings.

The Importance of Visual Storytelling

Corporate events are rich in stories, from keynote speeches and panel discussions to networking interactions and product demonstrations. Photography serves as a powerful medium for visual storytelling, capturing candid moments, emotions, and interactions that unfold during these events. Skilled photographers in Melbourne understand the nuances of storytelling through images, translating the event's narrative into captivating visual content.

Documenting Milestones and Achievements

Melbourne's corporate landscape is dynamic, with companies hosting events to mark milestones, achievements, product launches, and industry accolades. Photographers play a crucial role in documenting these significant moments, preserving memories, and creating a visual legacy for businesses. Whether it's capturing the excitement of a product unveiling or the camaraderie at an award ceremony, photographers ensure that key moments are immortalized in images.

Showcasing Brand Identity and Professionalism

Corporate events provide opportunities for businesses to showcase their brand identity, values, and professionalism. Photographers in Melbourne understand the importance of aligning photography with the brand's visual language, color schemes, and messaging. They capture branded elements, signage, logos, and corporate colors to reinforce brand identity and create cohesive visual storytelling across event coverage.

Creating Engaging Content for Marketing and Promotion

High-quality event photography serves as valuable content for marketing and promotional purposes. Businesses leverage event photos for social media posts, website galleries, press releases, newsletters, and promotional materials. Photographers in Melbourne focus on capturing compelling shots that resonate with the target audience, evoke emotions, and drive engagement across digital platforms.

Highlighting Key Speakers and Moments

Corporate events often feature keynote speakers, industry experts, and thought leaders sharing insights and expertise. Photographers in Melbourne specialize in capturing these key moments, expressions, and interactions to highlight the event's educational and inspirational aspects. They use a combination of candid shots, posed portraits, and action shots to showcase speakers' impact and engage event attendees.

Capturing Networking and Collaboration

Networking is a cornerstone of corporate events, offering attendees opportunities to connect, collaborate, and build professional relationships. Photographers in Melbourne adeptly capture networking interactions, group discussions, and collaboration moments, showcasing the event's networking dynamics and fostering a sense of community among attendees.

Adapting to Event Dynamics and Environments

Melbourne's diverse event venues, ranging from conference centers and hotels to outdoor spaces and cultural hubs, require photographers to adapt to different environments and lighting conditions. Skilled photographers are equipped with the technical expertise, equipment, and creativity to navigate event dynamics, capture diverse perspectives, and deliver high-quality images regardless of the setting.

Collaboration and Communication with Event Organizers

Effective collaboration and communication between photographers and event organizers are essential for successful event coverage. Photographers in Melbourne work closely with event planners, coordinators, and stakeholders to understand event objectives, schedules, key moments, and logistical details. They align photography plans with event agendas, ensuring comprehensive coverage and meeting client expectations.

In conclusion, 

Photography plays a pivotal role in capturing the essence, energy, and impact of corporate events in Melbourne. Skilled photographers bring storytelling prowess, technical expertise, and creative vision to event coverage, creating compelling visual narratives that showcase milestones, brand identity, networking dynamics, and key moments. By leveraging high-quality event photography, businesses elevate their marketing efforts, engage audiences, and immortalize the success and significance of their corporate gatherings. melbourne wedding photographer are integral partners in transforming events into memorable experiences and valuable content for businesses and attendees alike.

[vogueentertainmentau]

Vogue Entertainment - Your Premier Entertainment Agency in Melbourne

Discover a world of entertainment excellence with Vogue Entertainment, Melbourne's premier agency. From hiring bands to booking celebrities, our award-winning services bring your events to life. Experience the magic of roving entertainers, the excitement of stage shows, and the enchantment of wedding and party musicians. With a commitment to inspiring,thrilling, and exciting audiences, we go above and beyond to ensure unforgettable moments that resonate in your hearts. Choose the best in the industry, and let us create an entertainment experience tailored just for you. Vogue Entertainment: where extraordinary meets unforgettable.

Vogue Entertainment - Your Premier Entertainment Agency in Melbourne

Welcome to Vogue Entertainment, Melbourne's leading entertainment agency. With a diverse range of services, including hiring bands, booking celebrities, roving entertainers, wedding musicians, and party musicians, we are dedicated to providing you with exceptional entertainment solutions. Our award-winning agency is committed to inspiring, thrilling, and exciting audiences, ensuring unforgettable experiences for your corporate events, private functions, weddings, and more.

Vogue Entertainment Profile

At Vogue Entertainment, we pride ourselves on being a premier entertainment agency in Melbourne, Australia. With over two decades of experience, our agency has been delivering outstanding entertainment solutions for corporate events, major festivals, private functions, and music productions. We have built a reputation for excellence, recognized by our prestigious awards and our commitment to customer satisfaction.

rent a musician

Services We Offer

Hire A Band

Whether you're planning a corporate party or a wedding reception, we have a diverse selection of bands to suit every occasion. From jazz bands to cover bands, corporate bands to wedding bands, and even tribute bands, you'll find the perfect musical ensemble to keep your guests dancing the night away.

Book a Celebrity

Make your special event truly unforgettable by hiring a celebrity. From celebrity hosts and TV stars to celebrity bands, we can bring the star power to your event. If you require a corporate comedian or a keynote speaker, we've got you covered. We'll ensure that the celebrity of your choice delivers a memorable experience for your guests.

Roving Entertainers

Add a touch of interactive entertainment to your event with our roving entertainers. These performers engage with your guests up close and personal, creating a unique and intimate experience. Whether you need roving bands, entertainers, or magicians, they are perfect for street entertainment, festivals, sporting events, and more.

Stage Shows

Create a truly captivating event with our extraordinary stage shows. From comedians and magicians to hypnotists, vocalists, string stage shows, and impersonators, our performers will leave a lasting impression on your audience. Elevate your event with a featured stage show that will entertain and engage your guests.

Musicians for Wedding

Experience the enchantment of our handpicked musicians for your wedding day. Our talented musicians will craft a captivating symphony, providing the perfect soundtrack for your special moments. From ceremony music to reception entertainment, they will create unforgettable memories that resonate in your hearts.

Party Musicians

Ignite the dance floor and keep the celebration alive with our dynamic and talented party musicians. With infectious beats and electrifying performances, they will get the party started and ensure an unforgettable night of fun and entertainment.

What Sets Us Apart

At Vogue Entertainment, we strive to be your trusted partner in choosing the best available entertainment for your event. We understand that every occasion is unique, and we go above and beyond to tailor our services to your specific needs. If you can't find the exact entertainment you're looking for, we have the ability to create it exclusively for you, ensuring a truly customized and remarkable experience.

With our exceptional performers, dedication to customer service, and commitment to delivering inspiring, thrilling, and exciting entertainment, Vogue Entertainment is the go-to agency for all your entertainment needs in Melbourne and beyond.

Contact Us:

Business Name: 

Vogue Entertainment

Address: 

5a Hartnett Cl, Mulgrave VIC 3170

Phone: 

1300 296 133

Email: 

info@vogueentertainment.com.au

Website URL

https://www.vogueentertainment.com.au/

[brettdehoedt-conferenceemcee]

Keynote speakers in Australia | Conference Melbourne

Book a keynote speaker in Australia who was selected by Al Gore's team to keynote at Al Gore's own global event.

[publicspeakingcoursesmelbourne]

Public Speaker : Brett de Hoedt

Brett de Hoedt speaks on stages across Australia as an emcee and presenter.

In 2014 he was invited by Al Gore to keynote at the former Vice President’s Climate Reality event about the role of media to 550 delegates from around the world.

It went well: “You will be pleased to know you rated second only to Al Gore.” – Adam Macher, Australian Conservation Foundation.

His presentation skills have been utilised by: CommBank, Netball Australia, Australian Marketing Institute, City of Melbourne, Global Health Conference, Orica, Sustainability Victoria, Landcare, University of Melbourne, Disability Employment Australia, Jobs Victoria, Victoria's Department of Education and Training, United Way and Swimming Australia among dozens.

Since 1999 media and communications trainer Brett de Hoedt has trained thousands of Australians with his Presentation Training Melbourne program which are working with organisations including Red Cross Australia, WWF, Australian Conservation Foundation, Berry Street, World Vision plus dozens of local governments, peak bodies, industry associations and unions.

As a print journalist he has written for New Idea, Truth, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. He has interviewed everyone from several former Prime Ministers to George Clooney.

He spent several years as a talk radio broadcaster and producer on Melbourne’s 3AK and as a contributor on ABC 702 Perth. In 2015 he returned to radio for a 12 week season on Melbourne station 3MP. He hosts award-winning podcast The Hardest Word.

Through his consultancy Hootville Communications Brett has trained CEOs entrepreneurs, professional athletes, sex workers, young offenders, climate scietists, aspiring politicians,  people with intellectual disabilities and people for whom English is a fourth language. He can help you.

He is a dynamic and challenging trainer who works with people as they are. Join our Presentation Training in Melbourne to improve your Presentation Skills.

[iami0]

Three years of PAUSE | Start believing from denial of service on Vimeo.

mashup, along with the soundtrack, which i'd completed for PAUSE Fest in Melbourne.

"From humble beginnings in 2011, Pause Fest has rapidly grown to become one of the most anticipated events on the bustling Australian festival calendar. In 2014, Pause already won three Golden Awards of Excellence for it's Branding Identity by Pennant, Opening Titles by Syndrome & Echoic Audio and a Video Ident by Vasolo.

This is very important milestone for us in many ways as we're looking forward to bringing you purely the best content experience in 2015.

Pause Fest attracts a powerful mix of industry professionals, startups and early adopters from a broad range of digital disciplines. The event represents a unique opportunity for locals to connect, collaborate and launch projects alongside global leaders and visionary brands.

Every Pause festival tells a story through its theme. In 2015, the new theme is Pure. Simple ideas that will change the world.

If you are a start-up, keynote speaker, studio/agency, media, events & brand manager, sponsor... Get in touch NOW if you want to be involved in Pause 2015. info@pausefest.com.au

MEET. INSPIRE. LEARN. LAUNCH. COLLABORATE. with PURE Pause in 2015!

CREDITS: Luke Van O - Copywriter denial.of.service - Video Edit denial.of.service/ Echoic Audio - Music Score

BIG THANKS TO: All creators worldwide who contributed and believed in Pause from day one. Everyone that visited our events and got in contact one way or another. Our past, present and future backers, sponsors and partners that seek the latest and most cutting edge ideas, innovation and experiences.

SPECIAL THANKS: To denial.of.service who put this mashup video edit together from a various clips stretching way back to 2011. d-os also sampled Echoic Audio tune for the edit - we think d-os is a pure genius. Check him up at d-os.org"

PAUSE links : pausefest.com.au/ twitter.com/pausefest facebook.com/pausefest?ref=hl instagram.com/pausefest pinterest.com/pausefest/ plus.google.com/communities/108091993645005183483

denial.of.service links : facebook.com/dof.service behance.net/states soundcloud.com/states twitter.com/ doservice.bandcamp.com/ tumblr.com/blog/doservice pinterest.com/doservice/

[speakeragencies]

The Importance of Professional Speakers in Business Events

Business events are very important in the modern world. They help businesses to grow and develop, as well as give them the chance to network with other companies. However, they are not just about work and networking. Business events also allow you to show off your company's values and help build relations with employees and clients alike. Conferences and business events are an important part of any company’s marketing strategy. They help build relationships with customers and partners, share knowledge and expertise, and showcase your organization as an industry leader.

A speaker who has been hired by your company will be able to make your event more memorable for everyone involved. Here are some of the reasons why you should hire professionals for your business events:

1) They will attract more people – if you're looking for an easy way to get more people attending your business events then look no further than hiring professional speakers! People love hearing from someone who is passionate about their subject matter and gives them something new each time they speak at an event like this one (which means they'll want to come back again).

2) They can bring in new customers – if there's one thing we've learned over time it's that customers want more than just your products or services – they want their lives enriched too! You can provide this through speakers.

3) The right speaker will give you a unique opportunity to stand out from other events in your industry - by providing a particular perspective or experience that is not available elsewhere.

Speakers for business events should be professional and experienced in their field. They should be able to speak about the subject matter confidently, clearly, and with passion. The ability to connect with an audience is vital in business events. It's not just about giving people information; it's about making that information meaningful, interesting, and important enough for them to remember what you said long after the event ends.

Whether you're planning a conference, a product launch, or an awards ceremony, one thing is certain: you will want to hire professional speakers to help make your event a memorable success.

At Saxton Speakers, we understand that selecting the right speakers for your event is an important decision. That's why we have access to hundreds of the best speakers Australia has to offer—experts who can provide your guests with valuable knowledge and insight into their fields. From conference speakers, corporate speakers, business keynote speakers, and female speakers in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Washington, or abroad) we have the perfect speaker for your business!

Send us your enquiries here: https://www.saxton.com.au/enquire

[prabingautamau-blog]

As a co-founder and CEO of Digital Entrepreneurs Organisation,  Prabin Gautam (Digital Marketing Speaker) is dedicated to helping the entrepreneurs and business owners to transform their business by showing them how anybody can start up, make money and automate it. So reach out if you are serious to monetise your online presence through more client.

[talkville05]

Master of Ceremonies Melbourne | Keynote speaker Melbourne

Meet a Master of Ceremonies Melbourne & keynote speaker Melbourne with wit, smarts, and the ability to improvise. Oh — rave reviews too. Book direct.

#Master of Ceremonies Melbourne #Keynote speaker Melbourne

[jaredcooney]

Gold stars; smiley faces; trophies; ribbons; pizza parties; Boz Scaggs concert tickets … 

These are all different iterations of the same type of ‘token economy’ reward system that is liberally applied in classrooms across the globe. 

I imagine you would be hard pressed to find any school that didn’t use some form of a token economy. In fact, some schools are pushing this ‘rewards arms race’ to new extremes -- many public schools in America, for example, are now using financial incentives (including direct bank deposits) as a motivational tool. 

Regardless of the specific mechanism, rewards systems are implemented with the goal of altering student behavior … and broadly speaking, they work. 

However, just because something works does not mean it’s an optimal solution. 

For example, imagine you went to the doctor’s office with a sore knee. The doctor could quickly eliminate your knee pain by amputating your entire leg, but it’s unlikely this approach would be the optimal one. 

And sure, that example is a bit ridiculous, but my point is many people take a narrow or short-term view of rewards systems without considering the longer-term effects. 

In this 'From Theory to Practice' video, I examine a classic piece of research that can help us do just that: 

The Token Economy: An Evaluative Review (Alan E. Kazdin and Richard R. Bootzin)

Here are some of the questions I tackle in this installment: 

What is the origin of the ‘token economy’, and how did it shape the reward systems that are often applied in schools and classrooms?

What is ‘generalizability’, and how does it impact the utility of any reward system applied across varying contexts?

Do reward systems actually promote long-term behavioral changes among students, or are any results simply dependent on the rewards themselves?

What is the ‘Crespi effect’, and how does it undermine a common strategy for using rewards systems?

What are three practical takeaways for schools and teachers that we can draw from this research? 

Give it a watch, and let me know what you think in the YT comments.

And, as always, if you find this video valuable, interesting and/or entertaining, you can support our channel by liking, sharing and subscribing ;)

--- 

JARED COONEY HORVATH | PhD, MEd Dr. 

Jared Cooney Horvath is an award-winning cognitive neuroscientist, best-selling author and renowned keynote speaker with an expertise in human learning, memory, and brain stimulation. 

Dr. Horvath has published 4 books, over 30 research articles, and currently serves as an honorary researcher at the University of Melbourne and St. Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne. 

His research has been featured in popular publications including The New York Times, WIRED, BBC, The Economist, PBS's Nova and ABC’s Catalyst.

https://www.lmeglobal.net/media​​ 

--- 

LME GLOBAL 

LME Global is a mission-driven company aiming to serve teachers, students and educators through applied brain science.

[mettamemories]

The Role of Editing in Enhancing Melbourne Corporate Event Photography

In the vibrant city of Melbourne, corporate events are a common occurrence, ranging from conferences and seminars to product launches and networking gatherings. Capturing these events through photography is essential for documenting milestones, showcasing brand presence, and preserving memorable moments. However, the true magic often happens during the editing process, where skilled professionals transform raw images into polished masterpieces. In this article, we'll explore the pivotal role of editing in enhancing Melbourne corporate event photography and how it elevates the overall visual narrative.

Understanding Event Photography and Editing

event videographer melbourne involves capturing candid moments, keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking interactions, and venue details to encapsulate the essence of corporate gatherings. While skilled photographers excel at framing shots and capturing the right moments, the post-production editing phase adds depth, clarity, and visual appeal to these images. Editing enhances colors, corrects lighting, removes distractions, and adds artistic touches to create impactful visuals that resonate with viewers.

Enhancing Colors and Contrast

One of the primary roles of editing in Melbourne corporate event photography is enhancing colors and contrast to make images visually striking. Skilled editors adjust exposure, white balance, and saturation levels to ensure accurate color representation and vibrant visuals. They also fine-tune contrast to create a dynamic range of tones, adding depth and dimension to photos and making subjects pop against backgrounds.

Correcting Lighting and Exposure

Editing plays a crucial role in correcting lighting and exposure issues that may arise during event photography. Melbourne's diverse venues, from indoor conference halls to outdoor settings, present varying lighting conditions that can affect image quality. Editors use tools like shadows/highlights adjustments, exposure blending, and HDR (High Dynamic Range) techniques to balance light and shadows, resulting in well-exposed and balanced photographs.

Removing Distractions and Imperfections

Corporate events often feature busy backgrounds, cluttered spaces, or distracting elements that can detract from the main subject. Editing allows photographers to remove distractions, clean up backgrounds, and retouch imperfections to create polished and professional-looking images. Techniques like background blurring, object removal, and skin retouching enhance the overall aesthetics of event photos.

Adding Artistic Effects and Styles

Beyond technical adjustments, editing in Melbourne corporate event photography involves adding artistic effects and styles to photos. Editors can apply filters, presets, and creative enhancements to achieve specific looks and moods that align with the event's theme or brand identity. Whether it's a classic black-and-white style, vintage tones, or modern color grading, artistic editing elevates the visual storytelling aspect of event photos.

Highlighting Key Moments and Details

Editing allows Event photography Melbourne to highlight key moments, expressions, and details captured during corporate events. Through selective cropping, framing, and focal adjustments, editors draw attention to important elements within photos, such as keynote speakers, networking interactions, product displays, and branding elements. This focused storytelling enhances the narrative of event photos and reinforces the event's objectives.

Maintaining Consistency and Branding

For corporate clients, maintaining consistency and branding across event photography is crucial. Skilled editors ensure that edited photos align with the client's brand guidelines, color schemes, and visual identity. They apply consistent editing styles, watermarking, and logo placements to reinforce brand recognition and professionalism in event photos.

Collaboration Between Photographers and Editors

Effective collaboration between photographers and editors is key to achieving exceptional results in Melbourne corporate event photography. Photographers communicate their vision, preferences, and specific editing requirements to editors, who then bring these elements to life through post-production techniques. This collaborative approach ensures that edited photos meet client expectations and reflect the unique essence of each corporate event.

In conclusion, 

Editing plays a pivotal role in enhancing Event Videography melbourne  by refining colors, correcting lighting, removing distractions, adding artistic touches, highlighting key moments, maintaining consistency, and fostering collaboration between photographers and editors. The artful editing process transforms raw event photos into polished visual narratives that resonate with viewers, showcase brand professionalism, and immortalize memorable moments. By understanding the importance of editing in event photography, businesses and event organizers can ensure that their corporate events are captured and presented in the best possible light, leaving a lasting impact on attendees and stakeholders alike.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

After banning working cryptography and raiding whistleblowers, Australia's spies ban speakers from national infosec conference

Australian politics are a revolting mess of unstable governments dominated by xenophobic, climate-denying far-right oligarchs, and the only check on their power is the fact that Australian governments are so riven by internal strife and unhinged authoritarianism that they tend to collapse on a quarterly basis, triggering new elections and/or leadership contests.

But the Aussie oligarch class are persistent: sometimes, they can actually get policies and laws that suit their needs enacted, as happened in late 2018, when the country banned working cryptography, or last June, when cops and spies staged a series of armed raids on journalists who'd reported on leaks that revealed official corruption.

So it's perhaps not surprising that the country's annual flagship cybersecurity conference, the annual conference of the Australian Information Security Association, has become mired in a censorship scandal.

This year, AISA opted to co-organise its annual conference with the Australian Cyber Security Centre, a creature of the same spy agencies that led the crackdown on whistleblowers in June.

But the ACSC has a very different set of priorities to AISA, which is why it insisted on the cancellation of multiple invited talks at the show, including Thomas Drake, a celebrated NSA whistleblower who was scheduled to give a talk on "the golden age of surveillance, both government and corporate"; and the University of Melbourne's Dr Suelette Dreyfus whose cancelled lecture was on "anonymous whistleblowing technologies like SecureDrop and how they reduce corruption in countries where that is a problem."

Both speakers have posted their slides, and Bruce Schneier, who gave a keynote at the conference, opened his talk by reading the URLs aloud.

But the censorship doesn't stop there: ACSC also demanded that invited speaker Ted Ringrose (partner at the Ringrose Siganto law firm) remove criticism in his speech on Australia's ban on working cryptography, going so far as to edit his slides to remove "bias." (Ringrose refused and was allowed to give his original talk as planned).

Australia's slide into authoritarianism is clearly accelerating. The decision to include an anti-encryption spy agency in the organising of the nation's flagship security conference smacks of the Soviet practice of including "political minders" on the committees for scientific symposiums, to make sure that no one challenged the official doctrine.

You can read the banned talk notes and the accompanying slides at Censorcon.Net.

https://boingboing.net/2019/10/09/political-officers.html

[brettdehoedt-conferenceemcee]

Keynote speakers in Australia | Conference Melbourne

Book a keynote speaker in Australia who was selected by Al Gore's team to keynote at Al Gore's own global event.

[architectuul]

Sitopia: Shaping Our Future Through Food

To eat and to dwell are two fundamental human needs, satisfied respectively by food and architecture. Despite their importance for human lives and the mutual deep connection, we still rarely see the two phenomena discussed and considered together. The FoodCAMP series at Prague's CAMP - Center for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning was searching for answers to the question How can food make our cities better?

Building sitopia: MVRDV’s masterplan for Almere Oosterwald. | Photo ©MVRDV

The curator of the event Lucie Kohoutová explained that she “wanted to tackle the intricate synergies of culinary and urban worlds from different vantage points, from city identity through urban farming to quality architecture of food-related venues.” Lucie said that was also very important to pick an adequate keynote, framing how and why food matters to our city lives. She chose Carolyn Steel, an architect and leading thinker on the relationship of food and the city, also known by her book Hungry City. Carolyn has summed up her Prague's lecture only for Architectuul below.

Roman Food Miles: the food supplies of Ancient Rome. | Photo © Carolyn Steel

How will we eat in the future? Will meat be grown in labs and vegetables in vertical farms, or will we see a resurgence of regenerative, organic farming? Whatever the answers, one thing is clear: our choices will be pivotal to our chances of thriving on a hot, overcrowded planet.

Living in a modern city, it can be hard to grasp quite how profoundly food shapes our world. Industrialisation has obscured the vital connections between city and country that are fundamental to urban civilisation. Yet the food on our plates is more than mere nourishment: it is an emissary from distant lands that have often been plundered to the point of exhaustion to provide us with that essential foundation of modern industrial society, cheap food.

A city shaped by food: seventeenth-century London’s food markets and supply routes. | Photo © John Ogilby: A Large and Accurate Map of the City of London (1676); London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (1894)

Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Allegory of the Effects of Good Government: a rare example of the city and the country in harmony (1338). | Photo via Palazzo Pubblico, Siena. (Bridgeman Art Library)

Our way of life is predicated on the stuff, yet a moment’s reflection should tell us that no such thing could exist. Food consists of living things that we kill in order to live; to expect it to be cheap is thus to cheapen life itself. This paradox lies at the heart of our modern dilemma: our way of life is based on the assumption (posited by Adam Smith and others) that although nature is the source of all our wealth, it comes for free – one that we now know to be false. Indeed, the various externalities of cheap food – climate change, deforestation, mass extinction, pollution, water scarcity, soil degradation, obesity and diet-related disease – suggest that, were we to internalize such costs, industrial food would become instantly unaffordable. Which begs the question: what would happen if we were to do precisely that?

The short answer is that there would be a revolution, not just in the way we eat, but in how we live. Our habits, values, politics and economics – indeed, our very idea of a good life – all depend on the fallacy that we’ve solved the problem of how to eat. Any attempt to revalue food will thus be met with stiff resistance, not least among politicians. Yet such a move is arguably the single most powerful thing we could do in order to transition from our inequitable, unhealthy, unsustainable societies towards far fairer, healthier, more resilient ones. Whether or not we realise it, we live in a world shaped by food: a place I call Sitopia (from Greek sitos, food + topos, place). By revaluing food and harnessing its power for good, we can create a better world.  

The birth of cheap meat: Chicago’s Union Stockyards in 1880. | Photo © Postcard, unknown origin 

Food’s power wasn’t lost on our ancestors; on the contrary, it dominated their lives. Feeding cities in the pre-industrial era was hard, not least due to the difficulties of transporting food over long distances to arrive in an edible state. Although grain (the staple of all cities) had a reasonable shelf-life, it was heavy and bulky in relation to value. For this reason, most cities remained small. The exceptions were maritime capitals such as Rome and London, whose ability to import food from overseas allowed them to grow to an inordinate size. Whatever their scale, all pre-industrial cities were highly productive: households kept pigs, chickens or goats and human and animal manure was used to fertilise surrounding market gardens, orchards and vineyards.

For Plato and Aristotle, such self-sufficiency was the ideal for the polis (city-state). Both men preached the principles of oikonomia (household management): the idea that each urban citizen should feed his family from his own farm. Scaled up, such an arrangement would render the polis self-reliant and politically independent. The ideal polis should thus remain relatively small; an idea echoed by both Thomas More in his Utopia of 1516 and by Ebenezer Howard in his 1902 Garden Cities of To-Morrow.

Reviving oikonomia in Howard’s Garden City. | Photo via Ebenezer Howard, Garden Cities of Tomorrow, Sonnenschein Publishing (1902)

Conceived at a time when the need to conserve resources and recycle nutrients was obvious, such utopian models are once again highly relevant, describing the more localised, steady-state economies we shall need in order to thrive in coming decades. By revaluing food – putting the oikonomia back into economics – we can build more liveable, resilient societies based, not on consumption, but the joys of community, productivity and contact with the natural world. Domestic life would once again revolve around kitchens, gardens and shared meals, markets and highstreets would flourish, gardens and balconies burst with produce and networks of producers and suppliers reconnect cities with their hinterlands. Instead of battling nature, farmers could work with it, replacing industrial feedlots and ‘Big Ag’ monocultures with a variety of mixed-use, agro-ecological farms and rewilded land.

The future of food? Richard Ballard, co-founder of Growing Underground, London’s first vertical farm. | Photo © Carolyn Steel (2018)

Such a vision may sound utopian, yet across the world it is already happening. As millions in the global Food Movement recognise, the era of cheap food is over. The good news is that it is not too late: by putting food back at the heart of our vision, we can build a flourishing sitopian future.

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Written by Carolyn Steel

Carolyn Steel (MA (Hons) Cantab Dip Arch RIBA) is a leading thinker on food and cities. Her 2008 book Hungry City: How Food Shapes Our Lives describes how food is key to the ‘urban paradox’ at the core of civilization, and her concept of sitopia (foodplace) has gained widespread recognition as a tool with which to address the dilemmas of 21st century dwelling. A Director of Kilburn Nightingale Architects in London, Carolyn has been a visiting lecturer at Cambridge and Wageningen Universities and taught design for a number of years at Cambridge and London Metropolitan Universities and the London School of Economics. She writes regularly on food, architecture and urban design, has presented on BBC TV and was a columnist for Building Design. She is in worldwide demand as a public speaker, with appearances including TEDGlobal, The World Planning Day International Conference, The Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency, The Swiss Youth Forum, Princeton University (New York), The Parabere Forum, MAD Academy (Copenhagen), Domus Academy (Milan) and the Melbourne Design Festival.