It’s time for Auckland to get future ready

The Future Ready Summit

Automation, robotics and artificial intelligence all present huge opportunities for Auckland businesses and people. They enable smarter ways of doing business and allow for the creation of less repetitive jobs, so that people can take on more stimulating tasks and reach their true potential. 

It’s an exciting time for Auckland and its people!

On June 26, ATEED is hosting Auckland’s second annual Future Ready Summit. It will be attended by Auckland’s leading thinkers on the future of work, businesses, tertiary education providers and the next generation of young adults preparing to enter the workforce.

A panel of guest speakers will discuss how technological disruption is changing the way we work and share experiences and learnings from their own journey to becoming future ready. 

From discussing what the future of work looks like in Auckland, to exploring human potential in a digital economy, the Future Ready Summit promises to be an informative and thought-provoking event.

 

Robots in Auckland Council

Justin Durocher, Robotics Process Automation Lead at Auckland Council is a guest speaker at the 2019 Future Ready Summit.  “I’m really excited to see how other Auckland organisations are preparing to become future ready.  It will be great to meet new people and discuss the collective impact we could have on the wider market.”

Justin implements robotic process automation at Auckland Council. This helps things to move faster, freeing up employees’ time so they can spend it on other more high-level, fulfilling activities that better serve Auckland’s growing population. 

Justin disputes the idea that automation takes jobs away. “If robots were really taking people’s jobs, our unemployment rate would be at much higher levels than it currently is. So that tells us that automation is coming in but people are doing other things. So, the goal is to upskill and elevate individuals, regardless of age or background, into new functions.” 

 

From the classroom to the boardroom

Education providers have an important role to play in preparing students for tomorrow’s workforce. Traditional skills remain important, but there are new competencies that are emerging.

Justin explains, “We’ll always need people to analyse, but we no longer need them to compute. One of the new competencies we’ve identified is critical analysis and cognitive flexibility. We need people to be creative and curious, to use their brain power in a different way – that’s going to be really important for the future”.

 

 

How does Auckland compare globally?

While regions such as Europe and the United Kingdom have been adapting to the increased use of robotics and automation for over a decade, in New Zealand it’s relatively new. Thanks to our small size though, we’re able to catch up quickly.  

Justin says, “Auckland’s size works in our favour because we’re nimbler and smaller, we can move at pace and be agile. There’s an energy, boldness and traction here. Things move much faster here than they do overseas”.

 

Making the smart move to Auckland 

Originally from Canada, Justin worked in the United Kingdom before travelling to Auckland for a six-month holiday. Four years later, he’s still here and loving it. 

“The growth is all around us – the city is covered in cranes and that’s always indicative of something good!.” He adds, “I’ve found myself in a large working environment but I still have a voice and can make a tangible difference”. 

We look forward to hearing Justin and other future of work thought leaders speak at this month’s Future Ready Summit 

Auckland is a great place to live and the job market is booming, follow us on LinkedIn for more information and job opportunities.