On 10 December 2020, The Grid – a global festival for future business and ideas – officially launched with a mini event at Federation Square’s Taxi restaurant featuring some of Australia’s most influential entrepreneurs, business leaders and government representatives.
Spear-headed by business leader and recent 3AW radio personality Russel Howcroft alongside technology investor and innovator Rhys Hayes (Silicon Block) and experiential strategist and entrepreneur Madeleine Preece (Neonormal), The Grid is being touted as Australia’s first major innovation and business focused event and its bold vision is to create an impact as big as the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The aim of the event is to give Melbourne, Victoria as well as the broader Australian and global business and innovation community a taste of what’s to come in the 2022 ‘South By South West‘ inspired business festival.
“The Grid will be a home for those on the frontline of change, for leaders of conservation and transformation. It’s for change-makers who want to pursue a better version of business and those who are problem-solving for the future.” Rhys Hayes – Director and co-founder of the Grid
Whilst it might be new, The Grid was born from the highly successful Silicon Block event series that was the brainchild of Melbourne and New York based Hayes and has, for the last 10 years held the space for innovation, super-charged creativity and fostered connections between some of Australia’s best minds.
An official event schedule for the 2022 festival is yet to be released however, The Grid will embrace the new world of experiences through a physical and virtual approach, allowing for the best of safe physical content delivery and amplification through world class technology platforms. This will include activating Melbourne and Victoria’s most unique venues in versatile ways.
“This festival to be held in Melbourne in 2022, rolling out over a full week, will feature speakers from around the world and is set to create a real economic impact for Victoria. How we live is no longer constrained by where we live and it’s time to lead the charge with a transformative experience to re-energise the economy, reopen the state and the nation.” said Howcroft.
“The Grid will cement Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s innovation and technology capital and help businesses to connect, collaborate and develop new ideas. Supporting businesses to grow and create new jobs in Melbourne has never been more critical as our city recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Grid – named after Melbourne’s famed Hoddle Grid – will become a major Melbourne festival and host both virtual and in-person events.” Sally Capp – Lord Mayor of Melbourne
Victorian developed, world first online networking and collaboration tools will provide a digital backbone to the program for all Grid attendees and the online global Grid community. Iconic CBD, precinct and regional venues will play host to future-focused content and purposeful collaborations about the new future of business and trade.
Innovation will be accessible to all, as large corporates, global citizens and innovation practitioners meet against the backdrop of Victoria’s economic and cultural institutions.
Source: Courtesy of The Grid Media Release Viewed 7 December 2020
