The only sure thing is that things will change

The opinions expressed here are the opinions of the writ er exclusively and do not express the views of the editor or Surf Coast News Pty Ltd.

This is the first of a series of editorials from members of the Barwon Regional Partnership in the lead-up to the next Barwon Regional Assembly, to be held in Wallington on July 19. This piece is by investor, founder and entrepreneur Nick Stanley.

AS WE, the people and businesses of the Barwon, move from an economy dominated by industrial and manufacturing businesses into a new and changing environment, we need to prepare for the very immediate future and be ready to be competitive.

Changing market forces, the likes of which have never been experienced before, will continue to have a profound effect on jobs and businesses.

The world will continue to change and much like the new business models of Uber, Airbnb and Netflix have prevailed, so will the rate of change continue to accelerate.

This is the only absolute known. As we move into the future we must be more prepared for the unknown and instead of trying to imagine exactly what might be, we need to consider how we become more agile, competitive and resilient to respond to the unknown.

The key drivers causing this accelerating rate of change are globalisation and the effects of the digital revolution. These will drive the change that will continue to come.

However, with this change comes exciting new opportunity – if we are ready to grasp it.

The potential for the youth, people and businesses of our region to compete on a global scale, to unlock new jobs, markets and growth as we move into this new future is both exciting and unprecedented.

Now is the time to invest in the infrastructure that is going to unlock the potential we have in the
future.

Now is also the time to recognise our competitive advantages and back them.

Making the right infrastructure choices, coupled with an eye to our competitive advantages, creates a compelling strength.

In a rapidly changing world with new market forces, attributes such as the Great Ocean Road, Avalon Airport, the proximity to Melbourne, our culture and our people, will set us apart. Properly supported, they will allow us to be more, rather than less, competitive.

To have your say or register for the Barwon Regional Assembly, head to the website at engage.vic.gov.au/barwon.