Place Based Economic Development with Simon White

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Simon White

Simon White

Simon White is a specialist in place-based economic development, private sector and business development and business environment reform.

climate-resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem

Growing WA through Innovation – A Response

Growing WA through Innovation is a report of the Economics and Industry Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly. Released on 30 June 2016, it presents the Committee’s findings of its inquiry into the ways technological and service innovation can be fostered to expand and diversify the Western Australian economy.

Can the shared economy contribute to inclusive growth?

Can the shared economy contribute to inclusive growth?

Perhaps the most pervasive of the new economic and business models in recent years is the shared or sharing economy. It offers a revolutionary new concept: access over ownership. What is important is not what you own, but what you have access to it. On the face if it, this

Rio de Janeiro and the legacy of the 2016 Olympic Games

Rio de Janeiro and the legacy of the 2016 Olympic Games

As 500,000 people descend on the Brazil’s famous beachside city of Rio de Janeiro this week, local business opportunities are booming. The 2016 Rio Megastore––largest pop-up souvenir store in the city––on Copacabana Beach is doing a roaring trade in officially licensed souvenirs. This is the first

The power of entrepreneurial role models

The power of entrepreneurial role models

There is a lot of power in entrepreneurial role models: the people we consider to be successful in business. Role models influence others. If you don’t identify with these role models, you may not see yourself in their shoes. I used to see most businesspeople as men; white men

Local Innovation Bloom

Local Innovation Bloom

As a member of the Economic Development Australia Western Australia committee, I’ve taken on the responsibility to organise a seminar on local innovation systems. With the release of the National Innovation and Science Agenda, innovation has been brought to the centre of the national development stage. The national agenda

Does inclusive growth require inclusive business?

Does inclusive growth require inclusive business?

While the world’s economy continues to grow and poverty is on the decline, inequality is increasing and the exclusion of certain social groups remains a persistent problem. In response, governments and development agencies are paying greater attention to social inclusion as a core principle for development. While they have

The Heart of Regional Economic Growth

The Heart of Regional Economic Growth

Entrepreneurs are at the heart of economic growth. Yet too often the literature on economic growth ignores this in favour of an analysis of local systems and institutions. Important as these are, the primary focus of policy should be on how entrepreneurs and investors act within complex landscapes. Increasingly, regional