Innovator and entrepreneur Wayne Gerard outlines the ambitious sustainability goals of the 2032 Brisbane Games, and the huge potential for businesses and communities to play a part.

Our special guest in this episode is Wayne Gerard, founder of tech company Red Eye, the Immediate Past Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, and currently a member of the 2032 Games Legacy Committee. In the latter role, Wayne is taking a holistic view of what the lasting legacy of the Games will be for Queensland – spanning economy, community, the environment, and more.

“We're thinking about all of the infrastructure that gets built to enable us to deliver the Games – and how do we make that climate positive?” explains Wayne. “We're thinking about the actual Games themselves and how do we make all of the aspects of the Games – the food, the power, the water, the transportation, the venues, the technology – how do we make all of that climate positive?”

Further, Wayne says the Committee is considering how the focus on a climate positive legacy can set up the local economy “to be leaders in products and services that are really environmentally friendly, really responsible from a manufacturing perspective, and how we then go on and position ourselves globally to be a leader in that domain.”

In conversation with Ashurst’s Michael Duggan, Wayne explains how the Games is considering procurement, talent, and AI. He also has a call to action for businesses and communities across Queensland: “I think every local government is keen to see how their industries, their economy, their businesses can participate in Brisbane 2032. And I encourage people in those local chambers of commerce and local communities to get together and start talking about what they're best in the world at; what they're known for; and what they could do to put their town, their city, their community on the map for Brisbane 2032.”

This podcast contains general information and does not constitute legal advice. Ashurst is not a sponsor, licensee, or promotional partner of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic movement, nor any Olympic body, event, team, or athlete. Nothing in this podcast is intended to suggest any such sponsorship, licence, or promotional affiliation.

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