Great minds don’t think alike
By Linda Friedland
I had the privilege of both participating and presenting at a remarkable conference last week in Melbourne. Creative Innovation is the brainchild of Tania De Jong AM, a leading Australian soprano and social entrepreneur. She founded Creativity Australia and Creative Universe to improve leadership, engagement and innovation in organisations and communities. Creative Innovation 2013 Asia Pacific delivered world class creative ideas and transformative solutions. It offered discussion in a most creative way on credible forecasts, strategies and best practices. It was an extremely diverse group of 600 attendees from big and small business, entrepreneurs, educators, dramatic artists, scientists, environmentalists , leaders of industry and government, emerging talent and inspired thinkers from around the world. Whomever said ‘”great minds think alike”, has never attended a creative innovation event. Robust debate was central to the success of this event as well as what Tania calls “positive collisions”, the engagement and connecting of different ideas and people. We were encouraged during tea breaks to connect with the people who appeared most unlike ourselves. Much data exists on the need for greater intersecting of disciplines in order to bring about innovation and creativity. “Often, truly innovative breakthroughs occur at the intersection of fields,” explained Jon Duschinsky CEO of the Conversation Farm (Toronto Canada). Hearing dramatically different views on entrepreneurship, ethics, economics, education and the environment interspersed with graphic artists, classical piano and opera certainly stimulated both our left and right brain activity and enhanced neuroplasticity* and neurogenesis* in all present.
A most inspiring contributor was Indian social activist and educator, Bunker Roy who founded the Barefoot College in Rajastan.. He was selected as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential personalities for the programs of the college which have trained more than 3 million people in skills including solar engineers, teachers, midwives, weavers, architects and doctors. He describes women as the ‘change agents of the world today” in explaining how he has taught hundreds of illiterate grandmothers to become solar engineers each going back to electrify their poor communities. Hearing one of Asia’s leading women Peggy Liu, recognized for her expertise on China's sustainability confirmed this sentiment. Commissioner of sex discrimination, Elizabeth Broderick spoke of how ‘powerful men need to take the message of gender equality to other men”, something that was strongly endorsed by Mr Steve Vamos¸ Founding President, Society for Knowledge Economics,Non Executive Director, Telstra, Medibank and David Jones and Former Vice President of Microsoft.
Recently my son’s cell phone was confiscated for using it in the classroom (something for which I certainly supported the teachers decision). It was therefore most interesting to hear leading British educator and digital expert Professor Stephen Heppel emphasize the value of kids having all their electronic devices switched on at all times. (not sure that I agree). Professor Alan Finkel Chancellor of Monash University and leading engineer, neuroscientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist gave a compelling argument on how to reduce carbon emissions by a greater use of electricity. We were encouraged to change our mindsets by the use of improvisation with performing artist Russel Fletcher, actor, director and producer accompanied by exquisite piano renditions by leading Australian performers and composers. Most moving for me were the words of Deborah Cheetham in the session on ethical leadership. “We need to apply an Indigenous lens to ethical leadership. Honesty is needed in ‘who we are’ as Australians. So many Australians are content to ignore the question.” she lamented. “We are not just disconnected from indigenous heritage, we are also disconnected from moral courage,” expressed Deborah, an Aboriginal Australian soprano, actor, composer and playwright and a member of the stolen generation. I was thrilled to have a positive collision with an Adelaide Professor of linguistics who was distinguished by his bright red shirts and his Israeli name. Professor Gilad Zuckerman is working on the fascinating process of bringing to life the Aboriginal languages using the template of Hebrew being revitalised from ancient and unspoken to a vibrant modern language working at Adelaide Uni And Weitzman Institute In Tel Aviv.
I was thrilled that Tania, conference brainchild and organiser closed the event urging people to move forward and innovate, with her favourite quote (which is the same as mine) by the wise sage Hillel “If I am not for myself, who is for me and if I am only for myself, what am I? If not now when!” Be sure not to miss this spectacular event in 2014 –a place to learn from world-changing innovators, futurists, inspired thinkers and curious souls gathered together in an interactive community place to imagine the future.
* 1the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections
*2 The process by which new nerve cells are generated