2024 SA/NT iAwards Ceremony

Details

Our keynote Diane Dixon will provide an update on a statewide approach to drive a thriving and globally competitive innovation economy.

Lot Fourteen has demonstrated how a successful innovation district can rapidly emerge with a dedicated leadership model and whole of government approach to drive the delivery of high tech jobs, skills, research, and a thriving and magnetic place.

South Australia has a dynamic emerging network of thriving innovation places and economic hubs where concentrated activity is being accelerated to deliver economic complexity, jobs, and prosperity for the state. To drive a whole-of-state approach going into the future, a 10 year South Australia Innovation Places Framework has been developed focusing on:

• Stronger leadership and governance
• Greater connections and collaborations
• Growing innovation capability
• Targeted investment and business attraction

The unique statewide approach and successes of Lot Fourteen can be demonstrated from our emerging entrepreneurs and startups through to growing businesses and global names including many innovative technology companies – growing, attracting, and retaining a productive and passionate skills base for the future.

Keynote speaker

Diane Dixon

State Project Lead, Lot Fourteen
State Innovation District Lead, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Government of SA

Diane has worked in areas including major infrastructure project management, economic development, stakeholder engagement, strategy development, investment and trade, innovation, and precinct delivery in both the UK and Australia over the past 25 years. She has also sat on a variety of innovation, education, and government boards.

Diane led the planning and delivery of Queensland’s 200ha Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP) focusing on driving infrastructure investment and identifying business, research, and investment attraction opportunities on behalf of the City of Gold Coast, Griffith University, Gold Coast Health, and the Queensland Government. The GCHKP is the key piece of legacy infrastructure from the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Diane was involved in transforming the athlete’s village located within the precinct to a thriving residential and retail community within the state’s innovation ecosystem.

Diane is the State Project Lead for Lot Fourteen in Adelaide, South Australia. Diane is responsible for managing the delivery, curation, and operations of the 7ha innovation district. This involves management of the district’s physical delivery, development of governance and operating models, effectively engaging with stakeholders, curating the innovation ecosystem through tenancy selection and attraction alongside driving a range of collaboration and activation activities. She is also responsible for the delivery of key multimillion dollar pieces of infrastructure as part of the Adelaide City Deal, including the Entrepreneur and Innovation Centre, Innovation Hub, Tarrkarri – Centre for First Nations Cultures, The Circle – First Nations Entrepreneur Hub and the Digital Technologies Academy.

She is also the State’s lead for innovation districts and economic zones to establish South Australia as a global leader in innovation and economic outcomes. She is leading the development of a new centralised state-wide framework to bring together all innovation assets and districts. The model will unlock even greater value from state and federal investment, ensuring South Australia is globally responsive and competitive.

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