As the river city rapidly becomes a global city, opportunities begin to flourish for its residents.

Brisbane City Council is fostering this growing international profile, and with it Brisbane’s economic development, by hosting the 2021 APCS Special Edition from 8 to 12 September.

Aptly themed ‘Redefining Cities through Opportunities and Challenges’, the summit will gather together key city and business leaders from the Asia Pacific online and in-person at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre to create opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange.

As Brisbane experiences economic and social growth, the APCS is an opportunity to build connections in the international market.

For local business leaders and government leaders, the summit is accessible in two primary ways: as a delegate and as an exhibitor.

Delegates gain access to networking opportunities, speaker sessions and a program showcase while exhibitors are able to showcase their brand, services, and products to key decision-makers of the region, including government, business, and industry leaders.

To register for the APCS, click here. 

Fiona Holmstrom attended the APCS in 2019 as an exhibitor as Director of her company STEM Punks, an online STEM education service.

Holmstrom said APCS gave STEM Punks exposure to overseas markets, generating connections with international mayors and business leaders, and ultimately improved the scalability of the business.

“The connections APCS created allowed international markets to solve educational and technological challenges for us, and enhance business opportunities for the future,” said Holmstrom.

“Along with other inspiring speakers, STEM Punks Chief Executive Michael Holmstrom was a keynote speaker at the forum on ‘The Future of Work’.

“Key learning outcomes for us were that Asia Pacific is a huge growth area for Australia, and we’ve developed programs for Vietnam National University as a result of introductions at the summit.

“As a result of relationships built at the summit we’ve also just appointed our first team member in Austin, Texas, to capitalise on opportunities in America.

“The top-level insights gained at APCS equipped us with a growth strategy, which moving forward will enable us to scale STEM Punks globally.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said all eyes would be on Brisbane as it cements itself as a global city.

“With Brisbane rising as the fastest growing capital in Australia, we are already laying the groundwork with city shaping projects such as Green Bridges, Brisbane Metro and Victoria Park.

“Our focus over the next 10 years will be to make the most of the opportunities we have, whilst strengthening our connection with Queensland, Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

“The APCS provides an excellent platform for community leaders and local businesses to leverage the Games exposure and promote their capacity and capability to foreign businesses.

“What STEM Punks have gone on to achieve with the help of APCS shows just how far reaching the opportunities are for all kinds of local business, not just the big infrastructure wins we hear about so often.

“This year’s APCS is one not to be missed and I urge people to register now to secure an opportunity to connect with local and international businesses as well as government leaders.”

Register here for the 2021 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum (APCS)