Michael Whereat

Michael Whereat has worked in local government on the Sunshine Coast for 24 years and been Smart Cities Lead for the last 8 years.

Today, Michael leads a small team working with half of all Sunshine Coast Council branches to implement the Smart City Framework & Implementation Plan 2022-25. The Innovation Pipeline has consolidated over 550 problem/ideas into 235 unique problems. With 80 operational solutions and 130 moved to watching brief, we have matured the process of validating and facilitating through to an operational status that is ultimately owned and implemented by the organisation. The Smart Infrastructure Manual is the most recent addition to our cache of guiding plans and documents that facilitate Smart Cites outcomes for the Sunshine Coast. Michael has contributed to these smart city projects: – Sunshine Coast submarine Cable and terrestrial networks; Maroochydore City Centre; Telecommunications and associated enabling infrastructure for smart city Internet of Things installations and Testing Tech in Paradise.

Previously Michael was the founding Co-Chair of the Broadband Today Alliance est. 2010 and this role became founding President of the Australian Smart Communities Assn in 2014 when the former group became incorporated as a not for profit. In both of these volunteer roles, Michael sought to help rise the tide of knowledge and capability of local government officers to the benefit of all.