Podcasts about Lord mayor

fWotD Episode 3020: Berners Street hoax Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 11 August 2025, is Berners Street hoax.The Berners Street hoax was perpetrated by the writer Theodore Hook in London in 1810. After several weeks of preparation he made an apparently spontaneous bet with a friend that he could transform any property into the most talked-about address in London. Hook spent six weeks sending between a thousand and four thousand letters to tradespeople and businesses ordering deliveries of their goods and services to 54 Berners Street, London, at various times on 27 November 1810. Several well-known people were also invited to call on the address, including the chairmen of the Bank of England and the East India Company, the Duke of Gloucester and the Lord Mayor of London.Hook and his friends rented rooms in the house opposite number 54 to view proceedings. Chimney sweeps began arriving at the address at 5:00 am on the day, followed by hundreds of representatives of several trades and businesses, including auctioneers, undertakers, grocers, butchers, bakers, pastry chefs and dancing masters; goods deliveries included organs, furniture, coal, wedding cakes, food, drink and a coffin. The police were called to try and manage the crowd but they were not able to clear the street until after the final influx of visitors at 5:00 pm: domestic servants who thought they were to be interviewed for a job.Hook was unidentified at the time, but admitted his involvement in a semi-autobiographical novel published twenty-five years after the event. The hoax was repeated across Britain and Paris, and was retold on stage, in song and by cartoonists.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:55 UTC on Monday, 11 August 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Berners Street hoax on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Danielle.

Cuán Ó Flatharta, presenter of NewsTalk's Splanc, and former Lord Mayor and Fine Gael councillor Emma Blain join Anna to review Saturday morning's front pages.From the race to the Áras and the horrifying scenes from Gaza, get all the biggest stories here.

Hannah Tyrrell, two time All-Ireland winning Dublin footballer and Ray McAdam, Lord Mayor of Dublin look ahead to tonight's homecoming for the seven-time champions.

Lord mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece is backing an idea to make Victoria the 'most optimistic city' following on from the Melbourne 2050 Summit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Lord Mayor of Melbourne and long time friend of Joy and Saturday Magazine, Sally Capp this week as they discuss the week that was in Melbourne, what's coming up... LEARN MORE The post Saturday, 2nd August, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Sally Capp (Former Melbourne Lord Mayor) appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Sally are joined live on air by  Nick Reece, Melbourne Lord Mayor, as they discuss highlights 2050 Summit, Now or Never Festival! New plans to make the Yarra... LEARN MORE The post Saturday, 2nd August, 2025: Nick Reece, Melbourne Lord Mayor, Highlights 2050 Summit, Now or Never Festival! Swimmable Yarra…. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

In August 2024, we produced an all day event  Middleton's Endgame: A Game at Chess LIVE! a pop up Middleton festival at The White Bear in Kennington, featuring a live performance of A Game at Chess, discussions of the play, a look at Middleton's last public work, the 1626 Lord Mayor's show, and other selections of writing from across his life. The whole event, as ever, was recorded, and we're releasing these over the next few months. This is episode 1, beginning at the top of the show. The show started with Setting up the Board, which delivered an overview of Thomas Middleton in the 1620's, and the theatrical context for the play. With readings of some of the sources, letters, and gossip behind the political theatre of the time. The hosts were Robert Crighton and Liza Graham Also featuring the voices of Keith Hill, Simon Nader, Daniel Yabut, Gillian Horgan, Kit McGuire, Sojourner Hazelwood-Connell, Connor Robert-Brown, Valentina Vinci. YouTube playlist of readings of the play. Podcast playlist on the play. Patreon box set of this show. The Legacy of Thomas Middleton discussing episode. Our patrons received a rough mix of this episode in September 2024 - over 11 months in advance. The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is supported by its patrons – become a patron and you get to choose the plays we work on next. Go to www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/beyondshakespeare - or if you want to give us some feedback, email us at admin@beyondshakespeare.org, follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram @BeyondShakes or go to our website: https://beyondshakespeare.org You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel where (most of) our exploring sessions live - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLa4pXxGZFwTX4QSaB5XNdQ The Beyond Shakespeare Podcast is hosted and produced by Robert Crighton.

Has the demise of London's leading financial services been "greatly exaggerated", and does the underlying evidence tell a very different story? In this interview, held at Mansion House in the historic City of London financial district, the Right Honourable Alastair King (696th Lord Mayor of the City of London) explains his view that the UK enjoys an unrivalled position, untouched by other European capitals.   He explains London and the wider UK “moat”, and why it exhibits persistency and resilience. Perhaps the most unexpected statistic is the significant growth in employment numbers in the City since Brexit. He discusses the importance of the Mansion House Reforms and the £75bn of investment by 2030, headed into private assets. He discusses why we must recognise that we need to take more risk, judiciously but emphatically (and this is directed at both public and private markets).  Lord Alastair then touches on the lessons we can learn from Canada and Australia and his current priorities. Finally, he explains why we need to get on planes/trains in order to trumpet the UK and drive new business opportunities.  The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, IFM Investors, World Gold Council and LSEG.   Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube  

Enforcement will be an issue Mick Finn, former Lord Mayor of Cork and now Youth Services Manager Cork Education and Training Board tells Paul Byrne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dublin City Council is calling on Dubliners to 'Be Sound This Summer' with a public awareness campaign, renewing its call for everyone to be respectful and to prioritise safety when walking, cycling, or driving on the city's streets during the busy summer months. As part of the launch, activations are taking place around the city this morning. Pedestrians and cyclists are being rewarded by "Soundness Detectors" for positive behaviour, thanking those who look out for others and prioritise safety. Commuters will be rewarded for their "sound" behaviour with an 'I'm Sound' badge that they can wear proudly! Following on from the successful original 'Be Sound' campaign launched in January, this summer campaign features a series of short, snappy social media videos featuring the Lane Hog, the Dangerous Dasher and the Light Breaker. These will be rolled out across Dublin City Council's social media channels, highlighting everyday ways to be sound. Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, speaking about the campaign, said, "As a city, we're working to make travel safer, cleaner, and more connected - not just through infrastructure, but through how we treat one another. 'Be Sound This Summer' is about recognising and celebrating those small, everyday actions that make our streets safer and more respectful for everyone. By adding a bit of fun and positivity to the message, we're encouraging all road users to look out for each other. Whatever way you travel, being sound goes a long way." Recent findings from Dublin City Council's 'Your Dublin Your Voice' survey show that active travel plays a central role in how people get around the city. On average, people split their weekly transport time almost evenly between walking or wheeling (41%) and driving (40%), with a further 19% spent cycling. Dublin City Council continues to roll out dedicated infrastructure across the city, with three vital active travel schemes being completed within the next four weeks: the Ranelagh Village interim scheme, Beatty's Avenue to Herbert Park (part of the Dodder Greenway) scheme, and the Royal Canal Phase 3 scheme. With the summer months bringing more people out walking, cycling and driving, particularly around holidays and city events, Dublin City Council is reminding everyone to be alert and considerate on the streets so people can feel safer opting for more sustainable modes of transport. Active travel doesn't just support safer roads; it also delivers wide-reaching health and economic benefits. According to the most recent 'Walking and Cycling Index', walking and cycling in Dublin removes up to 530,000 cars from the roads each day and generates an annual benefit of €2.39 billion for individuals and the wider city. It also prevents 3,655 serious long-term health conditions each year and saves the health service approximately €64.5?million, equivalent to over 1.17?million GP appointments. Christopher K Manzira, (Acting) Director for the Active Travel Programme Office, Dublin City Council, at the launch said, "With more people choosing to travel actively across the city, we all have a shared responsibility to look out for one another. 'Be Sound' is a reminder that safety and respect are essential on our streets. Whether you're walking to the shop, wheeling to work, or driving through town, a little soundness can make a big difference. The data shows that active travel benefits us all, from reducing emissions to easing congestion as well as the additional health benefits. We want everyone to feel confident and safe doing so." The 'Be Sound this Summer' campaign will be visible across social media, digital channels, and on-street activity. The first video, which looks at the 'Lane Hog', can be accessed here: For more information about Dublin City Council's Active Travel Network, visit dublincity.ie or follow @DubCityCouncil on Instagram, Facebook and X. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Irel...

Asset Management can be explained as a systematic process of planning, operating, maintaining, upgrading and replacing assets cost-effectively with minimum risk and at the expected levels of service over the assets' life cycle. One sector where effective asset management can make a huge difference is public transportation, with organisations having to keep track of an exhaustive list of costly vehicles and infrastructure. Long time listeners may recall a previous episode where we interviewed the train operator, Greater Anglia, after they successfully achieved ISO 55001, the best practice standard for asset management. Now 3 years on, they've been recently recertified and have learned a lot since their initial certification. In this episode, Andrew Barnes, Head of Asset Management at Greater Anglia, joins Ian Battersby to discuss how they currently manage their ISO 55001 certification, what they've learned in the past 3 years since certification and the benefits of effective asset management.   You'll learn ·      Who is Andrew Barnes? ·      Who are Greater Anglia? ·      How do Greater Anglia manage their ISO 55001 certification? ·      What lessons have been learned since their initial certification? ·      What are the main benefits of ISO 55001? ·      Andrew's top tip for ISO Implementation     Resources ·      Isologyhub ·      Greater Anglia ·      ISO Support Plan   In this episode, we talk about: [02:05] Episode Summary – Ian Battersby is joined by Andrew Barnes, Head of Asset Management at Greater Anglia, to discuss their experience with being certified to ISO 55001 for the past 3 years, explaining the lessons learned and benefits gained.    [03:25] Who is Andrew Barnes? Andy is currently the Head of Asset Management at Greater Anglia. A fun fact that not many people know about him is that he was part of the Lord Mayor's Show in the 80's, though he had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction that ended with him getting a stern talking to! Andy has been working in the railways since 1985, starting as an apprentice with British Rail. [05:15] Who are Greater Anglia? Greater Anglia are a train operator who took over from National Express, East Anglia back in 2012. They serve the Anglia region from Liverpool Street Station, and are unusual among railway companies in that they are under a full repairing and insuring lease. This differs from most who have station access conditions, where the responsibility for maintenance and repair is split between Network Rail and the train operator. They currently operate 134 stations, with 2 more under construction which are Burley Park (due to open in October 2025) and Cambridge South (opening in early 2026). In addition to the stations, they also own 7 depots for train stabling and maintenance. So in short, a lot of assets to keep track of! [07:40] Extra asset requirements – They are also now challenged on cleanliness at train stations. This involves mystery shoppers visiting stations and marking them against certain criteria to give a score, which Greater Anglia tend to score quite highly. They also have to inspect all of their assets on a conditioned surveying scheme, the scores of which need to be communicated to Network Rail. [09:00] Andy's role as Head of Asset Management – Andy is relatively new to this role, becoming the Head of Asset Management in April 2025. He has a team of asset inspectors that conduct the condition surveys internally. He's also responsible for the Engineer Insurance Team, part of their role is to determine the technical aspects of large schemes that require focused designs. [10:05] How do Greater Anglia manage their ISO certifications? – In addition to ISO 55001, Greater Anglia also hold ISO 9001 and a number of standards specific to engineering. They have benefitted from 3rd party support in the form of utilising Blackmores consultancy to help gain certification and aid with on-going support for internal audits. Their processes and procedures are all managed by their Project Management Team, who conduct regular reviews against ISO requirements to ensure they stay relevant and in alignment with best practice. They also have a strategic asset management plan, risk register and continuous improvement plans in place to address various elements of both asset management and general quality management. Like with most ISO Standards, there's a lot of crossover in the requirements, so elements of each certification can easily be integrated and used to bolster an existing management system. [11:15] The benefit of a maturing management system – Andy is quite keen on learning from their maturing management system. Through effective implementation, you can look back and see what's working well and where improvements can be made. Having a certain level of management system maturity enables you to make more informed continual improvement decisions. [13:20] A structured approach – Prior to ISO 55001 certification, they were still doing everything that was required of them to maintain assets simply because that was the right thing to do. What they lacked was the structured processes and procedures to support that hard work. It wasn't as planned and more of a reactionary approach to asset management. Andy appreciates the clearly defined lines, processes and ability to learn from their mistakes as a result of ISO 55001 implementation. It simply helped provide a more consistent and collaborative base for effective asset management. [14:25] Other benefits from ISO 55001 certification:- Improved efficiency: New and improved processes helped to manage both their time and internal resource. They eliminated unnecessary meetings, and consolidated key discussion points for their regular meet-ups to ensure important updates were prioritised. Risk Mitigation: They now have a structured approach to learning from past mistakes. This is managed via a Lessons Learned Database, which collates the answers to specific questions that get asked after project completion. They make sure to include contractor input so all parties involved feel the benefits. Recently, they've also been granted access to Network Rail's Lesson's Learned database, so they will benefit from an even wider knowledge base for future projects. Consistent approach: Their current management system ensures that everyone is following the same policies, processes and procedures. People know what their responsibilities are, who to communicate what to and how they can help contribute to improvement efforts. Continual Improvement culture shift: The management system doesn't require everyone to know everything from the get-go. It encourages a culture of learning with the goal of continual improvement, so people aren't afraid of suggesting actions for innovation.   [19:45] Lessons learned: Not just from mistakes – Ultimately, from an asset management point of view, Greater Anglia want to maintain or renew an asset as functional and preserve it for as long as possible. They need to intervene as quickly and as efficiently as possible to minimise the impact to people using it. Minimising the time on site with things like modular construction and hauling large equipment are things we've done due to lessons learned from other projects. These were positive changes that we've taken on not due to mistakes but simply from trying different things. A lesson learned doesn't have to result from a mistake. It's about learning from both risks and opportunities. [21:20] Top ISO Implementation tips from Andy – Do your homework: Have a good understanding of your Management System and take your time to weave it into your day-to-day activities. A helping hand: Make use of an ISO champion, whether that's someone internal with ISO knowledge or a 3rd party dedicated ISO consultancy (such as Blackmores) to help you break down an ISO Standard into something you can understand and apply to your way of working. Recording evidence: Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk! Once a process or procedure is documented, follow it, and record evidence of this. Same goes for any actions for improvement that are raised, don't just let it sit there, action it. [23:45] Andy's take away from ISO 55001 management – Andy is surprised by how attuned their business is to the Standard. The Standard speak may seem obtuse or vague, but its adaptability is it's greatest strength. You have the flexibility to apply it in a way that works for your business. [25:15] Andy's book recommendations – 1984 by George Orwell and Adolf Hitler: My part in his downfall by Spike Milligan. [26:35] Andy's favorite quote – ‘By Failing to prepare, you're preparing to fail' – Benjamin Franklin If you'd like to learn more about Greater Anglia, check out their Website and Linkedin. If you'd like any assistance with ISO 55001 Asset Management, feel free to get in touch with us, we'd be happy to help. We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ●     Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●     Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

Lord Mayor of Melbourne said that recent figures show that the City of Melbourne is going through a "retail renaissance". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Mark Levy has condemned Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for backing a pro-Palestine march across the Harbour Bridge, particularly her claim it would be a "powerful symbol".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam has invited former US President Barack Obama to formally accept the Freedom of Dublin during their visit to the city in September. However, the Irish Anti War Movement is now considering a protest against the honour. Jim Roche PRO of the Irish Anti-War Movement and Scott Lucas Professor of US and International Politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

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Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam has invited former US President Barack Obama to formally accept the Freedom of Dublin during their visit to the city in September. However, the Irish Anti War Movement is now considering a protest against the honour. Jim Roche PRO of the Irish Anti-War Movement and Scott Lucas Professor of US and International Politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

Former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle have been invited to accept the Freedom of the City of Dublin when they visit the capital in September.The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ray McAdam, said the couple had received the city's highest civic honor in February 2017 by Dublin City Council, however they have not yet had the opportunity to formally accept it.Is now the right time to receive this award? And should they get it at all?Joining guest host Mandy Johnston to discuss this and more is Eddie Punch from the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association and Law Lecturer from the University of Galway & Columnist with The Journal, Larry Donnelly.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner joined Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast to answer queries from listeners on the big issues facing residents right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In 1950, Zell Meehan was appointed secretary to the Lord Mayor of Newcastle. In 1956, aged 37, Zell married and as was the custom of the time, was expected to resign. However, Zell refused to do so.

Who was William Beckford, and why does his name still spark debate today? Born in Jamaica in 1709, Beckford became one of the wealthiest men in Britain through sugar plantations powered by enslaved labour. Twice elected Lord Mayor of London, he was a towering political figure in Georgian society—renowned for his opulent lifestyle and his bold speech to King George III in 1770.In this episode of the London History Podcast, we uncover the life and legacy of William Beckford, exploring his rise to power, his deep ties to the transatlantic slave economy, and the impact of colonial wealth on the City of London. We ask: how did Beckford shape London's political and cultural life, and why does his story matter today?Join us as we examine the complicated history behind one of the most influential—and controversial—figures of 18th-century London.

He told 3AW's Tom Elliott the trip is about "promoting business connections" and "connections which help drive Melbourne and make us more prosperous".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trevor from The Score on Cork's 96FM gets around! PJ hears he also spoke to Ger Nash and Fergal Dennehy ahead of the Cork Super Cup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Fiona and Macca are joined live on air by Nicholas Reece – Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nicholas Reece, is an Australian politician and policy activist, currently serving as the 105th... LEARN MORE The post Saturday, July 5th, 2025, Nicholas Reece – Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Anti-semitism in Melbourne, Councillors attempt to remove LGBTQIA+, Award Category appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

The City of Melbourne in their recent budget abandoned proposals to cut funding from its bike infrastructure program, they this week instead put $6 million back into the program, with proposals of a permit for commercial e-bike users.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fine Gael's Ray McAdam has been elected as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin. His term will focus on ‘celebrating Dubin' in which he hopes to champion the city's people and potential. Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam spoke with Anton earlier to address his plans for the capital.Listen here.

In a city increasingly defined by data, design, and digital connectivity, a new pilot project is giving some of its youngest residents a powerful tool for change - Minecraft. As part of the Smart Docklands Pilot Call 2024 projects, Craft My Street addresses the topic of community development by delivering workshops to schools in Dublin. A total of 139 students participated and 54 ideas were designed in Minecraft. This initiative was created by researchers from University College Dublin that uses gaming to amplify youth voices in city-making. Blending open-source geospatial data with interactive multiplayer crowd mapping, this project enables young people to propose real-world urban interventions, all while building their ideas block by block in a virtual version of Dublin's Docklands. The initiative is part of a broader effort by Smart Docklands, an innovation programme established by Dublin City Council and CONNECT, the Research Ireland Centre headquartered at Trinity College Dublin. In 2024, the programme launched a €50,000 open call to fund pilots across four urgent themes identified through public engagement: environmental monitoring; urban greening; antisocial behaviour/safety; and community development. Craft My Street was selected for its focus on the latter and its potential to reimagine what participation looks like in the digital age. "Craft My Street shows what happens when researchers meet young people where they are - in games, in classrooms, in their communities - and hand them the tools to shape the future. It's not just about Minecraft; it's about empowering the next generation to imagine and build a better city," said Trinity's Prof. Dan Kilper, Director of the CONNECT Centre. "Young people are rarely included in decisions that affect the communities they live in," said Ítalo Sousa de Sena, Assistant Professor in Digital Landscape Design at UCD and the project's lead. "The Smart Docklands Pilot Programme was a great opportunity to further develop the Craft My Street project and validate its impacts. The network of participation and expertise in engagement from the Smart Docklands team was essential to achieve the goals of the project. The funding was crucial to guarantee that all students could have the same experience with the project, by securing devices and the game for all participants, as well as to continue promoting the playful crowd mapping of Dublin in Minecraft!" Through Mapathons, classroom-based workshops, and access to a public Minecraft server, participating students imagined new public spaces, proposed green solutions, and mapped safety and accessibility issues. The virtual environments reflected real data and spatial realities - but the creativity was all theirs. Reflecting on the programme's impact, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, said: "Young people are an important part of shaping the future of the city, and it's essential to involve them in the conversation. The Craft My Street project as part of the Smart Docklands Pilot Call 2024 projects is a fantastic example of how technology can make youth participation in decision-making more engaging and inclusive." "By reshaping their surroundings in a virtual Dublin through Minecraft, students created solutions in a fun and meaningful way. I'm delighted to support this initiative and to see the creativity and vision of young people come to life. I was particularly flattered to see my own avatar be brought to life." Karolina Anielska, Programme Manager at Smart Docklands, said: "Craft My Street proved that serious topics like city planning can be fun and engaging, especially when young people lead the way. Through Minecraft, they shared creative ideas for Dublin's future and reminded us that play can be powerful. Their energy doesn't just shape the city - it encourages adults to get involved too. This is just the beginning." While the outcomes are playful, the project is underpinned by serious intent. It supports the National Framework for Chi...

A pair of American podcasters has described Belfast as 'violent' and 'crazy' after a recent visit to record a live show. Are they being unfair? Frank spoke to deputy lord mayor, Paul Doherty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dublin's outgoing Lord Mayor has revived the tradition of honouring those who have reached the age of 100. Our reporter Gavin O'Callaghan has been speaking to some of them. .

Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, and Cllr. Joe Kavanagh, former Lord Mayor of Cork, join The Hard Shoulder to respond to growing anger over Cork's road conditions.According to figures released to NewsTalk, Cork ranks the highest in number of pothole related complaints to local council.Listen here for all the latest.

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PJ talks to Fergal Dennehy, Cork's new Lord Mayor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nick Reece joined 3AW Mornings and explained why they are planning on introducing the security guard program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PREVIEW: Colleague Gregory Copley reports that the magic of kingship starts to transform the Lord Mayor of London. More. 1840

When you have a good story to tell, why not invite the world?For our Lost In Belfast series finale, we convene in the Titanic Hotel's grand vaulted hall, where the ill-fated ship was designed. Hundreds have gathered from across local communities and from around the globe for the Belfast International Homecoming—civic leaders, elected officials, business executives, investors, entrepreneurs, culture makers…and two peripatetic podcasters.Co-host and a Belfast Homecoming Ambassador himself, John Lee spoke with the event's creator Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, a former Lord Mayor, long-time publisher, and Irish Stew alum and Connla McCann, who organizes this and many other high-profile events on both sides of the Atlantic as co-founder and director of Aisling Events.We glean their insights on the purpose, evolution, outcomes, and future of this much anticipated annual event (returning Sept. 25, 2025), and grab soundbites from Dan Dennehy--VP Council for American Ireland Relations, Bryan O'Dwyer, a New York lawyer dedicated to advancing Ireland's cause in the United States, and Smuggling Nun Poitín's Maura Clare, another past Irish Stew guest and a 2024 Belfast Homecoming Ambassador.We also heard about the Homecoming's sister event, the New York New Belfast Luncheon Conference, coming to the stately New York Athletic Club on Thurs., June 12. See the link below for last-minute tickets!So, we are lost no more—we found our way home to Belfast.We thank Tourism Ireland for all their support and Máirtín and Connla for inviting us to the Belfast Homecoming!Links2025 New York New Belfast Conference - Thu, Jun 122025 Belfast International Homecoming - Thu, Sep 25Aisling EventsMáirtín Ó MuilleoirLinkedInTwitter/XFacebookEarlier Irish Stew episodeConnla McCannLinkedInFacebookEpisode Details: Season 7, Episode 21; Total Episode Count: 124

Lord mayor Nick Reece joined Tom Elliott. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This lecture was recorded by Alderman Alastair King on 14th April 2025 at Guildhall, London.Alastair King is the 696th Lord Mayor of the City of LondonHis civic responsibilities began when he was first elected as Common Councillor for Queenhithe Ward in 1999 – giving him over 24 years' uninterrupted service; he was appointed Deputy for the Ward in 2006and elected Alderman in 2016 – serving as Aldermanic Sheriff 2022-23.He sits on the Governing Bodies of the Bridewell Royal Hospital, the Samuel Wilson Loans Trust, Morden College and Emanuel Hospital. A Liveryman of 11 City Livery Companies, Alastair also serves as Chairman of The British Liver Trust and Chairman of Onside Youth Zone,Haringey Project.Early in his career, Alastair was a lawyer and practiced as a solicitor at leading international law firm Baker & McKenzie in the City and in Asia.Alastair later held senior positions at SPARK Ventures (formally NewMedia SPARK PLC) a pioneering technology venture capital company in London, and was Managing Director at Galahad Capital Plc.He is the founder and Chairman of Naisbitt King Asset Management Limited (NKAML), an FCA-authorised asset management company, specialising in managing segregated portfolios of investment grade fixed income securities. NKAML constructs bespoke portfolios, often with special reference to Environmental, Social and Governance characteristics. It also has experience with sukuk/Shariah-compliant investments and publishes the Naisbitt King Bond Market Update every month.The transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/2025-annual-lord-mayors-eventGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-todayWebsite:  https://gresham.ac.ukTwitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeSupport Us: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-todaySupport the show

Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC (born 2 March 1948) is an Australian former politician who served as the 43rd Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999, Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party from 1982 to 1989 and from 1991 to 1999, and the Member for Burwood from 1976 to 1999. He is currently a media commentator. He was previously the president of the Hawthorn Football Club, from 2005 to 2011 and again from 2017 to 2022. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national mental health advocacy organisation. Early life The son of Kenneth Munro Gibb Kennett (1921–2007), and Wendy Anne Kennett (1925–2006; née Fanning), he was born in Melbourne on 2 March 1948. He attended Scotch College; and, although an unexceptional student academically, he did well in the school's Cadet Corps Unit. He also played football (on the wing) for the school.  His failure to rise above the middle band academically almost led him to quit school in Fourth Form (Year 10 – 1963), but he was persuaded to stay on. His Fifth and Sixth Forms were an improvement, but he was still described in school reports as "[a] confident and at times helpful boy. Sometimes irritates. Sometimes works hard" (1964), and "[a] keen, pleasant, though sometimes erratic boy" (1965). After leaving school, Kennett was persuaded by his father Ken to attend the Australian National University in Canberra, but lost interest and left after one year of an economics degree. He returned to Melbourne and found work in the advertising department of the retail giant Myer – kindling an interest for advertising that would one day earn him his living. Kennett's life in the regular workforce was cut short when, in 1968, he was conscripted into the Australian Army.[9] Kennett was selected for officer training and graduated third in his class from the Officer Training Unit, Scheyville (OTU), near Windsor, New South Wales, outside Sydney. He was posted to Malaysia and Singapore as Second Lieutenant, commander of 1st Platoon, A Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR). This military career (and his earlier experience in the Scotch College Cadet Corps) has been noted by many biographers as an essential formative influence on the adult Kennett's character. His sense and regard for hierarchical loyalty, punctuality, and general intolerance of dissent or disobedience may be traced to this period. Kennett returned to civilian life in 1970, reentering a divided Australian society, split by the Vietnam War, of which Kennett was a firm supporter. Having returned to Myer, Kennett became impatient with his work, and so with Ian Fegan and Eran Nicols, he formed his own advertising company (KNF) in June 1971. Thereafter, in December 1972, Kennett married Felicity Kellar, an old friend whom he had first met on a Number 69 tram on the long trips to school. Their first son was born in 1974, followed by a daughter and two more sons. Political career Kennett was elected as a Liberal Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Burwood in 1976, having had an interest in local politics since the early 1970s.[14] His preselection for the seat reportedly irritated then Premier Dick Hamer, who disliked Kennett's campaigning style, and had endorsed the sitting member, Haddon Storey. However, by 1981, Kennett was promoted to Cabinet as Minister for Housing and Minister of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. He was one of several younger MPs whom Hamer promoted to Cabinet in a bid to renew his government. Kennett retained his post when Hamer was replaced as Liberal leader and Premier by Lindsay Thompson in June of that year. Following the defeat of the longstanding Liberal government in 1982, Kennett was the leading candidate to replace Thompson despite being the youngest member of the outgoing government. On 26 October, he was elected leader of the Liberal Party and hence Leader of the Opposition. He took an aggressive posture against the Cain government, and was often criticised for his "bull-in-a-china-shop" style and his anti-government rhetoric. Under his leadership, the Liberals were heavily defeated by Labor in 1985. Afterwards he faced a challenge to his leadership of the party from Ian Smith. Kennett survived easily, but increasingly, he was seen as an erratic and unapproachable leader. He faced two more challenges to his leadership in 1986 and 1987. In 1987, in one notable incident Kennett referred to the Federal Liberal leader John Howard as a 'cunt' in a mobile telephone conversation with Howard rival Andrew Peacock. The car-phone conversation damaged both Howard and Kennett politically, but aided Peacock in his push to return as Federal Liberal leader (1989). Toward the end of its second term the Cain government had lost support and the Liberals were expected to win the 1988 election. The Liberal vote indeed rebounded strongly – they won a majority of the two-party vote – however much of this margin was wasted on landslide majorities in their heartland. As a result, the Liberals took only one seat from Labor in the capital, and were left four seats short of a majority. Failing to become premier, Kennett was again criticised within his own party, and in 1989 he was deposed in favour of a little-known rural MLA, Alan Brown. Kennett's performance during his first stint as Liberal leader is a matter of debate. Economou sees his 1985 and 1988 election campaigns as weak, while Parkinson believes he was a significant asset in pushing the Labor government of John Cain in several key seats. First term as premier Kennett publicly pledged never to attempt a return to the Liberal leadership. However, when Brown proved unable to challenge the government effectively, he allowed his supporters to call a spill in 1991. Brown realised he didn't have enough support to keep his post and resigned, allowing Kennett to retake the leadership unopposed. With Victoria facing billions of dollars of debt, Kennett was seen as "Premier-in-waiting" from the moment he retook the leadership. Cain had resigned a year earlier in favour of Deputy Premier Joan Kirner, who was unable to regain the upper hand despite being personally more popular than Kennett. The Liberals' advantage was strengthened by an important decision taken during Brown's brief tenure as leader—negotiating a Coalition agreement with the National Party. The Liberals and Nationals have historically had a strained relationship in Victoria; they had sat separately for most of the second half of the 20th century. It had been believed that Kennett had been denied victory in 1988 due to a large number of three-cornered contests in rural seats. The Coalition went into the October 1992 state election as unbackable favourites, having been ahead in opinion polling by large margins for almost two years. They stoked the voters' anger with a series of "Guilty Party" ads, targeting many Labor ministers and highlighting concerns in their portfolios. In the second-largest defeat that a sitting government has ever suffered in Victoria, the Coalition scored a 19-seat swing, attaining a 16-seat majority in the Legislative Assembly. The Liberals won 52 seats, enough for a majority in their own right. Nevertheless, Kennett supported his coalition partner, retaining the Nationals in his cabinet. State school closures In the first three years of office, funding for public schools and the Department of Education was substantially reduced. 350 government schools were closed, including every Technical High School ("Tech") in Victoria, and 7,000 teaching jobs eliminated. The Tech School closures had a widespread, delayed effect two decades later when a skilled labour shortage in the state was declared by the government, attributable largely to the generation of children who were denied a trade-focused high school education, significantly reducing the number of school leavers commencing trade apprenticeships. The few who did so were insufficient to counterbalance the number of retiring tradespeople in the coming years. This directly resulted in the number of Skilled Migrant (subclass 190) visas being made available each year increasing to 190,000 from 2012 and an active campaign to entice migrants with trade qualifications to Victoria. Public transport Other controversial moves included the sacking of 16,000 public transport workers in a major technological upgrade of the system, and the initiation of a major scheme for privatisation of state-owned services, including the electricity (SECV) and gas (Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria) utilities, the ambulance service, as well as several prisons and other minor services. The sale of the Totalisator Agency Board raised $609 million. Between 1995 and 1998, $29 billion of state assets in gas and electricity alone were sold to private enterprise (for statistics, see Parkinson, Jeff, 1999) In the wake of these changes, investment and population growth slowly resumed, though unemployment was to remain above the national average for the duration of Kennett's premiership. While the benefits to the State budget figures were indisputable in the short term, the social and longer-term economic cost of the Kennett reforms have been questioned by many commentators, academics and those who suffered economically through the period of reform. This campaign of privatisations and cutbacks led to governmental acts of privatisation by splitting up Melbourne's rail (Hillside, Bayside, V/Line and West Coast Rail) and tramways (Yarra and Swanston) or budget-cutting becoming popularly known as being "Jeffed". He also cut back many regional rail services including The Vinelander (ran to Mildura, services later restored to Maryborough as a regular V/Line service in 2011) and services to Leongatha, Bairnsdale (returned in 2003), Dimboola (services later returned to Ararat in 2004). The largest public protest in Melbourne since the Vietnam War Moratorium occurred on 10 November 1992, with an estimated 100,000 people marching in opposition to the retrenchment of many workers and the large State budget cutbacks. Kennett was undeterred by this protest, and famously commented that though there were 100,000 outside his office at Parliament that day, there were 4.5 million who stayed at home or at work. High-profile capital works projects This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) The Kennett government also embarked on a series of high-profile capital works projects, such as the restoration of Parliament House, construction of a new $250 million Melbourne Museum and IMAX theatre, and a new $130 million Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Other projects included a $160 million expansion of the National Gallery of Victoria; $100 million for refurbishment of the State Library of Victoria; $65 million for a new Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC); and $130 million for the construction of a new civic square on the site of the old Gas and Fuel Buildings, to be known as Federation Square. The relocation of the Formula 1 Grand Prix from Adelaide in 1993 was a particular coup for Kennett, who had worked hard with his friend Ron Walker, the Chairman of the Melbourne Major Events Company, helped deliver Melbourne the hosting rights for the event from Adelaide in 1993. The most controversial project of the Kennett era was the $1.85 billion Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, a gambling and entertainment centre on Melbourne's Southbank. Initial plans for a casino had been made under the Labor government, however the tendering process and construction occurred under Kennett. A$2 billion project to redevelop Melbourne's derelict Docklands area to include a new football stadium was also undertaken, in addition to the large CityLink project, a project resurrected from the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan, aimed at linking Melbourne's freeways, easing traffic problems in the inner city, and reducing commuting times from the outer suburbs to the CBD. Macedonian name dispute Kennett speaking at a event In the mid-1990s, Premier Kennett backed the Greek position over the Macedonian question in his attempts to shore up local electoral support. Kennett's stance gained him supporters from the Melburnian Greek community, whereas he was referred to as "Kennettopoulos" by the Macedonian community. At Kennett's insistence, his state government in 1994 issued its own directive that all its departments refer to the language as "Macedonian (Slavonic)" and to Macedonians as "Slav Macedonians". Reasons given for the decision were "to avoid confusion", be consistent with federal naming protocols toward Macedonians and repair relations between Macedonian and Greek communities. It was accepted that it would not impact the way Macedonians self identified themselves. The decision upset Macedonians, as they had to use the terms in deliberations with the government or its institutions related to education and public broadcasting. The Macedonian Community challenged the decision on the basis of the Race Discrimination Act. After years of litigation at the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), the Federal Court and High Court, previous judicial rulings were upheld that found Kennett's directive unlawful as it caused discrimination based on ethnic background and was struck down from usage in 2000. Second term as premier Kennett's personal popularity was mostly average to high through his first term, though that of the government as a whole went through peaks and troughs. Without a by-election in the previous four years, the 1996 state election shaped up as the first test of the 'Kennett Revolution' with the electorate. The Coalition was expected to win a second term at the 30 March election, albeit with a somewhat reduced majority. At the federal election held four weeks earlier, while Labor was heavily defeated, it actually picked up a swing in Victoria. However, to the surprise of most commentators, the Coalition only suffered a two-seat swing, allowing it to retain a comfortable 14-seat majority. The Coalition actually picked up modest swings in Melbourne's outer suburbs, which have traditionally decided most state elections. Several negative trends (for the Liberals) were obscured somewhat by the euphoria of victory. The government's sharp cuts to government services were particularly resented in country Victoria, where the Liberals and Nationals held almost all the seats. The loss of the Mildura seat to independent Russell Savage was an indication of this disaffection, and when in February 1997 independent Susan Davies was elected to the seat of Gippsland West, this trend seemed set to continue. However, the verdict of many was that the 'Kennett Revolution' was far from over – indeed it was seemingly set in stone with the opening of the Crown Casino in May 1997. Kennett's profile continued to grow as he became a major commentator on national issues, including urging the new government of John Howard to introduce tax reform, and actively opposing the rise of the One Nation Party of Pauline Hanson. In this last case, Kennett did not shy away from criticising the media, but also the decision of the Howard government to not actively oppose Hanson's agenda. Kennett was influential in Melbourne bidding for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Three cities initially expressed interest in hosting the event; Melbourne, Wellington and Singapore. Singapore dropped out before its bid was officially selected by the Commonwealth Games Federation, leaving only two candidate cities. In the weeks prior to the announcement of the 2006 host, Wellington withdrew its bid, citing the costs involved with matching the bid plan presented by Melbourne, which became the default host without members of the Federation going to vote. The government lost ground over the next few years, with high-profile disagreements with the Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard Bongiorno, and Auditor-General Ches Baragwanath fuelling criticism of Kennett's governmental style. Kennett's perceived antipathy to Baragwanath led to 1997 legislation to restructure the office of the Auditor-General and set up Audit Victoria. While Kennett promised the independence of the office would be maintained, many saw his government's actions as an attempt to curb the Auditor-General's power to criticise government policy. Widespread community debate and substantial public dissent from Liberal MPs and Party members ensued, with MLA Roger Pescott resigning from Parliament at the height of the debate; citing his disagreement with this Bill and Kennett's style in general. The Liberal Party lost the by-election in Mitcham. Further scandals involving the handling of contracts for the state emergency services response system damaged the credibility of Kennett in 1997–1998, while rural dissent continued to grow. Personal difficulties also began to affect Kennett and his family. The strains of public life led to a trial separation between Felicity and Jeff in early 1998 (patched up by the end of the year), while earlier in Kennett's first term, public scrutiny had led to the forced sale of the KNF Advertising Company, despite all Kennett's involvement having been transferred to his wife's name. There were rumours in 1998 that Kennett might retire from politics; these were mostly centred around Phil Gude, his party deputy. These eventually came to nothing. In July 1998, Liberal MP Peter McLellan, Member for Frankston East, resigned from the party in protest over alleged corrupt Liberal Party Senate preselection, changes to WorkCover and the auditor-general's office. Again, Kennett failed to pick up the warning signs of declining support for his style of leadership. Labor leader John Brumby took care to capitalise on each of Kennett's mistakes over this period, though his absences in rural electorates were misunderstood by many Labor MPs, and led to his replacement by Steve Bracks in early 1999. Bracks, who came from Ballarat, was popular in rural areas and was seen as a fresh alternative to Brumby, who nevertheless remained a key figure in the shadow Cabinet. 1999 election loss Despite Bracks' appeal, Kennett entered the 1999 election campaign with a seemingly unassailable lead, and most commentators and opinion polls agreed that the Coalition would win a third term. However, in a shock result, the Coalition suffered a 13-seat swing to Labor. While there was only a modest swing in eastern Melbourne, which has historically decided elections in Victoria, the Coalition suffered significant losses in regional centres such as Ballarat and Bendigo. ABC elections analyst Antony Green later said that when he first saw the results coming in, it looked so unusual that he thought "something was wrong with the computer." Initial counting showed Labor on 41 seats and the Coalition on 43; a supplementary election had to be held in Frankston East following the death of sitting independent Peter McLellan. The balance of power rested with three independents-Russell Savage, Susan Davies and newly elected Craig Ingram. Negotiations began between the Coalition and the three independents. While Kennett acceded to all but two of their demands, his perceived poor treatment of Savage and Davies in the previous parliament meant that they would not even consider supporting a Coalition minority government headed by Kennett. On 18 October, two days after Labor won the supplementary election in Frankston East, the independents announced they would support a Labor minority government. The agreement entailed Labor signing a Charter of Good Government, pledging to restore services to rural areas, and promising parliamentary reforms. Kennett's supporters urged the Coalition to force a vote of 'no confidence' on the floor of the parliament in a last-ditch effort to force Savage, Davies and Ingram to support Kennett. However, with the Liberals divided on Kennett's future role, Kennett retired from all of his offices, saying he wished to have no further involvement in politics. Labor won the ensuing by-election in Burwood. Rumoured returns to politics Following the Liberals' second successive defeat in the 2002 election, rumours began that Kennett was planning a comeback to politics. The issue came to a head in May 2006 after the sudden resignation of Kennett's successor, Robert Doyle, when Kennett announced he would contemplate standing in a by-election for Doyle's old seat of Malvern and offering himself as party leader. His stance was supported by Prime Minister John Howard, who rated him as the party's best hope to win the November 2006 state election. But within 24 hours Kennett announced he would not return to Parliament rather than running against Ted Baillieu, whom Kennett had been grooming for the top post since 1999. John Howard was reported to have been "embarrassed" by having publicly supported Kennett before his decision not to re-enter politics. In 2008, it was rumoured that Kennett was planning to stand for Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Despite endorsing future Lord Mayor John So in the 2001 mayoral elections, Kennett was quoted as saying "I think the city is ready for a change". Kennett claimed he had been approached by "a range of interests" to run for the position, but in the end did not do so. Former Liberal leader Robert Doyle ultimately won the election. 2020: Indigenous voice to government On 15 January 2020, it was announced that Kennett would be one of the members of the National Co-design Group of the Indigenous voice to government. Life after politics Kennett at the 2018 VFL Grand Final In 2000, Kennett became the inaugural chairman of beyondblue (the National Depression Initiative), a body that was largely formed by the efforts of the Victorian State Government. On 24 June 2008, he announced that he would be stepping down from his role at beyondblue at the end of 2010. This did not happen. After 17 years as the chair of beyondblue, he stood down in 2017, handing the reins to former PM Julia Gillard. He stated "beyondblue is part of my DNA, outside my family, it has been my most important role. Kennett has previously served on the boards of Australian Seniors Finance, a reverse mortgage company, and SelecTV, which was a satellite television group. Kennett has said in an interview that he rarely thinks about the media or "bloody history", though he regrets the "disastrous" introduction of the Metcard ticketing system for trains and trams. Kennett angered gay rights groups in July 2008 when he supported the Bonnie Doon Football Club in their sacking of trainer Ken Campagnolo for being bisexual; and compared homosexuality to pedophilia. Anti-discrimination campaigner Gary Burns pursued an action in the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal against Kennett for making the following statement: "The club felt that once this had been pointed out and you had this gentleman there who was obviously close to young men – massaging young men – it ran an unnecessary risk, and that's why it decided it was best that he not perform those duties again. So the club was trying to do the right thing," The case was dropped due to Gary Burns' lack of funds to pursue the case. Hawthorn FC presidency On 14 December 2005, Kennett was made president of Hawthorn Football Club, taking over from Ian Dicker. Following the exit of the St Kilda Football Club from the Tasmanian AFL market in 2006, Kennett was president when the Hawthorn Football Club negotiated a five-year sponsorship deal with the Tasmanian state government. The sponsorship deal was worth an estimated $12 million for which the Tasmanian government bought naming rights to the club's guernsey, and the HFC committed to playing an agreed number of pre-season and four regular season "home games" at York Park.[56] Kennett was instrumental in Hawthorn's 2007 5-year business plan titled "five2fifty", the core idea being that in the next five years the club will target to win 2 premierships and have fifty thousand members. As part of the plan, the football club wants to be seen as the most professional club in the AFL, and places great emphasis on the welfare of the people associated with the club. Following Hawthorn's 2008 AFL Grand Final victory over Geelong, Kennett claimed that the Cats "lacked the mentality to defeat Hawthorn", this being in reference to the Cats' inability to counter-attack the running game of the Hawks in the aforementioned Grand Final. Kennett's comments led to the subsequent eleven-match losing streak for Hawthorn against Geelong becoming known as the "Kennett curse". He stepped down at the end of his second three-year term in 2011, he also changed the club's constitution so that presidents could only serve two 3-year terms. Second stint Kennett at an AFL Women's match in 2023 In what Fox Footy described as a "stunning return",[59] Kennett was announced as the president of the Hawthorn Football Club on 4 October 2017 following the sudden resignation of the incumbent president Richard Garvey. Garvey had taken criticism on the hiring and later sacking of club CEO Tracey Gaudry. Kennett subsequently appointed Justin Reeves as the club's new CEO. On 4 October 2017 he announced that he would serve the position for a full 3-year term. Soon after his re-appointment, Kennett and the club released a vision statement outlining the future of the club up to 2050. The first five-year strategic plan titled 'Dare to be Different' will drive the club's priorities from 2018 to 2022. Kennett said: "Hawthorn we aren't ones to sit back and wait, we work hard to achieve and deliver exciting results, on and off the field. Our vision for our strategic plan, "Dare to be Different", encapsulates this as we continue to strive for excellence. "We have set ourselves some ambitious targets but all are within our grasp if we continue to innovate, grow and forge new frontiers within the AFL industry." On 6 July 2021, Kennett and the Hawthorn board announced that they would not be renewing head coach Alastair Clarkson's contract following its expiry at the conclusion of the 2022 AFL Premiership season. It was announced that Box Hill Hawks and Hawthorn development coach, former player Sam Mitchell had been chosen by Kennett and the board to become the Hawthorn coach at the end of Clarkson's reign. Chairman of The Original Juice Company On 12 December 2022, The Original Juice Company announced that it would appoint Kennett as Chairman and Non-Executive Director. Honours In the Australia Day Honours of 2005, Kennett received Australia's then highest civilian honour, when he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). The honour was for "service to the Victorian Parliament and the introduction of initiatives for economic and social benefit, to business and commerce, and to the community in the development of the arts, sport and mental health awareness strategies." In May 2000, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate – DBus (Honoris Causa) – by the University of Ballarat. Media work For a brief period during 2002, Kennett was a radio presenter for Melbourne station 3AK, continuing an interest in mass communication which was also a feature of his premiership. Since 2010, Kennett has been a regular contributor to Neil Mitchell's 3AW radio program every Thursday, as a social commentator. On 28 March 2013 it was announced that Kennett had joined the Seven television network as national political commentator which will involve him appearing on breakfast show Sunrise every Tuesday and on Seven news as required. On 12 February 2017 Jeff Kennett engaged ex-Seven West Media employee on Twitter over leaked documents potentially breaching the company's own gag order on Amber Harrison.  

Facial recognition with the support of artificial intelligence could be used in the near future, in Melbourne's city centre CCTV network to identify criminals and trouble-makers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 15 years since Auckland became a supercity, and new data has revealed what people believe the city needs in order to improve. A total of 575 Aucklanders participated in the survey, casting 46,000 votes on statements, creating what's been called a “digital snapshot” of the city's sentiments. Former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Graham Quirk, outlined some other point of concern - as Brisbane prepares some upgrades ahead of the 2032 Olympics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Digital Twin Centre has officially opened in Belfast, marking a major milestone in the UK's digital innovation landscape. Delivered by Digital Catapult and funded by the Belfast Region City Deal and Innovate UK, the project is set to drive the next wave of industrial transformation by accelerating the adoption of digital twin technology across the UK's critical sectors, projected to reach £62million in GVA for the economy over the next decade. A Digital Twin is a dynamic virtual representation ('twin') of a physical asset, process, or system, bridging the physical and digital worlds. They turn data into real-time insights that can optimise performance, reduce costs, and predict outcomes before they happen. Since funding for the project was announced, Digital Catapult has brought together industry and innovators to identify adoption barriers and strategic interventions. At the Centre's opening, the project's co-investing industry partners - Artemis Technologies, Spirit AeroSystems, and Thales UK - utilised the cutting-edge facilities, including the 360-degree immersive space and advanced technology lab, to demonstrate how digital twins are helping to solve complex operational challenges. These early-stage use cases emphasise the power of cross-sector collaboration to create scalable, practical solutions while building expertise that can be shared across industries, ultimately improving product design, building supply chain resilience, and decarbonising operations. Programmes delivered by the UK Digital Twin Centre will help businesses across the UK to demystify, demonstrate, and deploy digital twins. With expert support, test environments and tools to experiment and validate, combined with shared learnings from industry use cases, it offers a practical route to adoption. The Centre has convened capabilities across digital twins six enabling technology areas - intelligence, data services, immersive and UX, cyber-physical systems, integration, and security - to make this emerging technology more accessible and interoperable across sectors and suppliers. "The UK Digital Twin Centre marks a major step for Belfast, driving innovation in high-growth sectors like advanced manufacturing," said the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray. "Through the Belfast Region City Deal and with Digital Catapult's UK-wide reach, we're connecting our SMEs to a powerful network, unlocking access to new markets, collaboration opportunities, and cutting-edge technologies. This will boost local businesses, create high-skilled jobs, and drive real economic impact for the region." The Centre's first six-month Accelerator Programme, now open for pre-application expressions of interest, will support partnerships between tech SMEs and industry to fast-track digital twin adoption in maritime, aerospace, and defence. Alongside Innovate UK funding, participants will also gain access to mentorship, workshops, and specialist support to develop proofs of concept for enabling technologies - such as IoT, data integration, and simulation tools - bringing their solutions closer to real-world deployment. "The UK Digital Twin Centre brings together our technical expertise, facilities, and networks to unlock the power of deep technologies,' said Susan Bowen, CEO of Digital Catapult. "By connecting industries with cutting-edge technology through our programmes, we are enabling businesses to harness the full potential of digital twins-driving operational efficiencies, advancing sustainability, and sharpening the competitive edge of UK businesses." Dean Cook, Executive Director for Place and Global?at Innovate UK, added, "Seeing real-world use cases coming to life at the UK Digital Twin Centre is a powerful demonstration of how digital twins can deliver tangible advances for UK industry. These cutting-edge tools will solve complex business challenges in aerospace, maritime, and defence. "It's a testament to how we are leveraging the strengths of local inno...

Prepare to unleash your inner scientist as Cork Carnival of Science returns to Fitzgerald Park on the 7th and 8th of June 2025. This FREE two-day festival, supported by Research Ireland and Cork City Council, will once again transform one of Cork Cities best loved public green spaces into a sprawling outdoor science lab, where minds of all ages can experiment, explore, and experience the thrill of scientific discovery. With more than 75,000 visitors attending in previous years, the Cork Carnival of Science has cemented its place as Ireland's largest outdoor STEM festival. Whether you're captivated by the wonders of the natural world, fascinated by cutting-edge technology, or eager to try mind-bending experiments, this event is designed to fuel curiosity and fan the flames of innovation. This year's festival will feature an even more dynamic programme, spanning physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, and environmental science. From the tiniest molecular reactions to large-scale experiments that make you go "WOW," every corner of Fitzgerald Park will be buzzing with scientific potential! Highlights of the Cork Carnival of Science 2025 include: Electrifying live science shows in the Circus Top and Stretch Tents Hands-on experiments and workshops to test, tinker, and create Fascinating exhibits showcasing real-world science in action Roaming science performers bringing unexpected experiments, gravity defying stunts and bubble magic to the crowd Nature-focused activities exploring ecosystems, wildlife, and the environment STEM challenges that puzzle, provoke, and inspire (Additional programme details to yet to be announced) Beyond the scientific spectacle, families can soak up the atmosphere with street food stalls, picnic areas, lush gardens, the Cork Public Museum, a huge playground, and on-site facilities, making it the perfect place for an exciting, educational, and entertaining day out. Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle welcomed the return of Cork Carnival of Science for June 2025 saying: "Cork City Council are delighted to continue our support for the Cork Carnival of Science which is a superb day out for all to enjoy engaging in STEM activities. Once again, the event will take place in the beautiful Fitzgerald Park. This free family festival is essential in keeping Cork City at the forefront of scientific endeavours into the future and I hope everyone will come out and enjoy this great day out." Cork Carnival of Science is dedicated to making science accessible, engaging, and inclusive. Sign language interpretation will be available at live shows, and a quiet zone near the Sky Garden will provide a calm space for those who prefer a less sensory-stimulating environment. Celine Fitzgerald, interim CEO of Research Ireland, said: "Research Ireland are delighted to support the Cork Carnival of Science under the Discover Programme. Science is about asking questions, experimenting, and seeing the world from new perspectives. This festival brings that spirit to life, offering a unique opportunity for families to engage with science in creative and interactive ways. Whether you're fascinated by the cosmos, curious about how things work, or just love a good experiment, there's something here for everyone." Mervyn Horgan of Lifetime Lab who oversees the organisation of the Carnival of Science said: "The Carnival of Science continues to evolve, and this year's event will highlight not only physics, chemistry, and engineering but also our deep connections with nature and environmental science. It's a brilliant opportunity for all ages to see the magic of STEM in action." The full programme will be unveiled soon, but for now, be sure to save the date for this unmissable science extravaganza. For updates, visit corkcity.ie/corkcarnivalofscience or follow @corkcitycouncilofficial on social media. #BelieveInScience See more stories here.

Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, April 24, discussing town news and events. She discussed a recent visit with Dublin Lord Mayor Emma Blain after the announced UNC football game in Dublin to start the 2026 season. She also discussed this week's town council meeting, which saw approval of "Maddry Meadows," which will be 54 affordable housing units for seniors on Homestead Road, and more. She also talked about the start of the Parks Master Plan, and more. The post Chapel Hill: Lord Mayor of Dublin, Maddry Meadows, Parks Master Plan appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

After the Lord Mayor's show. Manchester United returned to earth with a bump on Sunday as in-form Wolves won at Old Trafford. Ruben Amorim blooded Tyler Fredicson; he and Harry Amass acquitted themselves well, but it was another tough afternoon for Rasmus Hojlund. Still, we'll always have Thursday night. To cheer ourselves up, we went back through the email inbox for more memories of that remarkable comeback against Lyon. Send us your favourite MUFC European away days: devilspod@theathletic.com (put EXTRA in the subject line). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the Lord Mayor's show. Manchester United returned to earth with a bump on Sunday as in-form Wolves won at Old Trafford.Ruben Amorim blooded Tyler Fredicson; he and Harry Amass acquitted themselves well, but it was another tough afternoon for Rasmus Hojlund.Still, we'll always have Thursday night. To cheer ourselves up, we went back through the email inbox for more memories of that remarkable comeback against Lyon.Send us your favourite MUFC European away days: devilspod@theathletic.com (put EXTRA in the subject line). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listeners heard about a new Executive Order that required Irish people with American Passports to choose between having a public job in Ireland and retaining their right a US passport. Thanks to Lord Mayor Dan Boyle and listeners Georgina and Justin for playing along with our gag. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tariffs for goods going to the American market will hit this week. PJ asks the Lord Mayor what planning and work is being done behind the scenes by City Council Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Lord Mayor's parade. Reaction to the one-all against Tony Mowbray's Baggies.