Why we have to do better! - John Walley - 29 Sept - AKL

Economic strategy has separated into two broad camps, largely driven by the underlying culture. The Anglosphere have followed a belief in the primacy of markets, smaller governments, lower taxes and policy emphasis on their domestic non-traded sectors.

Down this path tradable sectors shrink, bereft of policy support and investment.

Some still developing economies and some developed economies followed a different path, choosing expansion in their value added traded sectors as important to the long term development of their economies.

To underpin this culture there is a need to keep their manufacturing and tradable sectors strong. What they have in common is the belief, backed by policy, that a strong value added tradable sector based on competitive advantage is vital for economic success as competitive advantage builds added value from imagination, skills and capability.

John Walley is an experienced shareholder, director, manager and technologist with significant international experience in strategy, technology, product development, operations and intellectual property management. Six years as a Crown Research Director, thirteen years as an active member of the Technology New Zealand reference group, and many years experience in manufacturing and new product development gives John a broad and pragmatic view of the world.