May Newsletter 2026
In our May edition, ASCA continues to build momentum across the smart communities sector, with a focus on practical collaboration, emerging capability and delivering value in a changing environment. President James Sankar reflects on the strength of the ASCA community and the activity across the network, alongside the launch of registrations for ASCS 2026 in the City of Casey, centred on the theme Adding Value in the Age of Disruption. We also bring members together through insights from our Sydney Meetup, highlighting growing collaboration across local government. This edition shares practical perspectives on AI in smart communities, with key takeaways from our AI In Action webinar exploring governance, trust and organisational capability. We also highlight ASCA’s participation at Sydney Build Expo and continue to support sector capability through initiatives like the InsightWise AI trial for Local Government members. Alongside this, we introduce new thought leadership on First Nations digital inclusion and data sovereignty, reinforcing the importance of inclusive, community-led approaches. We also welcome VivaCity as a new Gold Member and open an expression of interest for an Event Coordinator to support delivery of ASCS 2026.
April Newsletter 2026
In our April edition, ASCA builds on a strong start to the year with a focus on resilience, AI as infrastructure, and the importance of system-level thinking across smart communities.
President James Sankar shares a timely message on navigating uncertainty and strengthening connected systems, as we announce ASCS 2026 in the City of Casey. We continue to bring members together through recent Melbourne Meet Up highlights and national engagement at the Australian Government Data Summit.
This edition also showcases practical innovation in action, with City of Casey’s AI journey offering real-world insights for local government. Members can also access complimentary tickets to Sydney Build Expo and take part in the returning InsightWise AI trial, available exclusively to Local Government members.
We also share updates on 2026–27 membership renewals, with fees held at 2024 levels, as we continue to support a growing and connected smart communities network.
March Newsletter 2026
March’s edition opens with a message from President James Sankar on resilience, collaboration and why “cities that endure” rely on connected systems, alongside a look back at key international trends from the Smart City Expo World Congress as ASCA’s 2026 webinar series kicks off. Save the date for the Australian Smart Communities Summit 2026, returning 14–16 October in the City of Casey, and don’t miss upcoming Melbourne and Sydney meetups to connect with the community in person. Local Government members can access the returning InsightWise AI trial, and ASCA members can claim complimentary tickets to Sydney Build Expo 2026. Plus, 2026–27 membership renewals are now open, with fees frozen at 2025 levels.
February Newsletter 2026
In our first major update of 2026, we carry forward the momentum of a landmark year with a message from President James Sankar, reflecting on his new role at the City of Parramatta and our evolving vision for the year ahead. We are proud to strengthen our leadership team by welcoming Ashlee Gardner (Secretary) and Mandy O’Toole (Treasurer) to their new Board positions, while introducing the new delivery partners who will be driving our digital and member engagement strategies. Our commitment to global best practices continues with the kick-off of our 2026 Webinar Series, featuring key international trends from the Smart City Expo World Congress. This month also marks significant progress in governance and resources, with the release of the new Australian Smart City Standards and fresh climate resilience insights via our Forge Magazine partnership. Additionally, we are pleased to offer our Local Government members an exclusive trial of InsightWise AI.
December Newsletter 2025
In the last edition of 2025, we reflect on a year of growth and momentum for ASCA. President James Sankar shares highlights including welcoming 13 new members, leading our largest-ever delegation to Barcelona’s Smart City Expo World Congress, and launching the ASCA 2030 Strategy. We introduce two new Board members and acknowledge our outgoing members’ contributions. Looking ahead to 2026, ASCA shares exciting plans for enhanced member engagement and our National Summit in November. We also announce a joint statement with IPWEA and Smart Cities Council calling for stronger ANZ presence on the global smart cities stage, and reveal exclusive member advertising opportunities through our new Forge magazine partnership.
November Newsletter 2025
In November’s edition, we highlighted the upcoming AGM on 26 November for electing Board Directors and Reference Working Group members, shared insights from ASCA’s representation at Melbourne Build Expo and the Brisbane Luncheon on local government smart city initiatives, and reflected on key takeaways from over 30 ANZ delegates at Barcelona’s Smart City Expo World Congress. We released a new member-only thought leadership piece on human-centric urban design featuring Melbourne’s Royal Park, made October’s webinar replays available, hosted Melbourne networking meetups, announced upcoming Australian Standards publications, and shared ASCA’s contribution to the Digital ID Rules consultation.
October Newsletter 2025
This month’s edition features important updates including our AGM notice with board nominations now open (closing 12 November), congratulations to ASCA Board Members Mandy O’Toole and Pearl Li Ng whose councils won 5 MAVlab Innovation Awards, exclusive member access to our latest thought leadership on data-driven placemaking, and the ASCA Summit 2026 announcement (18-20 November) with the theme “Innovation in the Age of Disruption.” Plus, updates on our ANZPAN contingent heading to Barcelona for Smart City Expo World Congress.
September Newsletter 2025
September’s edition leads with expressions of interest for hosting our National Summit 2026, scheduled for 17-20 November with EOIs open until end of November. The newsletter features our exciting partnership with Melbourne Build Expo (22-23 October), Part 3 of our data literacy thought leadership series focusing on trust and security in data ecosystems, and key insights from the Accelerating Smarter Development webinar. Read about Australia’s leadership in smart communities standards, celebrate ASCA President James Sankar’s prestigious IEC 1906 Award recognition, and discover the final call for our exclusive InsightWise AI platform trial for Gold and Silver members.
August Newsletter 2025
August’s edition dives into the transformative potential of AI for local government, featuring ASCA’s new partnership with InsightWise and an exclusive three-month platform trial for Gold and Silver council members. The newsletter launches the groundbreaking Accelerating Smarter Development report with Urbis and NBN Co, providing a blueprint for Australia’s smart community potential based on insights from nearly 200 industry professionals. Members can access key insights from the recent smart mobility webinar, exclusive IPWEA forum discounts, and Part 2 of the data accessibility thought leadership series, plus updates on Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 applications.
July Newsletter 2025
This month’s newsletter digs into some major shifts happening in Australia’s digital landscape, starting with the ACCC’s final report on digital platform services and what it means for how our communities interact with tech giants. We’re also sharing ASCA’s latest thinking on productivity reforms – covering everything from AI governance and digital skills to fast-tracking clean energy projects. Plus, we’re celebrating Melbourne’s impressive jump to 6th place in global city rankings, exploring new World Bank insights on urban investment, and highlighting fascinating research on accessibility-based planning that could reshape how we think about the “15-minute city” concept across NSW. It’s a packed edition that connects the dots between policy, innovation, and the everyday experiences of people living in Australia’s smart communities.