I was approached recently by the Australia Institute to posit my ideas for my island home taking a serious and long-term view, 32 years ahead to 2050. I was one of seven initial contributors, asked not just to think of a generational goal, but what assets did Tasmania already have that would help us achieve it. I realised how little time one spends thinking long term, but in fact how essential it is.

First published in The Examiner, 21 April 2018

Jo Cook and Jess Robbins met while working in the Hobart restaurant trade 20 years ago. Ms Cook is curator of the Dark Mofo Winter Feast and Ms Robbins works for the Global Island Partnership. They were invited by The Australia Institute to propose a “big idea” for Tasmania’s future as part of its #WTF2050 – (What’s Tasmania’s Future?) initiative.

JO COOK: I’ve been living in Tasmania 24 years now, I came down here in 1993 for a two-week holiday. We went straight to Coles Bay and my friends went diving and brought home abalone. I was 23 years old, I had never seen abalone. Then we went down south on a cray fishing boat. That was my first few days in Hobart. I just thought this place is amazing. I’m going to stay. After I had been here a while I took over a restaurant in Salamanca - it was two floors, we had a 24-hour license and that’s when Jess (Robbins) came along and started working in the kitchen with me, that was 20 years ago.

First published in The Examiner, 15 April 2018

By 2050, everyone everywhere will have the right to thrive. (Yep, utopia).

First published in The Examiner, 28 March 2018

On Tuesday, The Australia Institute Tasmania launched a new initiative cheekily titled #WTF2050 – What’s Tasmania’s Future?

The project brings together some of the state’s best thinkers to answer the question – where do you want Tasmania to be in 2050?

What's your big hairy goal and what strengths does Tasmania already have to help us get there?