CQU Professor Bob Miles has just completed a consultancy role for the United Nations 7th Global Forum on Reinventing Government, which took place at United Nations Headquarters in Vienna from June 26 to 29.

"The Forum recognized the contributions made by CQU repeatedly and at the General Assembly very publicly promoted CQU.  Standing before 2000 world leaders was a very humbling experience and one I won't forget for a while," Professor Miles said.

Professor Bob Miles

The Rockhampton-based academic is Executive Director of CQU's Institute for Sustainable Regional Development (ISRD).

He is currently in Lanzhou in western China working on a regional development strategy and will be back in Rockhampton in mid-July.

Based on the theme of Building Trust in Government, the United Nations Forum comprised of a series of parallel capacity development workshops on different aspects of revitalizing governance and public administration

Over 2000 world government and civic leaders attended the forum (including ministers, senior government officials, parliamentarians, mayors and civil society representatives).

At a strategic level, the measures required to address the United Nations Millennium Development Goals were targeted by considering how Government can better engage with civic society, and build trust.  The past decade has seen a major decline in trust in Government globally in both developed and undeveloped countries.

"The ISRD was contracted as a consultant to the UN.  This role included providing specialist advice on Reinventing Government, Community Engagement and Regional Economic Development," Professor Miles said.

"My role was also to assist in the design of the program for the 5th workshop on building trust through Civic Engagement as well as the design of Australian case study and recruitment of an Australian contingent (State Government, Local Government and University) to talk about the Australian experience.

"The Australian section was a 2-hour block within the one and half day workshop that I was engaged for. The ISRD was also contracted to fulfil the role of Rapporteur for the 5th workshop."

CQU had a promotional display stand in partnership with the Queensland Government.

"Our booth promoted Queensland from a development and tourism perspective along with the structure and terms of reference of the United Nations International Centre of Excellence in Engaged Government," Professor Miles said.

"This Centre's development is being lead by CQU (ISRD) with active involvement of other universities from Australia including Monash, Sydney, SA, Queensland and Griffith universities."

The outcome of the Forum was the development of the Vienna Declaration on Building Trust in Government.

"I believe that this is a substantive contribution to global affairs and CQU should be proud that it has by invitation contributed to such a significant global event and outcome as well as being recognized for its efforts to this field," Professor Miles said.