The Sunshine Coast is located 100km north of Brisbane, and features commercial, residential and industrial precincts, as well as diverse landscapes from open coastline to green belts and pristine hinterland communities covering 2,291 square kilometers. The region continues to evolve into a modern, smart economy based on sound growth across numerous high value and knowledge-based industries including professional business services, innovative manufacturing and numerous high-tech start-ups. The Sunshine Coast is one of the largest local government areas in Australia and has averaged 2.5% annual growth over the last decade, making it one of the fastest growing areas in the country; with the population expected to grow to more than 500,000 people by 2041. In this interview, ICF Co-Founder John Jung speaks with Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson,  Sunshine Coast Innovation Centre CEO Mark Paddenburg and Helimods Head of Strategic Engagement, Sandra Arico.