Welcome to The Lookout. This month, we take a closer look at the forces reshaping leadership, strategy, and decision-making - from AI’s impact on the workplace to shifting security dynamics in our region.

In the third installment of the Sister City Challenges series, leaders from Aspen and Queenstown came together to tackle two of the toughest infrastructure issues facing these mountain resort towns: energy and transport. Moderated by Christine Maiden Sharp, the conversation revealed just how tightly these systems are now linked - and how innovative thinking, community engagement, and international knowledge exchange can deliver resilient, affordable solutions. While local in detail, the lessons shared apply to any community navigating growth, climate pressure, and the need to build with people at the centre. 

This month, we examine New Zealand’s shifting defence posture, new survey findings on WTO reform, and the implications of China’s expanding global influence. On the local front, we explore housing challenges in Queenstown and Aspen - and share upcoming events, including a new flagship partnership with the University of Otago - the inaugural Aspen Otago Security Forum, a major gathering on regional security set to launch later this year.

In the second session of the Sister Cities Challenges series, moderated by Aspen NZ CEO, Christine Maiden Sharp, Queenstown and Aspen came together to unpack one of the most complex issues facing their fast-growing resort towns: housing & urban planning. With population growth and tourism economies placing pressure on both supply and infrastructure, and affordability slipping out of reach for many residents, the forum explored what’s working - and what still isn’t - in two of the world’s most sought-after mountain communities.