Local Government Data Stories for Smart Community Engagement, with Kelly Henderson

Hi #SmartCommunity friends. Welcome back to this very special series here on the Smart Community Podcast, all about data storytelling as part of my PhD research.

In this episode of the Smart Community podcast I have a fantastic chat with Kelly Henderson.

Kelly is Team Leader of Digital Innovation at Wellington City Council in New Zealand. With a background in architecture, urban development, and major transport and infrastructure projects, Kelly now brings a digital lens to local government innovation.

In this episode Kelly tells us about how Wellington City Council uses data visualisation and storytelling both internally for decision-making and externally for community engagement. Kelly and I discuss the challenges of creating consistent, accessible data dashboards across a large organisation, and the power of digital twins to make complex climate and urban data engaging for the public.

We talk about the importance of testing assumptions about audiences, the tension between transparency and accessibility in data sharing, and the need for future scenario planning in urban development. We finish our chat discussing Kelly's advice about keeping data storytelling simple while embracing depth in data communication. As always, we hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it.

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Podcast Production by Perk Digital

This podcast is recorded on the traditional lands of the  Kabi Kabi peoples and edited on the lands of the Gaibal peoples.   I pay my respects to traditional owners of country and their elders past and present. I also extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples listening today. Here on the Smart Community Podcast, we talk about data, technology, communities and the future. First Nations peoples have been sharing knowledge, caring for country, and telling stories for tens of thousands of years. I honour that deep connection of storytelling and community connection as we continue our conversation together here today.

Disclaimer

The views, opinions, and perspectives expressed by guests on The Smart Community Podcast are solely those of the individual speakers. They do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of the host, Zoe Eather, or of The Smart Community Podcast as a whole.

Any discussion of ideas, products, organisations, or services by podcast guests does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the host or the podcast. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions and seek professional advice where appropriate.