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The unique annual

Summer Sounds Symposium

Brought to you
by Cognos Ltd

19-20th March 2010

The Summer Sounds Symposium was founded in 1997 by Amy (Agnes-Mary) Brooke, columnist, critic, commentator and children's writer.

Now known as the Summersounds Symposium, for its first decade the peaceful and private high summer setting of this special gathering was the beautiful Punga Cove, nestled in the bush-clad Endeavour Inlet of the stunning Marlborough Sounds, a network of sheltered blue waters at the top of New Zealand's scenic South Island.

Our new venue is the luxurious Vintner's Retreat, in Marlborough, at the weekend of the winter solstice, surrounded by miles of vineyards, with a little mud village opposite, a tiny chocolate factory not too far away, and the fascinating new Blenheim Aviation Heritage Centre nearby. Bicycles are provided for the adventurous to ride the long country road, where its grand skyscapes can be viewed to best advantage.

The precursor of the Knowledge Wave Conference (we did it first!) the Summer Sounds Symposium was the inaugural New Zealand event to bring together a genuine cross-section of individuals from the academic, corporate, government-related, senior media and communication sectors in robust, good-humoured, interdisciplinary debate. In great company, national and international speakers and participants come each year, from near and far, to contribute to the Symposium with their knowledgeable, provocative and commonsense approaches to the issues of the day.

With the focus on the directions in which – rightly or wrongly – we are heading, those attending have a unique opportunity to contribute, to learn from exceptional speakers, to liaise afterwards, and to form new friendships. The Sound's thinking ripples outwards!