Robert Govers

SENIOR PARTNER, CHAIRMAN, and SPEAKER

Robert Govers

SENIOR PARTNER, CHAIRMAN, and SPEAKER

๐— ๐˜† ๐˜€๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜†

Driving cars through Europe and the Sahara Desert to sell them in Niger (in 1989 and 1990) and exploring China and Russia on the Trans-Siberia Express (1992) as a student, I quickly realised that our world view is very superficial, clichรฉ and stereotype. This started my PhD supervised by professor Frank Go, to whom I am forever grateful for suggesting the classic literature that has grounded me in a basic understanding of the reputations of cities, regions and countries. Now I advise governments, am senior partner at Anholt & Co., am founding chairman of the International Place Branding Association, and a passionate visiting trainer in Beijing, Hyderabad, London, Milan, Rotterdam, and Turin.

So, are you thinking about the reputation of your city, region or country in this globalized and multipolar world? Then you are in the right place as this is the topic that I advise governments and their stakeholders on; which I study, speak and write about (for 20+ years). Read my book!

๐—ช๐—ต๐˜† ๐—บ๐—ฒ?

๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—œ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐˜€ ๐—ผ๐—ป
Positioning strategy, identity, image, reputation, symbolic actions / imaginative initiatives, community imagination. All this based on the premise that places build reputation through actions, not propaganda. Therefore, I also co-authored the Good Country Index.

๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜€
My research and experience taught me that for cities, regions or countries to be admired they:

  • have to be admirable
  • through a sense of identity, belonging and virtue
  • by which to influence international perceptions
  • with access to mainstream and social media buzz
  • by building unique experiences
  • through imagination and leadership
  • and community collaboration.

๐—š๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ต

  • Work
    • Anholt & Co. / IPBA
  • Education
    • PhD
Testimonials
Robert gave a phenomenal presentation at European Cities Marketing conference in Madrid... Robert's straight-shooting and no-marketing-mumbo-jumbo approach ... is both refreshing and very educational. Robert's message was very well received and top-rated by the delegates.
European Cities Marketing
Robert was our keynote speaker at the 2017 Tel Aviv Cities Summit, and delivered a wonderful presentation... Robert is able to communicate his ideas in a way that keeps everyone in the audience engaged.
Tel Aviv Cities Summit
It has been said that countries should measure their gross national imagination, a critical resource for success in the twenty-first century. Robert's important new book 'Imaginative Communities' shows why this is crucial in an age of fractured identity โ€“ and how so many places have forged initiatives that put themselves on the map but also inspire the rest of the world.
Dr Parag Khanna, Author of 'Connectography'