There's just over a month to go to Place West London – the sub-region’s most important economic development event – which this year will focus on a range of the key challenges and opportunities faced by west London.

The event will cover a range of subjects, including the mega-projects at Wembley and Earls Court. Heathrow will also be to the fore, with the debate around whether the airport should be allowed to expand continuing, speakers from Heathrow and elsewhere will explore what it would mean to business if the sub-region’s biggest provider of employment were either to grow or close down completely.

The Davies Review could eventually recommend either of those options, and with around 200,000 west London jobs dependent on the presence of the airport it’s a key moment for our economy.

Delegates will also hear from Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, on the experience of delivering the Olympic facilities, and what we could learn from that about the regeneration of Old Oak – at the interchange of HS2 and Crossrail, and the West Coast Main Line, where the possibility of another 75,000 jobs could be realised with the right approach.

The press coverage of HS2 hasn’t been all that positive lately, with many questioning the benefits that could be realised. If one of them is this major change to a former rail depot – a project that would be larger than the Olympic Park - then west London could benefit just as much as Birmingham. Transforming this massive brownfield site in the heart of west London, and next to Park Royal, northern Europe’s largest industrial park, and home to 63,000 jobs already, will not be straightforward, and will require commitment, vision and considerable stamina. Sir Robin has been there and got the t-shirt, and will help us understand how a mega-project can be realised.

The planned transformation of White City will also be examined, with the rapid growth of Imperial College in the area bringing a host of opportunities for existing residents and companies, and the likelihood of a significant number of new, hi-tech, well-paid jobs. Exactly how this can be realised will be the main topic of conversation.

The economic future of our region is complicated to steer, we are, after all, the third largest economy in the UK after the City of London, and Birmingham. Heathrow on its own adds more to UK Plc than Manchester. But planning it is essential, as is doing so in a coherent way as a region, rather than a collection of boroughs. Business does not recognise borough boundaries, and neither does international investment. Individually, boroughs look as attractive as Brighton, together they are competing with Frankfurt.

Ross Sturley is the content director for Place West London, the sub-regional economic development summit that takes place on October 22, 2013, at Olympia.