THE push to create a Western Australian-based annual information communications technology showcase has gained momentum with almost half of available space booked at the ambitious Comm-IT WA exhibition and conference.
THE push to create a Western Australian-based annual information communications technology showcase has gained momentum with almost half of available space booked at the ambitious Comm-IT WA exhibition and conference.
Developed by Osborne Park-based Swan Exhibitions, the event has secured the support of the Western Australian branches of ICT organisations including the Australian Telecommunications Users Group, the Australian Computer Society, the WA Internet Association and Engineers Australia.
The Department of Industry and Resources has agreed to promote the Comm-IT conference in Asia.
The two-day event is planned to run on September 17 and 18 of this year at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, just three weeks after it opens. Swan Exhibitions has invested $200,000 in the Comm-IT concept and has booked the exhibition centre for the next five years.
Confirmed exhibitors include: Vodafone; Optus; Amcom Telecommunications; and Convergence Group, representing Cisco, HP, IBM & Nortell Systems and ATUG.
Swan Exhibitions marketing manager Martin Bain said Perth’s isolation was not expected to be a barrier to the success of Comm-IT, which he hoped would grow to attract an increasing number of delegates each year.
Mr Bain said he saw no reason why Perth could not become host to the signature event of the ICT industry in the Asia Pacific Region, as Western Australia already hosted other major events in the conference and exhibition calendar, particularly in the area of resources. Comm-IT aimed to eventually attract up to 15,000 delegates and 120 exhibitors, although the initial profitability of the event was secondary to developing its reputation.
“The goals we are setting are not based on the first year,” he said. “If we do it right, there will be longevity in the event.
“It is capturing the imagination of the ICT world in WA and we are starting to get interest from Asia because of the activities of DoIR.”
Mr Bain said the conference would run for one day only on the first day of the exhibition. Comm-IT 2004.
While the line-up of speakers was still being developed, Mr Bain said it was designed to provide engaging, high-level talent.
Mr Bain said Swan Exhibitions was in discussions with ICT specialists to speak at the event and create interest among the business and ICT community.
Four streams are planned – Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), WiFi, e-commerce and m-commerce, and security.
WAIA spokesperson Charlie Stephens said previous ICT conferences in WA had been locally focused and that the international approach to Comm-IT was likely to prove attractive to potential delegates.
“Perth is geographically well placed for an international conference and the new conference centre will provide us with a world class venue to facilitate that,” he said.
