Proffessor Ian Sommerville is to speak at the ASWEC 19th Australian Software Engineering Conference from March 25-28 at Curtin University. Professor Sommerville is a professor of software engineering at St Andrew’s University, Scotland, who is considered the father of software engineering among industry professionals. Other speakers at the event include representatives from NASA along with Richard Soley from the Object Management Group and Max Noble from the Thales Australia. For further information, please contact Professor Elizabeth Chang from Curtin University on 9226 7085, email: e.chang@curtin.edu.au; website: www. aswec2008.curtin.edu.au/index.php. Events International Recruitment: How to Recruit Skilled Staff from Overseas The Association of Consulting Engineers Australia is holding a breakfast seminar titled ‘How to Recruit Skilled Staff from Overseas’ at the Old Swan Brewery on Friday March 7 from 7:15 am until 9:00am. Geoffrey Atkins, Department of Immigration and Citizenship and Simon Winfield, Hays Construction & Property will speak at the event. Registration costs $59 for members and $69 non-members. For more information please phone Jo Watson or email aceawa@conwag.com. Riding the Boom Conference The Pilbara Area Consultative Committee to hold the Riding the Boom Conference in Karratha on May 1-2. Riding the Boom is a two-day conference for industry, small and medium sized business, the not-for-profit sector and government agencies to present the facts, rather than the rumours, of the current environment in the Pilbara. Speakers include: Andrew Horabin, professional speaker; Paul Pisasale, mayor, City of Ipswich; Tom Senti, CEO Tweed Economic Development Corporation; Jeff Austin, professional speaker and business coach; Geoff Stocker, Pilbara Logistics founder; Mike Thomas, economic development manager, Parramatta City Council; Tony Chadwick, business development manager, Delfin Lend Lease Ltd; Leanne Preston, Wildchild CEO; Megyn Carpenter, co-founder of Web Women; and Lloyd Smith, founding director of Gerard Daniels. Registration costs $165. To register, please contact 9144 0651, email CLongmore.pacc@bigpond.com, or visit the website at http://www. ridingtheboom.com.au.