Registrations are now open for AFAC16 powered by INTERSCHUTZ, the annual Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and AFAC conference. This year the conference will be held in Brisbane from Tuesday 30 August to Thursday 1 September 2016 - register before 24 June and benefit from the earlybird discount.
Held over four days at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, AFAC16 powered by INTERSCHUTZ will attract delegates and visitors from emergency and security services agencies, all levels of government, non-government organisations, research and education institutions from Australia and across the world.
AFAC16 will be the first conference AFAC and the CRC have produced in partnership with Hannover Fairs Australia and will explore the theme Mitigation – Response – Recovery: Getting the balance right, opening with the Research Forum on Tuesday 30 August.
The Research Forum will emphasise the diversity of the research being conducted across all hazards, and will provide the opportunity for focused discussions between the research community and emergency managers on industry issues. It is not just for scientists – it is a great opportunity for emergency management personnel and end-users to learn about the current research and connect with researchers. This is more important now than ever, believes Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC CEO Dr Richard Thornton.
“The CRC has now had two highly successful Research Forums – last year was an attendance record, and 2014 was a sell-out.
“Our partners, and indeed the wider emergency management industry, are telling us they highly value the science we are undertaking, and they are voting with their feet.
“We are excited about the new partnership with Hannover Fairs Australia for 2016, as well as continuing to work with AFAC on the conference,” Dr Thornton said.
Confirmed keynote and invited speakers include:
Katarina Carroll, Commissioner Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Rhoda Mae Kerr, Chief of the Austin Fire Department in the US and President of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs
Dr Jeff Kepert of the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research and CRC project leader
FrankieCarroll,Director-General of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning,Queensland
Jona Olsson, Founder and director of Cultural Bridges to Justice and Chief of the Latir Volunteer Fire Department, New Mexico, US
Dr DavidHenderson, Director of the Cyclone Testing Station at James Cook University and CRC project leader.
The full program will be released in late April 2016.
CRC researchers and students will be advised in due course about registrations, while staff and volunteers of fire and emergency service agencies should contact their agency to find out about internal selection processes for conference attendance.
The conference will also feature an immersive trade exhibition as well as multiple streams running over two days – Wednesday 31 August and Thursday 1 September – and close with a series of post-conference development sessions on Friday 2 September.
This comprehensive program of events will be complemented with social functions that will provide valuable networking opportunities with colleagues and industry peers. Social events include the Delegate Welcome Function Drinks, sponsored by ISUZU Trucks and the popular AFAC Gala Dinner.