AFAC15 comes to Adelaide in September

Adelaide is set to host the largest emergency services and public safety conference in the Australasian region, AFAC15.

In partnership with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, AFAC has developed a four-day event that will take place from Tuesday, 1 September through to Friday, 4 September, exploring the theme ‘'New Directions in Emergency Management’.

The conference will afford participants an opportunity to discuss and share new approaches in an all-hazard emergency management environment.

With emergency management rapidly evolving, the sector faces the challenge of increasing knowledge and understanding to work together to build reform and disaster resilience.

“The conference brings together representatives from emergency management agencies across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific so that as a region we can jointly discuss current issues impacting the sector,” said AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis.

“By sharing our knowledge and experience, we can continue to develop the capability of our industry across Australasia.”

AFAC15 will showcase a diverse range of events across all four days, beginning with the Research Forum on Tuesday, which will explore the role that research and innovation play in creating safer communities and better environmental management.

“The 2015 conference will again see Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC research on show, helping emergency management agencies across Australia and New Zealand find ways to use science to make our communities safer,” said Dr Richard Thornton, CEO of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.

Following on from the Research Forum, the main two-day program will run over Wednesday and Thursday with almost 60 sessions covering a wide array of topics such as child-centred disaster risk reduction, tropical cyclones, the g20 global summit, Ebola virus, flood, fire and planned burning.

Delegates will get to hear from some of the leading international and Australian experts in the field with key speakers set to include:

• Trefor Munn-Venn — CEO, Rhapsody Strategies, Canada
• Feng Min Kan — Head of Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Asia and Pacific, United Nations
• Group Captain Catherine McGregor — Royal Australian Air Force
• Dr Alex Zelinsky — Chief Defence Scientist, Department of Defence, USA
• Dr Rowan Douglas — CEO, Capital Science and Policy Practice, Willis Group, UK
• Dr Paul Willis — Director, RiAus
• Dr Bill Griggs — Director, Trauma Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital
• Dr Mark Finney — Research Forester, US Forest Service, USA
• Paul Boissonneault — Fire Chief, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, Canada

The conference will also feature a 6000-square-metre exhibition space that will showcase over 100 leading industry manufacturers and display the 2015 conference knowledge posters.

AFAC15 will conclude on Friday, 4 September with six post-conference development sessions. These sessions will provide delegates with a unique opportunity to attend masterclasses and workshops, and even partake in field trips to various sites for further learning opportunities.

To register or for more information about the conference including conferencing activities and speaker profiles, visit the conference website.

You can also stay updated via twitter: #AFAC15