Comms Connect Melbourne returns with a bang

Comms Connect Melbourne finally bounced back from a three-year COVID-induced absence this week, with a two-day conference and exhibition on 19–20 October plus pre-conference workshops from ARCIA and the ACCF on 18 October. It was a triumphant return to form for the Southern Hemisphere’s premier critical communications event — and with Australia’s east coast once again being inundated with flooding rains, the themes of public safety and resilience were very much front of mind for the hundreds of visitors who attended each day, from across our region.

Geoff Hird, MD at WF Media and WF Events, was very pleased at the success of the event. “Clearly the industry was eager to get together in person again, and with such a high-quality conference program and some of the sector’s leading suppliers supporting the event, we had some great energy in the building from the moment the doors opened on Wednesday morning,” he said.

The conference agenda was packed with two streams of presentations, with multiple sessions on public safety networks (in the contexts of NSW, the USA and New Zealand), cybersecurity (particularly prescient given recent high-profile cyber attacks) and drone deployments. Meanwhile, the exhibition floor featured dozens of local and international vendors showcasing their wares, from portable radios to control systems, GPS, digital solutions and much more.

The ARCIA Industry Gala Dinner and Excellence Awards were held on the evening of 19 October, celebrating and recognising the achievement of outstanding individuals in the Australian radio communications industry. Guests were entertained on the night by guest speaker and MC Julian Morrow of satirical comedy team The Chaser, who shared highlights of how wireless technology has played a part in various Chaser pranks over the years — including the infamous APEC stunt!

Comms Connect will return in 2023 with events in Christchurch (June) and Melbourne (October). For further updates, keep an eye on https://www.comms-connect.com.au/.

Top and above: Kylie De Courteney, Managing Director of the NSW Telco Authority, delivered the keynote speech, ‘Connecting Rural & Remote Communities’.