Expert panels to convene at Comms Connect Melbourne

Four important panel discussions featuring local and international experts will be held during the Comms Connect conference in Melbourne at the beginning of October.

During the first morning session on the first day of the conference (Wednesday, 1 October), a panel discussion on ‘Critical communications over the next decade - evolution or revolution?’ will be led by Peter Clemons, Managing Director of Quixoticity.

On the same day (following the lunch break), and as part of the conference’s new Public Safety and Emergency Management stream, a panel will convene on the topic of ‘Next Generation Triple Zero (NG000): an international perspective’. Participants will include Deputy Chief Eddie Reyes of the Alexandria (Virginia, USA) Police Department and Inspector Peter Ferguson of Victoria Police. The panel will be moderated by Inspector (Ret.) Lance Valcour O.O.M., who is Chair of the Law Enforcement Information Management Section, International Association of Chiefs of Police.

A panel discussion at Comms Connect Sydney earlier this year.

The morning session on the second day of the conference will kick off with another panel discussion in the Public Safety and Emergency Management stream, this time on ‘Wireless broadband for mission-critical public safety data’. Moderated again by Lance Valcour, the panel will comprise Deputy Chief Eddie Reyes and Inspector Peter Ferguson, plus Assistant Chief Michael Sullivan (Chair, Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group).

The final session of the conference, on the Thursday afternoon, will be a plenary panel discussion on the topic of ‘Broadband for mission-critical public safety data: What’s next for Australia?’

The panel will include Mark Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, Police Federation of Australia; Station Officer Graham Tait AFSM, Systems Officer, Operational Communications, Fire & Rescue NSW; and Alex Stefan, National General Manager, Government and Public Safety and Security Global Industries, Telstra Global Enterprise and Services.

In this fast-paced session, panellists will be given a maximum of two minutes to sum up their thoughts on the topic. The floor will then be opened for an open, frank and hard-hitting facilitated discussion between the delegates and the expert panel. Nothing is off the table and delegates are encouraged to not only ask questions but to offer opinions, recommendations and best practices.

For full details of the event program, speakers list, exhibitors list and registration details, see the Comms Connect website.

Comms Connect will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on 30 September (preconference industry workshops), and 1 and 2 October (the conference proper and exhibition).