The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) International Conference, to be held at the new Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 6–10 September, promises to be the highlight of the year on the world public works calendar.
The strong response to the call for abstracts is an indication of the standing the IPWEA National Conference has developed in Australia and overseas.
Thirty-five per cent of the abstracts received were from overseas and there will be 45 international papers, almost double the number presented at the Cairns conference in 2007. Papers will be presented by speakers from 12 countries.
The three day conference will provide 138 papers in six concurrent streams (plus a 7th on day three) plus four plenary sessions involving four keynote speakers and an international panel looking at future issues facing public works.
Keynote speakers include:
- Christine Nixon APM, Chair Victorian
Bushfire Reconstruction Authority –
Global Challenges and Local Issues
Impacting Our Communities - Philip Bullock, Chair Skills Australia –
Workforce Challenges and Issues in our
Global Economy - Dr Tony Press, CEO Antarctic Climate and
Ecosystems CRC – Climate Change: What
prognosis from the latest science? - Dwayne Kalynchuk, GM Environmental
Services, Victoria BC, Canada – Carbon
Tax: Implications and Opportunities for
Local Government - Robyn Moore, Entertaining Inspiring Life
Changing Professional – Being Bigger than
the Circumstances.
The hot issues to be addressed at the conference in keynote and technical sessions include climate change, water management, asset management and skills shortage.
For further information contact Ross Moody on 0417 955 394, email rmoody@ipwea.org.au or visit the conference website at www.ipwea.org.au/melb2009
