Visit to ACS Tasmanian Branch by President, 15-17 September 1996

Australian Computer Society

Visit to ACS Tasmanian Branch by President

15-17 September 1996

(Also: ACS Applauds Tasmanian Government’s Initiatives, Media Release, Sunday 13 April 1997) Richard Wilson, Chair of the Tasmanian Branch of the ACS invited me down to talk to members, the IT, academic, business and political community.

Sunday 15 September

The ACS issued a media release about the visit and raising some issues for the visit:

Promoting the development of the Information Technology Industry in Tasmania,
Improving employer understanding and recognition of the benefits of employing IT professionals who are members of the Australian Computer Society,
Improving IT professionals' understanding of the value provided by the Society to its members, and
Improving community awareness of the Society and of its value to the IT industry and to the general community.

I was interviewed by ACS Radio Tasmania (7pm news Sunday night) in Melbourne on my way to Hobart.

Richard Wilson, Chair of the Tasmanian Branch collected me from airport and briefed me over coffee at Salamanca Place (a Hobart tourist corner dating from the 1830s). I was interviewed on the visit by Hobart's daily newspaper, the Mercury (Monday 16 September, page 9: "Business computer-shy: expert", by Stewart Diwell).

Then I had a short tour of Hobart, including a spectacular view of the city from the snow covered Mt. Wellington.

That evening I met with the ACS Tasmanian Branch BEC over dinner. I took the opportunity to canvas on the issue of IT helping the development of Tasmania's economy. Some issues which emerged and were discussed by Richard and myself with industry, academia and politicians were:

Affordable broad-band access to the Internet in Tasmania,
Changes to the structure of IT education at University of Tasmania,
Use of the Web for promoting Tasmanian industry

Monday 16 September

The Seminar "Serious business on the Internet" has about a dozen people and went well.

Had a quick lunch with senior IT staff at the University of Tasmania and then gave a talk to IT students and staff.

I met with Jeremy Fith, Director, Information Strategy Unit, Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Visited the ACS Hobart Office.

Met members at drinks and presented "Government in Cyberspace".

Tuesday 17 September

Met Deputy Opposition Leader, Paul Lennon.

Met Premier Tony Rundle and senior Tasmanian Government IT and industry development staff.

Met Bernie Samms and Andrew Catchpole of Prologic, a Tasmanian IT service provider and later inspected one of Prologic's public kiosk installations.

Discussed ACS support for ACIS 96 & the IFIP WG 8.2 Conference with Chris Keen at University of Tasmania.

Australian Computer Society