ACS News , QLD

ACS to Host IFIP World Computer Congress in 2010

ACS bid team secures Brisbane as host city for IFIP Conference in 2010

The ACS (Australian Computer Society)has announced that it has won the bid to be the host organisation for the prestigious International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) World Computer Congress. The Congress will be held in Brisbane in September 2010.

The President of IFIP, Professor Klaus Brunnstein from Germany, announced Australia’s success in Ethiopia on 26th August as part of IFIP’s General Assembly deliberations. The ACS overcame rivals China, India and South Africa to secure the rights to host the Congress.

More than a thousand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) leaders from around the world are expected to attend the Congress, which will generate significant opportunities for sponsors to market to this elite international community.

IFIP is the leading international body for Information & Communications Technologies and Sciences. A United Nations-founded organisation, IFIP has more than 85 member bodies or affiliated ICT associations representing over 800,000 influencers and professionals world-wide. The ACS has supported IFIP since its inception in 1961 with numerous IFIP office bearers amongst the ACS membership. .

ACS President Philip Argy said Australia’s success in securing the hosting rights underscores our capabilities as an ICT nation of global significance. He called on the ICT industry and academia to use the opportunity to showcase Australia’s ICT expertise and research capability.

“This announcement reinforces Queensland, and Australia’s world class industry, academic, research and university culture. It also confirms our great track record of early adoption and development of ICT products and services. The Congress is a valuable opportunity for Australia’s ICT leaders to showcase national capabilities on a world stage.

“Brisbane is an ideal host city as it is the nation’s premier tourist gateway and the headquarters for many major corporations in South East Asia, including SAP, Boeing and Virgin. We would like to acknowledge the strong support that the ACS and the ICT industry as a whole have received from the Queensland Government. In particular we thank the State Government for its pledge of $150,000 to support the Congress and for Premier Peter Beattie’s recent address at an Industry luncheon, where he highlighted how ICT underpins Queensland’s economic prosperity and its successful Smart State vision. We have written to the Prime Minister seeking matching funding to secure the Congress’ financial success.

“The ACS bid team has done a fantastic job in representing our nation and our ICT industry. We thank Bid Committee Chairman Mark Lloyd for his outstanding efforts in representing Australia in Ethiopia. We look forward to the countdown to 2010,” said Mr Argy.

The planning committee for our successful bid included the following ACS members:

Mark Lloyd – Bid Committee Chairman and Chairman of the national ACS initiative Technologists in the Public Interest
Chris Avram - Director of the ACS Computer Systems and Software Engineering Board
Professor Ashley Goldsworthy – former ACS and IFIP President
Kumar Parakala – ACS Vice President
Nick Tate - Chairman of ACS Queensland
Dr Prins Ralston - Chairman of Queensland Chapter of the ACS Foundation and former IFIP Vice President


Mark Lloyd said, “We are proud of our success in securing the World Computer Congress for the benefit of Australia.

“Australia is a major ICT hub in South East Asia and a convenient, affordable and safe location for our many neighbours. An Australian 2010 Congress presents a golden opportunity for IFIP to work closer with this part of the world. We were delighted that the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) showed its support by endorsing Australia and our ACS bid.

“Australia has provided the only IFIP President from the Southern Hemisphere, three Vice-Presidents and many Technical and Working Group Chairpersons. For a small nation of 20 million people this is a significant contribution. IFIP also reaches its 50th anniversary in 2010, so we look forward to celebrating that special milestone as one of IFIP’s strongest partners. As if to underscore Australia’s great contribution to IFIP, ACS former Vice pPresident Chris Avram, was also elected by the General Assembly of IFIP as incoming Treasurer for the next term.

“We would also like to congratulate IFIP on its recent World IT Forum (WITFOR) in Ethiopia. This event attracted over 1,200 delegates and many ministerial level and senior Government staff from around Africa. WITFOR is designed to make IFIP’s extensive expertise available to developing countries to help them investigate successful and sustainable ICT strategies. We remain highly committed to contributing to achieving IFIP's vision and we look forward to commencing Congress preparations as it will truly be an exciting opportunity for our industry,” said Mr Lloyd.