The region’s premier critical communications and public safety event, Comms Connect, will again welcome international and local industry leaders to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) on 18–19 October. The event will be headlined this year by keynotes from the USA’s FirstNet CEO, Joe Wassel; NSW Telco Authority Managing Director Kylie De Courteney; and Telstra’s Commercial Engineering Executive, Sri Amirthalingam.

Other featured items on the program so far (the call for papers closes this week and the draft agenda will be available next week) include two mining comms case studies; the recent launch of the TasGRN; a satellite-connected tethered drone for disaster management; a PSMB panel featuring local and international emergency services, government and telco leaders; updates from ACMA; and more.

A series of pre-conference workshops will be announced later next week, which will be run by Comms Connect Association Partner ARCIA and Supporting Association ACCF/TCCA. These will be held at the MCEC on 17 October. The ARCIA Gala Awards Dinner will again take place during the event, on the evening of 18 October.

The exhibition floorplan was recently expanded in what is a strong indication of a vibrant and growing industry sector, with 90% of space now booked (see current sponsors and exhibitors here). The event is set to attract delegates and trade visitors from across the country, with international delegations from the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Finland expected to join in.

More details are available at melbourne.comms-connect.com.au.