Comms Connect Melbourne: now in its 8th year

Comms Connect returns to Melbourne at the end of September, with keynotes, workshops, panel sessions and a new stream on public safety communications.

Now in its eighth year, Comms Connect has become Australasia’s leading conference and exhibition for combined communications users and industry.

Along with the usual high standard of keynote addresses, workshops and panel sessions, this year will see the launch of a new, dedicated stream focusing on all that is important in the public safety communications sphere.

While the full program and roster of speakers has not yet been announced, the organisers have released some details, among them confirmation of keynote addresses by two top-level public safety officials - Eddie Reyes and Shane Fitzsimmons.

Eddie Reyes is Deputy Chief of Police for the Alexandria Police Department in Washington, DC. Chief Reyes has been with the Alexandria Police Department since 1990. In 2000, he was the commander of the Emergency Communications Centre and in the communications and interoperability ‘trenches’ during the terrible incidents on 11 September and the sniper incidents that gripped Washington, DC.

Chief Reyes has managed public safety radio interoperability operations for the City of Alexandria and continues to be a key player in the National Capital Region on communications, interoperability, data sharing and, most recently, mobile broadband.

At Comms Connect, he will speak on the topic of ‘Next Generation 911 (000): Are public safety agencies ready?’

Shane Fitzsimmons, AFSM, is Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service, a role to which he was appointed in 2007. Commissioner Fitzsimmons’ experience extends across all facets of bushfire management from frontline firefighter through to Sector Leader and Division Commander. He has filled most positions within the Brigade structure, including Brigade Captain and Group Officer.

In 1996, he was appointed State Operations Officer and in 1998 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner responsible for Operations and subsequently, Regional Management and Strategic Development. As Assistant Commissioner for Operations, Commissioner Fitzsimmons was responsible for the coordination of all firefighting arrangements during some of the largest bushfires in the state’s history, including the 2001-02 and 2002-03 fire seasons.

Commissioner Fitzsimmons gave a fascinating and absorbing presentation at Comms Connect Sydney last month, giving attendees an insight into the communications operations of the RFS, and in particular the usage of social media to obtain and disseminate information.

Commissioner Fitzsimmons will reprise that presentation in Melbourne, where he will speak on the topic of ‘The value of communications networks in a public safety environment’.

Workshops

The Comms Connect workshops are always well attended and provide a valuable opportunity for industry participants to hear of the latest developments in their fields of interest, and also to network with colleagues.

A wide range of workshops will be offered, including:

• Next Generation 000: challenges and opportunities
• Security of radio and IT systems in the converged communications environment
• Advanced radio over IP

It is expected that the Next Generation 000 workshop will be particularly well attended (so don’t forget to book!) and will generate discussion of great interest to the critical communications and public safety community. With a blue ribbon panel of Australasian and international experts, the workshop will clearly outline the history, current state and desired future state of NG000.

While being primarily driven by practitioners, this workshop will be of keen interest to industry, government, academic and related delegates as all will be required to ensure the transition from 000 to NG000 is successful.

Deputy Chief Eddie Reyes will take part in the workshop, which will be moderated by a familiar and respected figure at Comms Connect events, Inspector (Ret.) Lance Valcour O.O.M., Chair, Law Enforcement Information Management Section, International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Keep an eye on the Comms Connect website over the coming weeks for announcements of more workshops and for full details of the conference program, venue, facilities and registration details.