The AFAC23 powered by INTERSCHUTZ Conference and Exhibition took place on 22–25 August at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event also incorporated the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference, the Institution of Fire Engineers (Australia) National Conference and the Women and Firefighting Australasia (WAFA) Conference.
Over the span of four days, more than 4,400 participants convened to partake in eight diverse streams of presentations and explore the offerings of over 230 exhibiting enterprises, collectively occupying a vast expanse of 15,000m2 on the exhibition floor. Inside the expo at the AIDR Knowledge Centre, delegates could browse the impressive poster display, attend live demonstrations and listen and connect with presenters at the solutions theatre.
The conference commenced with the Research and Innovation Day, highlighted by Andrew Gissing, CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia, who delivered the opening address. Dr Jennifer Beverly, Associate Professor at the Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, followed with a captivating keynote on ‘Rethinking Risk – Gaining Insights from Canadian Wildfires’. Oliver Costello Director, Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, and Board Member, Natural Hazards Research Australia, followed suit with a presentation on ‘Ngalii ngaa garima lee la jaguun, jaguun garima mebeerrd (Our mutual care with the land and its reciprocal care for us)’.
Following a day of insightful presentations on cutting-edge research and innovation, attendees unwound during a networking event within the exhibition hall, rounding off the Research and Innovation Day.
On Day 2, the conference expanded to include the co-located Australian Disaster Resilience Conference (ADRC23), the Institution of Fire Engineers Australia Conference (IFE23), and Women and Firefighting Australasia Conference. The University of Manchester’s Chancellor, Nazir Afzal OBE, delivered a remarkable keynote speech, which paved the way for a stimulating keynote panel discussion on ‘Creating a Sustainable Future – Navigating Challenges and Opportunities’. The panel featured esteemed participants like Paul Illmer, Martin Merrick, Dr Dia Smith, Brendan Moon AM, ASM and Dr Bree Talbot. These captivating addresses were followed by a divergence of attendees across the eight conference streams.
As Day 2 drew to a close, delegates embraced the festive atmosphere of the masquerade Gala Dinner, complete with delectable cuisine, live music, dancing and even a 360-degree camera to capture the enchanting evening.
The final day of the conference kicked off with keynote speeches from notable figures like Jerry Grayson, renowned Rescue Pilot, Drone Educator and NFT Artist, along with Tonya Hoover, Deputy Fire Administrator at the U.S. Fire Administration, FEMA. Also, Lamar González Medlock, Director of International Affairs at the U.S. Fire Administration, FEMA, graced the event.
After another day filled with enriching presentations, the conference concluded with a compelling panel discussion titled ‘Why aren’t we spending more on disaster resilience?’ The panel was moderated by Martijn Gough and included Kylie Macfarlane, Dr Jean Palutikof, Dr Russell Wise and Major General (Retd) Jake Ellwood.
For the first time, the AFAC23 powered by INTERSCHUTZ Exhibition presented Resilience Lane. Resilience Lane featured 15 not-for-profit and community-focused organisations that showcased their work and services to strengthen community resilience.
Visitors could connect with:
Australian Business Volunteers | Australian Red Cross | Disaster Relief Australia | Disaster Wise | Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal | Gender & Disaster Australia | GIVIT | Mackillop Seasons | Headspace | Lions Club | Mountains Community Resource Network | Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health | Queenslanders with Disability Network | Resilient Building Council | Resilient Ready
Resilience Lane was proudly sponsored by NRMA Insurance.
The week ended with the Professional Development Program, offering participants diverse opportunities, including field trips and forums that covered a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from timber construction and spatial technologies to fire safety and the advancements in hydrogen safety.
Next year, AFAC24 will take place in Sydney, with the theme ‘Embracing innovation and disruption: designing the future for our sector’. Abstract submissions will open later this year.
AFAC expresses gratitude to its partners, host agencies, and sponsors for their unwavering support of AFAC23. The full conference proceedings can be accessed at https://www.afac.com.au/events/proceedings
