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After revealing a number of recognised figures in festival management who will address the Australian Festival Industry Conference in Coffs Harbour later this month across, Carol Hughes, Events Officer of Tamworth Country Music Festival will also be a presenter at the inaugural event.

Looking forward to her presentation, Hughes advised “I’m looking forward to presenting this year on Tamworth Country Music Festival’s volunteer management program (and) to have the opportunity to network with other festival organisers, soak up their best practice ideas, and share my knowledge with them will be incredibly invaluable.”

The Australian Festival Industry Conference (AFIC) is a new event that will feature discussions on key national issues that are facing the broader festival industry - from event management technology advances, to volunteer management strategies and more.

The conference features presentations from some of Australia’s biggest names in festival management, consulting and government along with a variety of workshops, local event facilities and site management tour with Zaccaria Concerts and Coffs Coast Events, as well as a cocktail party industry networking event.

AFIC’s industry panel discussion will cover the topic that everyone in the music festival industry has

been talking about this year - ‘pre-hospital event medical safety’, featuring the NSW Ministry of Health, St Johns Ambulance, and arguably one of Australia’s leading event medical consultancy services, EMS Event Medical, who have developed an emergency response app that pinpoints an attendees location.

The app has already been used at large scale festivals such as Vivid Sydney.

AFIC founder and Event Director, Carlina Ericson, said this year’s conference responds directly to the current state of play in the industry, noting “there are now more festivals in Australia than ever before; however, organisers are facing a number of challenges to ensure their survival.

“Sponsorship and funding, digital entertainment access, public safety and new legislation are all threats that organisers need to face to sustain their businesses.

“These threats are commonly featured in discussions taking place right across the country, and the launch of AFIC is therefore quite timely - providing a platform for the industry to come together to engage in professional and intelligent discussion.

Already announced is AFIC’s keynote speaker - Phil Tripp - former Senior Business Development Manager - Australia, New Zealand & Hawaii for SXSW (South by Southwest) Conference & Festivals (USA).

Tripp advised “having been a veteran of a multitude of festivals and conferences in the creative content industries over the past 45 years, the need for a wide ranging forum on issues, logistics and looking to the future of festivals is desperately needed.”

Other confirmed presenters include:
• Heather Croall, Chief Executive, Adelaide Fringe
• Jon (J.C.) Corbishley FSIA, Director, The Safety Officer Pty Ltd
• Glenn Hardy, IER Pty Ltd
• Mike Hammond, Chief Executive and Director, EMS Event Medical
• Elliot Williams - Clinical Lead, St Johns Ambulance
• Daniel Madeddu - Director, Alcohol and Other Drugs, NSW Ministry of Health
• Sam Wild, Create NSW
• Alana Hay, Director, Milestone Creative
• Leah Trafford, Australia Event Director, SailGP
• Dane Hunnerup, Australia Council for the Arts
• Chris Spencer, Director of Saltwater Freshwater Alliance
• Dan Heather, Coffs Harbour City Council’s Section Leader, Stadium and Major Events

Ericson adds “to summarise, every festival organiser across Australia needs to be at AFIC if they’re going to stay up-to-date with the latest changes in the industry.”

AFIC is being held on 24th and 25th October 2019 at Opal Cove Resort in Coffs Harbour, NSW.

Click here for more information on AFIC in the Australasian Leisure Management calendar.

Images: Carol Hughes, Tamworth Country Music Festival (top) and Carlina Ericson (below).

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