In 1978, Bill Wells, then Managing Director of Sperry Univac in Australia, recognised the need for companies in the Australian computer industry to form industry views on issues of common interest.

The result was the formation of the Australian Computer Equipment Suppliers’ Association Limited (ACESA).  In July 1978, the chief executives of nine member companies were elected to be the first Board of Directors. Neil Lamming was appointed the first Chairman, with Bob Mounic the Executive Director.

Bill Wells’ vision brought together companies in what was, and still is, one of the most competitive industries in Australia to create an industry association that has grown with the technological and business development of computing and communications. The Association had 23 founding members.

In December 1984, members of the ACESA decided to change the Association’s name to the Australian Information Industry Association. The change meant that the new Association was able to represent all sectors of the information industry in Australia, with member companies variously involved in the development, production, sale and support of computer, telecommunications and office systems hardware, software and services.

In 2008, AIIA celebrates its thirtieth anniversary as the voice of the ICT industry in Australia, with close to 500 members – representing over half of the sector’s total annual revenue of $90 billion per annum in an industry that contributes 4.6% of GDP and drives up to 85% of productivity in other sectors of the economy.

AIIA's role is to lead and represent the ICT sector in Australia to maximise the potential of the Australian industry, national economy and wider society. As Australia's peak industry association for the ICT industry, AIIA influences public policy, engages with government and community on behalf of industry, and provides members with business productivity tools, advisory services and market intelligence to accelerate their business growth.

AIIA is setting the strategic direction of our industry across five core areas in 2008:

• industry growth
• workforce
• infrastructure
• shaping the business environment, and
• environmental sustainability.
  

The environmental cost associated with carbon emissions will soon come at a price. Businesses and industry can no longer afford to ignore the impact of emissions on their organisation’s bottom line. It is clear that technology innovation will be a major factor in the improvement of energy efficiency at all levels of business and industry. The ICT Sustainable Futures Forum is an opportunity for every company to learn more about the role it will play into the future.

The annual ATOM Awards recognise excellence in over thirty categories of Film, Television, Animation and Multimedia (including video games) and celebrate the very best of Australian and New Zealand production. Now in its 26th year, the reputable awards program is staged by the Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM.)

The competition was open to anyone who had produced a short film, documentary, animation, electronic game, educational resource, television program or innovative new media work in the past twelve months.

The 2008 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards will be presented at a gala presentation ceremony, held in the Plaza Ballroom, Regent Theatre, Melbourne on Friday 24 October, 2008.

The combination of student and professional awards allows the ATOM Awards to provide all-important early career exposure and experience for emerging professionals and promotional opportunities for winners and finalists, as well as promoting the value of innovation and new technologies in the development of creative and competitive local industry.

Among many, the awards will include gongs for Best Interactive / Video Game; Best Multimedia; Best Multimodal Production; Best Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Resources; Best Indigenous Resource; Best Children’s Television Production; and, Best Documentary in five separate categories, including Science, Technology & The Environment.

“In light of the ever changing technology used by the film, television, animation and multimedia industries, the ATOM Awards are constantly looking to recognise the adaptation and use of new technologies and innovation in our industry. Many of the finalists have certainly made use of new technology in an impressive manner,” according to Julie-Anne Smith, Executive Officer, 2008 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards.

More information about the 2008 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards is available online.

The Canberra Environment and Sustainability Resource Centre (CESRC), with the support of the Australian National University (ANU) and the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, recently organised an E-Waste Think Tank in May 2008 to help establish a more strategic response to the growing problem of E-Waste in Australia.