The iAwards are Australia's premier information and communications technology (ICT) industry awards. Each year the iAwards give the Australian ICT community the opportunity to have excellence in technology innovation recognised at a state, national and international level by consumers, industry peers and the broader community.

The iAwards honour the finest in Australian ICT talent by awarding ICT achievements across a wide range of categories. Entry to the iAwards is open to all levels of the ICT community, from small start-ups and emerging talent to big business and established entrepreneurs.

This is your opportunity - don't miss the chance to have your work and achievements recognised at the highest level.

Past recipients have gone on to great things, and lauded the experience and publicity they gained through the profile of their iAwards involvement. So whether you are a student, start-up, SME or major business concern, it is worth nominating your ICT achievements for an iAward.

The iAwards are run by the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), as the Australian member of the Asia-Pacific ICT Awards.

Entries now open: www.aiia.com.au

Nominations close 7 March 2008 - don't delay!

State winners will be announced on March 25 2008.

National winners will be announced 28 May, 2008.

Are you an AIIA member looking for a branding opportunity which will have a lasting effect?  Then we have a great opportunity for you.  AIIA is about to release the strategic directions publication called Outlook 2008 and is looking for sponsors. 

The publication will be distributed to all the AIIA members, plus those on the mailing list - which includes stakeholders, subscribers and associated industries across Australia.  Outlook 2008 is the lead AIIA publication and will have currency for all of 2008.

To take advantage of this opportunity contact Tania Crosbie on 0412 149624 or email t.crosbie@aiia.com.au  This opportunity is ideal for the SME market and is a cost effective way for small brands to build a profile.

Sometimes in order to effect change we need to see a dramatic and dire view of the consequences of our actions.

An Inconvenient Truth and The Stern Report moved the world to debate.  Because they were so ‘in your face’, both motivated people around the world to combat climate change and accept personal accountability for living an environmentally sustainable life.

I hope that those people who read the Living Longer Living Better Report will feel the same, as the ageing population could precipitate Australia’s economic and social decline.

This report, developed in conjunction with IBM, is intended as a contribution to the debate around the challenges of an ageing population and how they can be dealt with.  It’s aimed at policy makers, business leaders and social commentators and while it reflects a world position, it draws particular attention to the issues in Europe (although its author, Dr Chris Gibbon, has been in Australia talking about the impacts here).

With declining fertility and regressive employment practices in operation for decades, the solutions to these challenges will not take effect overnight. The economic and social (metaphorical) ‘super-tanker’ will take years to be turned around, so we need to change course now.

AIIA is actively involved in ageing workforce issues, particularly as it affects the quantity and quality of skilled people available to Australia’s ICT industry. We know now that the problem is not a skills shortage - it is a population shortage.  Finding ways to tap into the global talent pool is an imperative.

In the meantime, we have increased efforts to change the image of our industry.  Expect to see some new initiatives in the second half of this year aimed at changing the perceptions of young people and, more importantly, their key influencers in parents and teachers.

We are also working with the newly established Deans of ICT Council to ensure all graduates are employer ready when they hit the workforce.

It’s time to turn the tide.

In 2007 the AIIA established a National Marketing Committee, comprising senior marketers from the AIIA membership. 

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for 2008 AIIA events.  AIIA events are a great way to put your company’s name on some of the ICT industry’s biggest and most exciting events. Sponsorship and advertising are also accepted for the AIIA Bulletin, which is sent weekly to an influential core of over 6,000 members and stakeholders. Please contact Tania Crosbie for more information.

Embedded Systems Australia is a new industry cluster whose members are collaborating to strengthen embedded systems and related industries in Australia.