Industry leaders gathered on Thursday 19 October to farewell AIIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Rob Durie, who leaves the Association after seventeen years, seven of those at the helm.

“Rob is widely regarded as an influential industry leader, and has overseen growth in AIIA both in terms of membership and influence during his tenure as chief executive," Peter Kazacos told the audience.

“Rob has worked tirelessly to demonstrate to key government, media and industry stakeholders that the ICT industry is not just an important sector in its own right, but is a driver of productivity, job growth, social advancement and economic prosperity for all Australians.

“In fact, former Minister for Information, Communications Technology and the Arts, Richard Alston, who is now the Australian High Commissioner in the UK, has said that Rob played a key role in moving IT onto the mainstream agenda - and into the Ministerial portfolio title - where it remains to this day,” Peter said.

Peter told the audience that one of Rob's greatest contributions to Australia's international reputation in information technology was his successful effort to bring WITSA’s biennial World Congress on Information Technology to Adelaide in 2002.

According to WITSA’s Vice Chairman, Ron Evans, the Adelaide's World Congress was the most important information technology event in the world that year, and through Rob's leadership, the peak information technology authorities from around the world came to Australia. It is remembered as the most successful World Congress ever held to that point, and set a new standard for the World Congress since then.

“After seventeen years, Rob and AIIA have become synonymous,” Peter said.

“Rob leaves with him a substantial legacy and a stronger, more prominent industry association. He has successfully mapped a path for our industry which will see it acknowledged for its vital role in enabling economic growth and productivity. I am confident we will continue to build on the solid gains made by the Association during Rob’s time as its leader.”

If you missed the AGM dinner, then don’t miss your last chance to say goodbye to Rob by attending the Melbourne dinner for AIIA’s newly elected Board of Directors on Tuesday 28 November.

During dinner, Australia’s leading keynote speaker Peter Sheahan, will explore why the 4.5 million upwardly mobile Australians born between 1978 and 1994 are increasingly becoming the talent we need for the future.

Date: Tuesday 28 November
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: The Langham Hotel on Southbank, Melbourne VIC
Cost: members $150.00 non members $190.00
10% discount for table bookings
Registrations: Click here or phone Gener8 Marketing & Events on
(03) 9018 9629

Please note that associations, government agencies and individuals with past association with the AIIA can register for the member rate for this special event

About Peter Sheahan
Not only is Peter a Gen Y’er himself, but he has worked with more than 100,000 members of this generation in seminars, panel discussions and focus groups across Australia. Peter has delivered more than 2,000 presentations to a combined audience of over 300,000 people in six different countries, and in 2006 he was voted by his peers at the National Speakers’ Association as the leading keynote speaker in Australia. Peter is also the author of four books, including the best seller ‘Generation Y’.

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AIIA's events calendar can be viewed on AIIA's website.
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