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Spotlight on prevention, compliance and infrastructure as engineering sector strengthens AFAC19

Announcement posted by AFAC 06 Aug 2019

Specialised engineers to join the region’s largest gathering of emergency management professionals for the first time
Leading Australian and international representatives from the engineering, infrastructure and construction industries will gather in Melbourne in August, as AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ is held alongside the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) National Conference.
 
This year’s IFE Conference will explore building, facilities and engineering issues including disaster prevention and resilience, early warning and response processes.
 
The event will also tackle the big issues affecting the industry head-on covering governance, compliance and enforcement issues in the construction and engineering sector. Construction codes and standards as they pertain to real events will be discussed, such as an in-depth examination of the use of building cladding in the wake of the London Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.
 
More than 120 speakers in six immersive streams will delve deep into the changing landscape of fire safety, emergency services and research across the wider AFAC19 program and share with attendees how to prepare for the future, based on lessons learned from the past.  
 
AFAC19 and IFE keynote speaker Bronwyn Weir, Lawyer and legal advisor to the Victorian Cladding Taskforce commented on the impact the London Grenfell Tower fire has had on the Australian building sector regulation and best practice.
 
“The circumstances surrounding the Lacrosse Fire in Melbourne and the tragic Grenfell Tower fire prompted an assessment of building regulations across Australia which included consideration of the role that fire authorities play in the building design and approvals process.”
 
“We recommended that, consistent with the International Fire Engineering Guidelines, the early engagement of fire authorities in the design process with regards to fire safety matters be required. Quality fire safety engineering is vital to building safety and to prevent such events happening in Australia,” said Weir.
 
To cover the big issue and topics, AFAC19 and IFE will bring leading international and national keynote speakers to the conference, including:
  • Rt Hon. Sally Capp, Lord Mayor, City of Melbourne
           Future Melbourne: Growing Our City Safely
  • Marianne Foley, Arup Fellow, Arup
           22 years of performance-based fire engineering: Where did it get us?
  •  Neil Savery, Chief Executive, Australian Building Codes Board
            National Construction Codes – Future Directions
  • Dr Angus Law, Lecturer, The University of Edinburgh
           Field of application: Test results in Fire Engineering
 
This year’s AFAC19 conference theme A shift to the new norm: riding the wave of change, embraces the evolution, diversity and inclusion of all industries working together to form a robust emergency management sector, and the communities it represents.
 
AFAC19 powered by INTERSHUTZ is co-produced by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), Deutsche Messe and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 27-30 August 2019. Institution of Fire Engineers National Conference and the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference will be held alongside AFAC19.
 
Further information is available at www.afacconference.com.au
 
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Notes to Editors:
  • All keynote speakers are available for interview on request via media contacts below
  • Available for interview on request via media contacts below:
    • Stuart Ellis, CEO, Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authority Council (AFAC)
    • Dr Richard Thornton, CEO, Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC)
  • Accredited media are invited to attend AFAC19 and will be hosted in the media room. Additional support for live-cross, broadcast and interviews with stakeholders can be arranged. Limited broadcast vans can be accommodated onsite. Please register for your media pass by sending your name, position and publication title to elizabeth@zadroagency.com.au
Media contacts:

Zadro
Elizabeth Williams, Group Account Director | elizabeth@zadroagency.com.au
+61 2 9212 7867 | +61 411 201 354
 
Yvette Schlegelmilch, Account Manager | yvette@zadroagency.com.au
+61 2 9212 7867 | +61 423 954 224
 
Images: All images of AFAC from past years can be found on the AFAC Flickr page and can be used royalty-free. 
 
Hi-res images of speakers available on request.
 
 
Lord Mayor Sally Capp
 

Marianne Foley
 

Neil Savery


Dr Angus Law
 
About AFAC19

27-30 August | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
A shift to the new norm: riding the wave of change
 
Returning to Melbourne for four action-packed days, AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ will attract delegates and visitors from emergency and security services agencies, all levels of government, non-government organisations, the private sector, research and education institutions and community groups from Australia and worldwide.
 
The AFAC19 program will incorporate the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum, the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference and The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) National Conference.
 
Themed “A shift to the new norm: riding the wave of change” AFAC19 explores how the sector is transitioning to a new normal in a rapidly changing world.
 
AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ is a joint venture between Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) and Deutsche Messe, trading in Australia as Hannover Fairs Pty Ltd.
 
Institution of Fire Engineers
Website: https://www.afacconference.com.au/ife/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InstitutionOfFireEngineersAustraliaBranch/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/institution-of-fire-engineers/
 
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC)
Website: www.afacconference.com.au/
Facebook: @AFACnews
Twitter: @AFACnews
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/australasian-fire-and-emergency-service-authorities-council
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu18lYmKgFcL27XBKFI7Klw
Hashtag: #AFAC19
 
Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC
Facebook: @bnhcrc
Twitter: @bnhcrc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bushfire-and-natural-hazards-crc-a0919043/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/bnhcrc
 
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
Website: www.aidr.org.au/adrc
Facebook: @AIDRnews
Twitter: @AIDR_news
Linked In: https://au.linkedin.com/company/aidr
Hashtag: #ADRC2019