Inaugural Australian Festival Industry Conference

NEWS

Inaugural Australian Festival Industry Conference Announces Second Round of Speakers

The inaugural Australian Festival Industry Conference (AFIC) will be held across 24-25 October 2019 at Opal Cove Resort in Coffs Harbour, NSW.

Founder and organiser, Carlina Ericson, has unveiled AFIC’s program of speakers, who represent some of Australia’s biggest names in festival management, consulting and Government.

AFIC’s keynote speaker is one of the biggest names in the international music industry, former Senior Business Development Manager – Australia, New Zealand & Hawaii for SXSW (South by Southwest) Conference & Festivals (USA), Phil Tripp.

Phil is a veteran of the festival, music and entertainment business, having worked in the industry for almost 50 years. His career spans across numerous internationally renowned festivals, including working for George Wein’s Festival Productions Inc. on Newport in New York, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Kool Pacific Jazz Festival, Houston Jazz Fest, Atlanta Jazz Fest and the Memphis Music Festival.

For Afro-American promoter Quentin Perry of Taurus Productions, he handled artists such as Earth Wind and Fire, Rick James, Spinners, Marvin Gaye, The O’Jays, Prince, Parliament Funkadelic and many more across festivals and concert tours. He also delivered festival and concert production for leading Southern concert producer Alex Cooley, covering internationally recognised acts such as The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Pink Floyd, Jess Beck in major metropolitan outdoor stadiums.

In 1981 he moved to Australia where he later founded Australia’s leading music news website (TheMusic.com.au), published the AustralAsian Music Industry Directory for 22 editions, and ran the Australian Music Industry Conference over 19 years in Sydney.

In 2002, he took over Pacific operations for South by Southwest Conference and Festivals (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, and grew its Australian attendance from 20 delegates and five bands to 850+ delegates and 54 bands.

The Australian Festival Industry Conference is the only one of its kind in the country and aims to discuss key national issues facing the industry, in addition to facilitating professional development of, and the promotion of careers in festival management.

Attendees will have the chance to learn from some of the country’s most experienced professionals around legislative changes, operational developments, event management technology advances, volunteer management strategies, and more.

“Anyone who works in the business of supplying services and infrastructure to festivals and major events (including music, arts & culture, food, etc) is encouraged to attend”, says AFIC founder, Carlina Ericson.

“The program comprises of two days of expert speaker sessions, workshops, local event facilities famil and cocktail party industry networking event – a perfect opportunity for suppliers to engage directly with some of Australia’s most prominent festival managers”.

Other confirmed speakers and workshop presenters include:

• Heather Croall, Director and Chief Executive of Adelaide Fringe
• Glenn Hardy, IER Pty Ltd
• Angus Abadee – A/Director, Policy & Legislation, Liquor & Gaming NSW
• Jon (J.C.) Corbishley FSIA, Director, The Safety Officer Pty Ltd
• Chris Spencer, Director of Saltwater Freshwater Alliance
• Dan Heather, Coffs Harbour City Council’s Section Leader, Stadium and Major Events
• Mike Hammond – CEO & 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

Tickets are on sale now. To view the program or to purchase tickets, visit
australianfestivalconference.com.au

News from CX Magazine – Sept 2019 p.10

Lead image: Mikky Koopac