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.

AFIC 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

“As a city we recognise the value major events and festivals bring to both our economy and
community, and it’s fantastic to see a local organisation launching an industry event on behalf of NSW
and the nation”, said Daniel.

“Coffs Harbour has won the International Festivals & Events Association’s ‘Festival City’ award for the
past four years running and this event gives us an opportunity to further demonstrate our region’s
ability to not only host major events, but also help them grow”.

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

MEDIA CONTACT
EVENT CONTACT: Carlina Ericson, Founder, AFIC
PHONE: 0431 523 970
EMAIL: info@australianfestivalconference.com.au
WEB australianfestivalconference.com.au