AFAC16 powered by INTERSCHUTZ

A new partnership involving the CRC will bring the latest emergency services equipment and technology from around the globe to the Australasian region in 2016.

The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) and Hannover Fairs Australia have announced plans for thei joint annual conference with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.

Hannover Fairs Australia began operations in 2002 and is a subsidiary of Deutsche Messe, the organiser of the world-leading exhibition for firefighting, fire protection and rescue: INTERSCHUTZ.

The AFAC and Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Conference AFAC16, which will be held in Brisbane from August 30th until September 1st 2016, will be powered by INTERSCHUTZ. This partnership positions AFAC16 as part of the global INTERSCHUTZ family, with other events staged in Italy and Poland, as well as the hugely successful INTERSCHUTZ conference staged in Hannover, Germany, in June 2015.

The AFAC conference is now in its 22nd year and has grown significantly in size and importance. Being conducted with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Day, it is now viewed as the premier emergency management conference in Australasia, with a record number of delegates, sponsors and trade exhibitors attending this year’s conference in Adelaide.

AFAC16 powered by INTERSCHUTZ acknowledges the international nature of the global market for fire, rescue and emergency response and provides further opportunities for delegates and exhibitors to engage with an international audience, bringing the latest technology and equipment from across the world to our region.

AFAC16 will once again partner with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC to deliver an excellent conference program with the theme of ‘Mitigation-Response-Recovery: getting the balance right’.

“We are excited by the opportunity this partnership with Hannover Fairs Australia presents for AFAC members across Australia and New Zealand,” said Stuart Ellis, AFAC CEO. “We believe that partnering the successful AFAC Conference with INTERSCHUTZ will bring great benefits to the fire and emergency services industry in Australasia, including the further strengthening of global partnerships, and the opportunity to share knowledge about the latest equipment and to further enhance public safety.”

“For over 15 years Hannover Fairs Australia has been recognised for delivering world class exhibitions and conferences. We are proud to have AFAC 16 powered by INTERSCHUTZ join our event family and look forward to working closely with the industry over the next few months to complement the many benefits that this leading conference already delivers for the public safety sector,” says Harvey Stockbridge, Managing Director of Hannover Fairs Australia. 

Dr Richard Thornton, CEO of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC said the conference was a major part of the CRC’s research utilisation strategy. “We are looking forward to our ongoing partnership with AFAC in delivering a world-class conference and exhibition in 2016 in Brisbane. The partnership with Hannover Fairs will ensure the positioning of this major conference squarely on the world stage.”

AFAC16 powered by INTERSCHUTZ joins the global INTERSCHUTZ family alongside REAS powered by INTERSCHUTZ in Italy and EDURA powered by INTERSCHUTZ in Poland.  This partnership positions the Australasian market for fire, rescue and emergency response on the global stage with many new opportunities to be developed for AFAC through increased international audience engagement.