As BIC finalises the speaker’s list for this Monday’s national bus industry event in Sydney, the organisers look to deliver a ‘working conference for working people’
By David Goeldner | October 22, 2010
‘A working conference for working people’ is how the Bus Industry Confederation sees its annual operators and suppliers peak event starting in Sydney on Monday.
“Even though it has a strong big picture policy focus, the conference will provide insights into how operators and suppliers can grow and develop their own businesses,” BIC Executive Director Michael Apps says.
“Supporting the conference is an investment in the future growth of the industry.”
He says the conference is a stand alone in the context of leading government and industry policy discussion and setting the course for the industry’s future direction.
“I don’t think there is another opportunity like this in Australia,” Apps says.
High-powered speakers include World Economic Forum Global Agenda chairman Michael Roux, Department of Infrastructure and Transport Secretary Mike Mrdak and Director General of Queensland Transport David Stewart.
Also sitting high on the speaker’s list is Dr Edward Blakely, involved in the reconstruction of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
For bus and coach proprietors, Apps says operators will learn about land use planning and management, as well as transport planning and how as individuals they can play a role in the development of their towns, cities and communities.
He says there will be presentations on how future vehicles, fuels and technologies will soon be reality in the context of vehicle replacement programs.
“I think it’s the best program we’ve had in the context of the quality of the speakers and the content,” says Apps.
“If you are a bus and coach operator and you are interested in the future of your business then you should be attending this conference.”
Apps also points out that BIC have taken a conscious decision to retain the conference coordination in-house, rather than go outside to an events organiser.
“We do the whole conference in-house which is an important part of our membership service, dealing with the industry one-on-one,” he says.
“We see this as part of the overall strategic approach to industry development.”
Apps says it’s important to have the ‘personal touch’ that comes through at BIC national conferences.
“It’s important to have that kind of relationship with industry operators and suppliers so they understand what we are about.”
As for the 2010 conference coming up on Monday, Apps says “it’s looking good.”