The Australian Innovation Festival celebrates the best in Australian innovation and is supported by the Australian Government’s ‘Backing Australia’s Ability’ initiative. The Festival showcases events and activities which increase public awareness of the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship. It also encourages and supports networking and business opportunities for participants in the areas of research, development and technology commercialisation, across all industry sectors. Highlights include:

VIC AGIdeas Melbourne April 26 to 29 2005 Taking place over a week, AGIdeas presents a series of events that celebrate, inspire and motivate new ideas, creativity and excellence in design. AGIdeas 2005 presents 30 world designers from the most contemporary in digital design to the masters of traditional technique The event brings together over 2000 delegates, young designers, educators, established professionals, and the business community from all over Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region. Events will include the international design forum, breakfast and dinner functions, workshops, and cocktail parties. www.agideas.net

QLD BTP Innovation Series 27 April 2005 This event is organised by the Brisbane Technology Park in association with the Queensland Government and Zernike Australia. John Symond, Founder and Managing Director of Aussie Home Loans and one of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs, will join other leading Australian business leaders as featured speakers in this event series. John Symond is widely credited with bringing competition to home lending in Australia for the first time. The nonbank industry now employs tens of thousands of people. Since establishing Aussie Home Loans in February 2002, John has built the company to become Australia’s largest non-bank lender, with over 170,000 customers and a loan portfolio of $12 billion. www.brisbanetechnologypark.com.au

NSW Mercedes Australian Fashion Week 1 - 8 May 2005 Since 1996, Mercedes Australian Fashion Week has positioned itself as the definitive destination in the Asia Pacific region for designers to showcase their collections to the world’s most influential buyers and media. This year’s Spring Summer (SS) Collections will showcase exciting 2005/6 collections from Asia Pacific Designers. This Sydney-located trade and industry event complements the Melbourne Autumn winter (AW) Collections, held annually at Federation Square in late October and generates in excess of $150 million of wholesale orders, and achieves $61 million worth of domestic media coverage. www.mafw.com.au

ACT ICAN Innovation Canberra May 2 – 15, 2005 ICAN, Canberra’s ideas and innovation festival provides a unique opportunity to celebrate Canberra’s entrepreneurial spirit and applaud those willing to take initiative. It brings some of the world’s most creative thinkers and innovators to the Canberra stage and harnesses Canberra’s multi-faceted creative community. www.icanfestival.com.au

TAS Agfest –Tasmania’s Premier Event 5 – 7 May 2005 Agfest is Tasmania’s premier festival, featuring exhibitions and demonstrations in craft, agriculture, fashion, as well as fine food and wine. Agfest attracts over 700 exhibitors and more than 75,000 patrons each year, beckoning visitors from across Tasmania and from the mainland to come and enjoy what is fast becoming one of Australia’s largest and best rural field days. www.agfest.com.au

WA North West Expo, Broome May 7 and 8 2005 In May, Broome will host an annual peak event for industry, government and community. Under the North West Expo umbrella structure, exhibitors from industry, government and community come together to present a showcase of their activities, products and services. Events include the North West Craft Fair, staged by Soroptimist International and AFUW of Broome, The WA Master Builders Awards, the Kimberley Small Business Awards, events from Broome’s Big Moon Rising Arts and Music Festival, and special sporting clinics for young regional sportspeople. Through sponsorship from Woodside, the Expo is also able to bring the Scitech educational show to Broome for the Expo. www.northwestexpo.westnet.com

SA National Technology Futures 12-13 May 2005 The Technology Futures Conference 2005 is Australia’s only national electronics industry conference. Presented by industry associations, EIA and AEEMA, the Conference will alert participants to new and emerging trends in electronics, which will have a significant impact on the design, manufacture and commercialisation of electronic solutions. The Conference includes a panel session, which promises some lively debate about Australia-China relations, the proposed Australia-China Free Trade Agreement, and the opportunities and issues that may arise from this. Other topics addressed by international and national speakers will include: • Lead-free solder requirements • The environment – What impact will product stewardship, electronics recycling, responsible manufacturing and an increasing array of legislative issues have on your business? • How your company can take advantage of the fantastic opportunities emerging in the automotive electronics sector. • Updates on the development of Australia’s telematics industry. www.eiaa.asn.au

NT Alice Springs Desert Knowledge To live and thrive in desert regions, people require particular knowledge and know-how. Australia has extensive scientific and technical knowledge, along with thousands of years of accumulated indigenous expertise. The knowledge that resides within inland Australia - individually and collectively - about successfully developing and sustainably living in harmony with these arid lands is of great value. Desert Knowledge Australia is now developing business networks and partnerships across inland Australia to ensure an economically sustainable future for Australian desert regions. Desert Knowledge Australia aims to build thriving desert knowledge economies, operating on the basic principles of harmony, sustainability and wealth creation. In 2005, Desert Knowledge Australia, in conjunction with the Alice Springs Festival, will host a number of events that profile desert knowledge and sustainability in this country.www.desertknowledge.com.au

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Name: Australian Innovation Festival
Phone: + 61 9662 1916
Email: info@ausinnovation.org
Weblink: www.ausinnovation.org