LCA 2009 co-organiser just 'likes keeping busy'

Sam Varghese
Friday, 12 December 2008 03:32

Opinion and Analysis

Tasmania will host its first national Linux conference in just over 30 days and while the pace is getting crazy, the organisers appear to have one thing in abundance - enthusiasm.
Nobody embodies this more than co-organiser Ben Powell who is shouldering the tasks of sponsor and media liaison apart from managing the project on the mainland. Leah Duncan is in charge of things in Hobart.

Powell carries a heavy load and if the conference is a success a measure of the credit will have to be sheeted home to him. His explanation for taking on all this work is that "I like to keep busy."

He says the experience of project management experience in the public service and private industry has stood him in good stead so far, as has the communications work he has done.

"I'm mainly doing the liaison with sponsors and the media and making sure that each of the teams is meeting their milestone targets," Powell told iTWire in an interview.

"I might add (this) has been quite easy since, unlike some projects I've worked on, all of the teams have delivered everything on time and on budget and have often gone beyond what's required - which is even more incredible since everyone is a volunteer!

"I suppose it's just a matter of making sure I set aside enough time to do everything and keep everything at work under control at the same time - like I said, I like to keep busy."

Powell is an individual who is focused on the task at hand. His answers are to the point but he is an individual who can stay cool under the most trying circumstances.

But he also tells me that the fact that he remains cool is not an invitation to try and provoke him!