Sam Varghese
Friday, 12 December 2008 04:32
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 3
His experience of the media so far has been good. Media handlers of previous conferences have provided him with some guidance and his encounters with the fourth estate so far have been "pretty good, we've received quite positive press."
As the lone individual on the main organising committee who is on the mainland, he is in constant communication with the others who are in Tasmania.
Conference organisers make extensive use of email, IRC, IM - and also the good old telephone to stay in touch and thrash out things. "It's good to live in the age of communications. Basically you don't need to be in the same state to run a project, even one of this magnitude," says Powell.
"In many ways its like any open source software project - a large number of distributed volunteers working to bring a project to fruition, seems that it works well for conferences as well as software!"
But there are times when a personal touch is needed. Powell flies down to Tasmania every few months and also uses the time to recharge his batteries.
"I love spending time in Tassie as its such a beautiful and relaxing place (even if I'm running around doing conference organisation!), that's why I think delegates will find the conference is something special, not just for the content - which is world-class - but for the place which is probably the most relaxing and beautiful place in Australia."
