REGIONAL Development Australia's Hunter chapter has cancelled its 2020 regional development summit, at which Australian Industry Group boss Innes Willox was slated to visit in what was cited as a Hunter first
RDA Hunter executive officer Trevor John said that up to 120 were anticipated at the event on March 26 at Noah's On The Beach. Keynote speakers were Mr Willox and John O'Mahony, the lead partner of Deloitte Access Economics' Technology Practice, who was to discuss global trends in industry growth.
"Although it's important for the region to get together to discuss its future at such events, due to the...pandemic, we feel it's a higher priority to be cautious and take practical measures to implement directives like 'social distancing'," Mr John said.
"As such, we have taken the decision to postpone RDA Hunter's 2020 Regional Development Summit until further notice."
The RDA summit was initially scheduled to run on February 28 however Mr John said it was pushed back to accommodate the hectic schedule of Mr Willox.
"He was such a drawcard and a good get for the Hunter that we wanted to work around him," Mr John said.
In what RDA said was a first for the Hunter, the AIG boss was slated to speak on the theme of Navigating Towards a Strong Industrial Future in Australia.
"Mr Willox will discuss the Australian industrial landscape, its future and how it's progressing towards Industry 4.0. He'll provide an understanding of Ai Group's work and overview Australia's Industry 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Forum (I4AMF)," the initial alert about the event said.
Mr John said the decision to postpone the event was based on an assessment of possible changes to official advice, "given everything that has been sent one day has changed the next from politicians, bureaucrats and health experts."
"To be honest there's been no transparency about why 500 is a good number [at which to cap event attendence], I sit in train carriages with that many," he said.
"There is no transparency and confidence, you say 500 one day it might be 200 and then it might be more like Italy, 'shut it down'."
"Unless there's transparency and understanding of who is making decisions based on what, and there is any sense of consistency, we made the call it's better off to let people know and have at least some certainty."
Mr John said he could not recall RDA cancelling any event prior.
RDA Hunter would look to reschedule the event and had been in contact with all of its speakers to assess when that might be.
"We might say October but who knows it might not be possible - we're not really putting a future date on it or something like it."
The RDA summit draws on the knowledge of well-credentialled commentators, industry experts, government and business representatives to examine the Hunter's industrial landscape, with keynote on macro trends impacting economic growth.
Mr John said it was a fantastic opportunity for building networks for new introductions to people who would not otherwise consider partnerships across industry sectors.
"It's also about getting an update on major global trends and how they are impacting on the Hunter's competitiveness," he said.
.jpg?w=600)
