Not your standard 9 to 5 Conference - Changing it up in 2024
April 2024
Fiona Goodbody
Hands-on building workshops, discussions while walking and cycling, small group problem-solving, and even interactive artwork could all feature at the new-look interactive conference in Perth.
Co-convenors Fiona Goodbody and Manoj Barua are shaking up the traditional conference structure by creating a ‘campus vibe’ that encourages more interaction and informal connections.
“For the first time the conference will be a real mix of traditional presentations and workshops with hands-on practical sessions,” Fiona says. “And as usual, it will be a great opportunity to network, bounce ideas off each other and learn from each other.”
Fiona, who works in the WA Department of Transport’s Urban Mobility Team, and Manoj, who manages technical services at the City of Rockingham, are passionate about delivering an appealing and exciting conference.
The event, which will run from August 12 to 14, will be based at Crown Perth and Optus Stadium.
“This is not going to be a standard 9am to 5pm conference,” Fiona says. “There is likely to be opportunities to join an early walk and talk or bike ride, for instance. We will take advantage of being at such a great venue and encourage delegates to get out and see the transport infrastructure in Perth, such as paths along the river, from where you can see the freeway, trains, and ferries.”
Manoj Barua
Fiona and Manoj, and the conference committee, had scope to reshape the structure after receiving useful feedback from delegates at the Melbourne and Sydney conferences.
“This year’s conference theme of ‘Navigating Towards Shared Transport Goals’ was chosen after discussing how we wanted people to feel during and after the conference,” Fiona says. “We want participants to feel optimistic and empowered to create a positive transport future.”
“In surveys, we had asked people what they liked, what they wanted to see, and how they wanted to participate and contribute ideas,” Manoj adds. “And then our call for submissions invited people to propose ideas that were not necessarily standard for conferences.
“As a result, we had a massive response of more than 170 varied topics that showed a desire that delegates want to contribute and also get something back from sessions.”
Fiona explains that tweaking the format will mean more opportunities for people to ask questions and contribute ideas in sessions, both verbally and through devices.
“We recognise that people not only learn in different ways but also contribute in different ways,” Fiona says. “Some people are not comfortable standing up but are keen to ask questions or provide ideas through live comments on their phones, so we are looking at offering those options.”
The other important change will be ‘closing the loop’ for delegates, the co-convenors say.
“Most conferences I attend have a Q&A in the last five minutes of sessions, but that is often the last you hear of the topic – we’re flipping that around and making sure that delegates will hear back about how their ideas might have been incorporated into a solution,” Manoj says.
They both believe the conference will appeal to ‘beginners’ who are willing to learn and keen to contribute, to those professionals in the middle of their careers who are eager to network, and the very experienced who can offer wisdom to delegates.
Secure your ticket to attend today, special discounts apply for AITPM members.