The future of technology was the theme for the latest CompTIA ANZ Channel Community meeting held in Sydney on Wednesday, 8 November. It was great see a large crowd of more than 130 attend on the day, making this the most successful meeting to date.
The program was geared towards providing attendees with an understanding of how a number of emerging technologies will impact their businesses and their customers. The day included presentations on virtual reality (VR), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain and the role and future of the nbn.
Moheb Moses, ANZ community director, CompTIA, and director, Channel Dynamics, provided an overview and update reminding us that the aim of the community is to work together, learn from each other and give back. He touched on local initiatives such as Dream IT, where members volunteer to be speakers at schools and encourage girls and young women to consider a career in technology.
The afternoon continued with three presentations around future technologies.
Glen Boatwright, business development manager, Intel Australia, discussed emerging trends such as VR, IoT and driverless cars powered by smart software solutions.
Nick Beaugeard, CompTIA ANZ community vice chair and CEO and founder of HubOne, then explored the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency and the implications for the channel, including the opportunity to work with customers to identify opportunities for blockchain-related solutions. Nick reminded attendees that while blockchain technology has numerous advantages such as nonrepudiation and customers paying on time, it doesn’t come without threats to the channel.
Keith Masterton, executive manager for ICT channel development for the nbn, talked about how the transition to the nbn access network represents a significant opportunity for the IT industry to assist in the digitisation of Australian business. Keith provided insight into the nbn’s IT partner program, which will offer partner engagement and support; nbn training and certification; nbn news and updates; and lead management support.
In line with the theme of the future, the meeting was also the perfect opportunity to look into the future of the local community.
Three of the six candidates for the 2018 CompTIA Executive Council talked about what they could bring to the role. Nominations close on November 15 and include:
- James Bergl, sales director ANZ, Datto.
- Sue Armstrong, head of marketing, Fujitsu.
- Marie Nalty, Pointnext partner business manager, HPE.
- Lee Welch, general manager – cloud, Ingram Micro.
- Ronnie Altit, CEO, Insentra.
- Michael Costigan, VP marketing, Tech Data.
To finish off the day, the attendees broke up into small groups to discuss how the community can be shaped in 2018. Some of the key areas discussed included extending the community reach; additional programs, initiatives and charities; further member contributions to the community; and raising the community profile through social media. There were some great ideas that came from these groups, and we look forward to taking stock and implementing some of these ideas over the next 12 months. As we roll out programs, we will keep the community informed.
Thanks to those who took the time to attend our last meeting of the year. It has been another great year for the ANZ Community, and we look forward to networking and working with everyone to further shape the IT industry in 2018.
