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- ABC’s Gary Linnane and CBA’s Adam Weatherhead at the ABC’s new Queensland headquarters in sunny Brisbane, Australia
Having just returned from a recce trip to Brisbane, I’m proud to report that the venues for this year’s conference are the best I have experienced in 5 years of organising events at the CBA. The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) is a massive complex, specifically designed to host conferences like ours and much bigger exhibitions. Thankfully though, the CBA conference will not be swamped in this large venue. We will be taking up the whole of the Boulevard level in the new Grey Street expansion. When I was there in mid-December, this section was in the final stages of being constructed. Although I did have to don a hardhat to have a look around, they assured me that it would be finished by the end of January (their first bookings are in February, so I’m confident that it will be). I’m excited that this year’s CBA conference will be held in a purpose-built venue.
I also put on a hardhat and some size 11 steel-toed boots to have a sqizz* at the ABC’s new Queensland headquarters. This is where registration on Sunday April 22nd and various one-on-one surgeries on Wednesday 25th will be. With spectacular views of the river and a lot of natural light, I’m sure that Queensland ABC staff will be the envy of their interstate colleagues. Parts of this building are already completed, but the official opening is scheduled for mid-April, just prior to the CBA conference.
Another stunning location on Brisbane’s South Bank is the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). Having only been opened five years ago, this is also a very modern building. Almost all of the Brisbanites I spoke with raved about GOMA, and while there I was lucky enough to check out inspiring exhibitions of Henri Matisse and Yayoi Kusama. Although those exhibitions will have finished by the time of the conference, I’m sure they’ll have other world-class art on show. We are working towards having the conference’s Opening Reception (to be held on the evening of Sunday 22nd April) in the River Lounge at GOMA, overlooking the Brisbane River. GOMA is just a casual ten minute stroll along the South Bank from the ABC building and BCEC, which are directly across Grey Street from one another.
The weather in Brisbane in April was often described to me as “just perfect”. I look forward to enjoying perfect weather with you all at the CBA 2012 General Conference on Brisbane’s scenic South Bank this coming April.
Adam Weatherhead, Project Manager, CBA
*Australian for a quick but inquisitive look