The Forum

The IT Forum Gold Coast (ITFGC) also welcomes people who have an interest in IT, who want to be informed about industry activities or who are studying IT.

The ITFGC provides an ideal opportunity for local businesses and agencies to network, promote their services, form alliances, socialise with colleagues and keep abreast of news and developments.

Members include:

• Hardware, software, games development, multimedia, communications, ISP, web design and IT consultancy;
• Recruitment, education, consultancy, law, accountancy, travel and retail;
• Government and Local Council

For more information on how you can benefit and why your organisation should become involved see the chapters below.

• What Opportunities Does the ITFGC provide IT companies?
• Breakfast Meetings
• Information Services
• Representation Of The Industry
• Public Policy
• Other Activities

What Opportunities Does the ITFGC provide IT companies?

The ITFGC provides IT and related companies with a wide range of services and opportunities:

• To contribute to the growth of the IT industry on the Gold Coast
• To network with industry peers, potential clients and employers
• To keep abreast of latest developments in technology, legislation and market dynamics
• To lobby industry and governments
• To develop ICT public policy

Forum  Meetings

Check our events calendar for our next meeting which are usually run monthly alternating between formal lunches or breakfasts and evening workshops or seminars where you can network with industry peers as well as keep abreast ofinteresting developments in the idnustry.

past speakers at the our meetings have included:

• Paul  Russell - Director ICT Sectoral Development
• John Puttick , Chairman of GBST
• Phil Woolley who manages QLD Government ICT industry Access and Strategic Planning
• Paul Campbell Icemedia and former Chair of Software QLD
• John Wolpert - The InnovationXchange's
• Senator, the Hon Nick Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science and Resources.
• Ann Steward, Director of e-Policy at the UK Office of the e-Envoy.
• Ifor Ffowcs-Williams, founder and CEO of Cluster Navigators Ltd, New Zealand, a lead organisation, facilitating the development of economic clusters.
• Ravee Suntheralingam, Senior Manager Entrepreneur Development Malaysian Multimedia Development Corporation.
• Bob Hayward Senior Vice President and Chief Research Officer APAC for Gartner.

Information Services

The ITFGC operates an email newsletter keeping members up to date on IT activities and events on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.

Representation of the Industry

the ITFGC is recognised by the Federal, State and local governments as the voice of the industry on the Gold Coast. the ITFGC is represented on:

• Queensland IT&T Forum, the peak lobby group for ICT industry associations in Queensland;
• The Gold Coast City Council's Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee (REDAC); and
• ICT Leaders' Summit: or the past 18 months, the ICT Industry Workgroup has been working with the Queensland Government to ensure that the Industry's concerns over procurement and industry development issues are at the forefront of their considerations.  

Public Policy

the ITFGC has played a leading role in providing strategic direction to governments and industry wishing to promote the development of the industry on the Gold Coast.

Among the ITFGC outstanding achievements has been the successful lobbying of all three tiers of government for the adoption of the concept of the Pacific Innovation Corridor and the need for broadband to be available at world competitive prices on the Gold Coast.

the ITFGC is working actively with government, various private sector interests and the universities to address issues such as investment attraction, the last mile of broadband delivery, skills supply and attracting large infrastructure projects to the Gold Coast that might contain spin-off benefits for the Gold Coast IT industry.

Other Activities

the ITFGC works co-operatively with like-minded organisations to help make the Gold Coast an attractive and easy place for IT companies to do business.

• The ITFGC is working closely with the local Gold Coast chapter of ACC.