Keynote Speakers
Jim Hegarty
Jim Hegarty is the Chief Information Officer at the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care. He has over 25 years experience in the provision of information technology and related services within the NSW government. Jim is responsible for the provision of information technology to support the direct and purchased services activities of the Department and of its 12,500 staff and 200,000 clients
Paul Wallbank
Paul Wallbank has been the computer expert for the ABC Sydney Weekend and Nightlife programs for eight years. Since founding PC Rescue in 1995, he has helped over 2,000 people with computer and Internet problems. He brings a grass roots view of the computer industry and how consumers and ordinary users find their way through it.
James Kavanagh
James Kavanagh is a solution architect with Microsoft, focusing on working with the NSW government on software and infrastructure solutions. Prior to joining Microsoft, James held a number of roles working with government and business leading software development projects. He will give a brief preview of Microsoft Windows Vista, the next generation operating system from Microsoft, including demonstrations of the new user experience and accessibility features.
Steve Lawrence
Steve Lawrence is the founder and Chief Executive of WorkVentures, an innovative non-profit social enterprise established in 1979, providing employment, economic and community development services, such as Neighbourhood Technology Centres on public housing estates and a national Computer Reuse venture to bridge Australia's 'digital divide'. WorkVentures also operates Sydney and Melbourne ITeC Repair Centres, one of Australia's largest repairers of computer monitors, ATMs and retail equipment.
Steve is a national leader and speaker in the field of Social Enterprise, a Director of Social Ventures Australia, founder of the national JOBfutures network and co-author of the book 'Non-Profits in Business'. He was selected as 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year for the Social and Community, Non-profit Sector in NSW/ACT.
Alison Routley
Alison Routley is a Senior Customer Service Officer within the Office of Fair Trading. She has worked in Fair Trading for 10 years, seven of those in the Sydney Fair Training Centre, where they deal with a wide variety of consumer and trader issues as well as associations lodgements and questions. She enjoys talking to community members and groups about Fair Trading Services and issues.
Presentations and workshops
Frank Arrigo
Frank is currently the Group Manager, Developer Platform Evangelism for Microsoft, working from the Sydney office. He commenced working for Microsoft in 1991, including two years in Seattle. He moved over to ninemsn to work on setting up operations and development systems but soon returned to the Microsoft fold. He is a very keen and well-known blogger and writes many articles on the topic.
Matthew Blayney
Matthew Blayney is Business Development Manager for Chilli Internet Solutions. He has been in the IT industry for 12 years in various roles, initially with NetComm Limited (the leading Australian modem manufacturer), Primus Telecom London and International Sales Manager for Asia Vision Technology in Hong Kong.
Nan Bosler
Nan Bosler, OAM is the president of the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA). Before retiring Nan worked in local government and was an adviser/ lecturer at the University of Technology, Sydney in the Faculty of Adult Education. She completed a 6 year term as a member of the NSW Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing in 2003; is a member of the Senior Portal Editorial Board and is a board member of COTA (NSW). She represents ASCCA on the Telstra Consumer Consultative Council, Australian Communications Industry Forum CAC and Consumers Telecommunications Network.
She was over 50 when she first went to University, has five tertiary qualifications covering Adult Education, Community Organisation, Local and Applied History and completed her last qualification, Masters in Local Government Management in 1995
Paul Brenac
Paul Brenac is an ASCCA director, and vice-president of Forest Computer Pals for Seniors. He is also a member of Computer Pals for Seniors - Ku-ring-ga. Paul is a retired economist. He is a passionate digital photographer, taking photos from Paris to Africa. He purchased his first digital camera in 2000.
Diane Brentnall
Diane Brentnall is the Training Co-ordinator at NSW COTA's Seniors Computer Club, which runs courses four days a week. She has many years experience in training and development.
Diane has worked as a trainer for SkillShare, TAFE and Department of Corrective Services, before becoming involved in seniors training, commencing at Long Jetty.
Beverley Clarke
Beverley Clarke is a trainer at the Carrington Computer Club for Seniors at Camden. Earlier this year, Beverley won a trip for two to the Commonwealth Games this year as a prize in the multi-media Microsoft Unlimited Potential competition. Her family history and digital photography hobbies have made it a smooth transition to progress to digital scrapbooking, for which she uses Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Publisher, and Adobe Photo Elements.
Joan Craymer
Before her retirement about 12 years ago Joan Craymer worked in an administrative role for a printing company. She had her first experience with computers performing boring tasks like invoicing and costing and looked forward to learning how her computer could do more interesting tasks.
A foundation member of Computer Pals for Seniors - Epping, Joan is serving her second term as president of Computer Pals for Seniors - Epping, and was secretary prior to that. She is the tutor of the Newsletter Creation course, and initiated the Creative Writing Interest Group, which meeds monthly under her guidance.
Cheryl Field
Cheryl Field has been the editor of Australian Senior Publications for the past five years, and has been with the company for 12 years. Prior to joining the Senior, Cheryl was editor of the Wyong Shire Advocate, based on the Central Coast. She has been a journalist for 27 years. Cheryl will talk about publicity for clubs.
Neville Hall
Neville Hall is the president of the Tamworth and District Seniors Computer Club. During Seniors Week in April, Tamworth club held an event called Keeping in Touch with Old and New Friends. It featured participation in internet based live video and audio meetings with other Seniors groups and individuals from round Australia. Help was available for those who may wish to set up their own video/audio networks using PCs, minimal additional hardware, and free software.
Peter King
Peter retired as an Electrical Engineer from the Electricity Distribution Industry seventeen years ago. With the help of ASCCA, he was responsible for the establishment of a computer club for seniors in Newcastle five years ago and has assisted other clubs in the Hunter Region. Peter enjoys the hands on aspect of computer construction.
Peter has long been interested in Ham Radio, and discovering Skype was a natural progression. Peter is an ASCCA director.
Tony Lenn
Tony Lenn is ASCCA's Technical Officer and also a trainer at Computer Pals for Seniors - Mosman. Prior to retirement, Tony worked in IT, principally in systems analysis and implementation.
Bill McCully
Bill McCully is a retired inspector/examiner with the St Johns Ambulance and is actively involved as a computer trainer at the Long Jetty Senior Citizens Club and the Gosford Senior Citizen's Centre. He is currently developing an e-learning product on basic computing, together with two partners. He will present this product - Take the Teacher Home - at the conference.
Craig Parnham
Craig Parnham is the Manager, Strategy & Customer Experience, Telstra Consumer Marketing & Channels. Craig has worked in telecommunications for fourteen years in Australasia, North America and Europe, where most recently he was head of business development for mobile at British Telecom. At Telstra he is responsible for setting the strategy and defining the customer experience for consumer services for the seniors' community.
Geoff Picker
Geoff Picker is a trainer at the Carrington Computer Club for Seniors at Camden. Geoff will co-present with Beverley Clarke on making an e-book using Adobe Acrobat 7.
John Shortland
John is the Group Leader Genealogy for the Hurstville Seniors Computers Club (HSCC). Before retirement in 1997 he was a Laboratory Manager for the Environment Protection Authority, NSW and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI) in which he took an active part for 20 years.
John has had a passion for family history throughout his life and is a member of the Fellowship of First Fleeters, the Society of Australian Genealogists and the Botany Bay Family History Society. After retirement John's activities have been involved with senior organizations in the area of computer technology and applied genealogy.
Peter Stanhope
Peter Stanhope is ASCCA's Training Officer, as well as President of the Illawarra Computer Enthusiasts, based at Unanderra. In recent years, he has developed a strong interest in multimedia. He is a retired teacher and high school deputy principal.
Margaret Tucker
Margaret Tucker is ASCCA's Clubs Development Officer, and webmaster at Computer Pals for Seniors - Holroyd. Margaret is increasingly undertaking web development for ASCCA as well. Margaret is a strong believer in web useability and accessibility principles.
Prior to joining ASCCA, Margaret worked in ageing and disability policy and program development in a variety of NSW government departments. Her interest in website design was sparked at the NSW Committee on Ageing.