Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Dr Mike Robey, Director, Safe and Respected Segment, Telstra

Mike Robey has a background which extends in his salad years from post-doctoral Fundamental Research in Chemical Physics thorough Applied Industrial Research and Development followed by 14 years in the mobile industry, from the time Telstra moved from monopoly analogue Operator to the current day.

His last major assignment before returning home to Telstra Consumer early in 2005 was a 4 yr stint as COO of the local operator HKCSL in the hyper competitive HK mobile market. He has had the opportunity in this highly tactical market to introduce many of the now familiar acronyms into the GSM mobile world or at least into Asia and was first with GPRS, MMS, EDGE, Ringback tones, an Asian Operator Alliance called AMI and many content offerings.

He has recently moved to the position of Executive Director of the 'Safe and Respected Segment', as well as being responsible for Consumer Mobile Strategy for the Telstra Consumer business.

Peter Blasina

Peter Blasina is the GadgetGuy, with regular appearances on Channel 7's Sunrise, and Radio 702 amongst others.

Peter Cullen, Microsoft USA

Peter Cullen is the US-based Chief Privacy Strategist and Senior Director, Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft.

In this role he manages the implementation of programs to enhance the privacy and trustworthiness of Microsoft products, services, processes and systems worldwide. During his tenure at Microsoft he has been a leading advocate for strong and innovative personal information privacy and data safeguards.

Prior to joining Microsoft in July 2003, Peter served as the corporate privacy officer for the Royal Bank of Canada, responsible for influencing initiatives relevant to its strategic approach to privacy.

Peter meets regularly with industry and public policy leaders, serves on the board of directors for the International Association of Privacy Professionals' (IAPP), and also sits on the board of TRUSTe, a group that enhances privacy and trust on the Internet. In 2003, he was honoured with the IAPP Vanguard Award for Privacy Innovation for his contributions to the privacy profession.

Presentations and workshops

Nan Bosler, OAM

Nan Bosler is committed to the growth and development of ASCCA as it seeks to empower Seniors Computer Clubs to help older people use modern technology.

Nan feels strongly that learning is a lifelong experience. She was over 50 when she first went to University, and now has five tertiary qualifications. She has community awards including Anzac of the Year, Advance Australia Award and an OAM.

In November 2007, Nan Bosler was the winner of the inaugural Apia Learning Ambassador Award, sponsored by the Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency and Adult Learning Australia. During 2008, she will represent adult learners at conferences and events both in Australia and internationally.

Before retiring she worked in Local Government and was an Adviser and Lecturer in the faculty of Adult Education at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Nan represents ASCCA on many committees including the Telstra Consumer Consultative Council, Communications Alliance Consumer Council and Consumer Telecommunications Network.

Nan was the foundation president of ASCCA and is involved in all aspects of ASCCA's work.

Rita Alexandrou

Rita has been working for Microsoft nearly three years, having previously been in the finance industry. In her first role with Microsoft she focussed mainly on marketing Microsoft Office to consumers and teaching them how to get the best value out of the applications they spend time in every day.

David Bennett

David spent his working life (1957-1997) in the computer industry designing and building systems for Elliott Bros London and later he was responsible for the world wide manufacture of McDonnell Douglas Computers USA. Retiring to Australia to live a quiet life away from computers, after ten years he is still searching for that quiet life!

He joined Computer Pals for Seniors - Northern Beaches as a trainer and soon became involved in the organisation and development of the club. When Avalon Computer Pals was formed he became a founder member and spent three years as a trainer and member of the committee.

He was elected as a Director of ASCCA and supporting ASCCA as a presenter, on a wide variety of subjects, has taken him to many member clubs.

When Microsoft launched their Unlimited Potential Program in Sydney he was pleased to demonstrate the use of a webcam link to John Howard and Bill Gates.

Lynton Bradford

Lynton is a Past President, and a current committee member of Computer Pals for Seniors - Epping Inc., and currently President of Anglican Retirement Villages Residents Computer Club Castle Hill. He has been involved in training and preparing computer training courses for seniors over the last six years. His sport and hobby (apart from computers), was racing small yachts for some 29 years and is a Past National President and life member of the The Hartley TS16 Association of Australia. TS16s are a 'one design' trailerable yacht class.

Diane Brentnall

Diane was the Training & Development Officer for COTA Computing Club for the last 7 years until its recent closure and is now a roaming/free-lance trainer visiting other ASCCA senior computer clubs. Prior to this Diane taught in TAFE labour market programs, Department of Corrective Services and SkillShare. Diane will be re-locating to Woy Woy where she hopes to establish another ASCCA computer club. Until that time will be a volunteer trainer at Parramatta Computer Pals and Blacktown Computer Pals.

Tim Connell

For the last 21 years Tim has been the Managing Director of Quantum Technology, an Australian developer and distributor of assistive technology solutions. He is a guest lecturer at Renwick College, University of Newcastle and a regular speaker at international disability forums.

Joan Craymer

Joan Craymer is President of Computer Pals for Seniors Epping. She became a director of ASCCA in 2006, and in 2007 became ASCCA's newsletter editor. Her original motive for joining a computer club was a desire to learn new skills to apply to her many personal interests; including genealogy, history, painting and writing. In her computer Joan discovered a creative tool with endless possibilities, and as a trainer the opportunity to share these discoveries gives her additional fulfilment and satisfaction.

Rob Duckworth

Rod Duckworth is an Electronics Engineer with 25 years experience in digital and analogue Electronics & PCB repairs to component level. His business Hi-Speed Networking was born out of the need to provide all sorts of electronic and computer repairs from Hi-Performance automotive engine management systems to computer for the hospitality industry, which was one of the first industries to adopt IT systems for Point of Sale.

James Donohoe

James Donohoe has spent 40 years in public administration and in most of his spare time during his career he has been fascinated with the fallacies and lack of logic in Australian history. A writer and editor of some twenty texts on early colonial records and observations and the author of a number of historically based novels, James hopes to set some of the records straight.

Sirkka Duncan

Sirkka K Duncan is working on the ASCCA/Telstra Connected Seniors 'Train the Trainer' Workshops on Mobile Phones.

Sirkka has recently moved from Adelaide, where she worked for many years in community projects promoting Life Long Learning. She was an inaugural member of U3A Flinders SA, Secretary/Office/Programme Co-ordinator, President, Newsletter editor. She was also an inaugural member, (Volunteers/Office Co-ordinator, President, Teacher) of Seniors-On-Line Inc. SA, established in 1994 teaching computing for seniors. She has served in many committees promoting adult education and life long learning.

Sirkka has received the Centenary of the Federation Medal and the Order of Australia medal. She was also recognised as a 'Learning Champion' by the Centre of Life Long Learning and Development in SA.

Brian Graham

Brian has been involved with computers since 1972 when he was introduced to Cobol Programming and mainframe computers as part of a diploma course at the NSW Institute of Technology. He used this knowledge as part of his work in the public sector.

A change of career saw him leave that sector and join private industry as a lawyer.

A further career change saw him become heavily involved with the Personal Computer field and the continual use of new technology as it evolved with PC use. To this end he became a Microsoft Partner in the early 1990's and has continued to use the PC and its operating systems from Microsoft NT, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP and for the past 3 years Windows Vista including the Beta test phase of the product. He has also used Microsoft Office products from Office 95 through Office 2000, Office 2002 (Known as Office XP), Office 2003 and currently Office 2007.

Recently his career focus has been towards training seniors in their computer skill management. He has recently been a Trainer with C.O.T.A. Computing Club and maintains his Microsoft Partner role, including a Microsoft Certified Windows Vista Advisor.

Brian Hindes

Brian Hindes has been teaching Digital Photography at Computer Pals for Seniors - Northern Beaches for the past three years. Together with David Bennett, he has been a guest speaker at many seniors' computer clubs and workshops.

Brian first discovered computers with the Commodore 64 where programs were loaded via a tape recorder then onto the Amiga and finally Windows. His major interest have been the graphics and sound which has consumed far too many hours and countless late nights. He has belonged to several photography clubs and had his own darkroom but has now come out into the light and manipulates photos on the computer in a way unimaginable just a few short years ago.

Peter King

Peter King retired as an Electrical Engineer from the Electricity Distribution Industry almost 20 years ago.

He has been associated with volunteering organisations for most of his working life, firstly in Apex, then Rotary and now in Probus.

With the help of ASCCA, he was responsible for establishing a computer club for seniors in Newcastle four years ago, and is enjoying helping community groups establish further clubs in the Hunter Region. He enjoys the hands on aspect of computer construction and has been responsible for the construction of many club computers.

Peter will be the Master of Ceremonies.

Deborah Martin

Deborah remembers when computers ran on punched cards. Her first home computer was a Commodore 64 and saved data to an audio cassette tape. She has been using computers ever since, for work and for pleasure, and has watched with fascination how computers have become an essential part of our everyday lives.

Deborah ran her first Computer Awareness course 20 years ago. A recent retiree, she is getting a lot of satisfaction from helping other seniors use computers to enrich their lives. Deborah is a trainer at Parramatta Computer Pals for Seniors.

Ken Moorley

Ken always loved electronics and as a child built crystal radios and other electronic gadgets. After studying electronics at TAFE in 1979, he became fascinated by what was possible with computers. An Atari 8 bit home computer in 1980 became his first computer, teaching himself the BASIC programming language.

Ken worked in the computer industry from 1982 until 2003, ranging from sales, hardware maintenance and programming. When he started the IBM PC and DOS or Windows did not exist, with most business computers used the CPM operating system.

He worked on accounting programs to prepare them for the Millennium bug and the introduction of the GST.

Ken joined Forest Computer Pals as a trainer in 2005 and is currently the club librarian.

John Moxon

John Moxon is president of Parramatta Computer Pals for Seniors, and a training professional, particularly in the area of customer service, disability awareness and management development. He now puts his training skills to use in a voluntary capacity for ASCCA and his local computer club.

As a director of Moxon, Green & Associates, John managed and provided content for ASCCA's consultancy project Barrier Free Access Resource Kit, which resulted in the publication of two brochures on overcoming difficulties with using a computer keyboard and screen, and ASCCA's Barrier Free Access website www.ascca.org.au/barrierfreeaccess/access.htm.

Alex Varley

Alex Varley is the CEO of Media Access Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that assists in making electronic media (TV, film, DVD and the Internet) accessible through technologies. Alex has long-standing experience in working for the not-for-profit sector, including senior roles at Sydney Theatre Company and the Australian National Maritime Museum. He also serves as a director of a mental health project in partnership with Northern Sydney Area Health Service and is a keen player and volunteer with his local soccer club.