We are pleased to announce that planning for the second combined annual Brokers and Forwarders Australia (BAFA) 2011 Conference is moving forward at a fast pace, with the earlier date for the event being announced last month.

The event takes place on Hamilton Island from the 14 - 16 July, which is NSW school holiday period and so it is a busy time on the island with flights into Hamilton Island likely to fill up very fast. There are daily direct flights from Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney with both Jetstar and Virgin, or you can consider flying to Proserpine where you can then connect to the boat launch for transfer to the island.

To allow you to register as early as possible and not to miss out, we have now opened the registration site. Some of the details are still to be finalised and these will be uploaded to the website as soon as available. Golf registration is also open.

If you are interested in registering early and taking advantage of Early-Bird rates, you can do so now by logging onto www.bafa.com.au and follow the links to register for the event. Last year accommodation and golf filled quickly and were booked out, so register early to avoid disappointment.

The current conference program is also now available on the website and will be updated on a regular basis as speakers confirm their attendance.

This combined Australian Federation of International Forwarders (AFIF) and Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia (CBFCA) event will not only present industry leaders but has also secured speakers of wider appeal.

Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been invited, together with Neil Mann, Deputy CEO of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and Rona Mellor, Deputy Secretary Biosecurity Services Group and Executive Director of AQIS.

Some of the highlights of the program will include:

Jonar Nader
For those who have seen Jonar at past conferences, you will know him to be a dynamic speaker, challenging the way we think and make decisions. This year he will be demonstrating how modern connectivity has fostered unacceptable levels of corporate and social incivility! Everyone is talking about a connected society; about social networks; and about customers and staff being more connected than ever before. Sadly, and at alarming rates, organisations are drifting away from their staff, their customers, and their market. Hear Jonar sift through the statistics, the hype and present what is really happening in the workplace, and what we really need to be aware of.

Disaster Recovery Session
How prepared are you for fire, flood, cyclone, earthquake? We have seen amazing weather patterns across Australia and New Zealand recently and many business effected by these natural disasters. What if your business premises were no longer functional - would you still have a business to run? We will hear a real case study, plus hear details of things you should be considering to ensure that you still have a business to run.

The Great Debate
The debate is back, with teams debating the topic: 'Our industry will be redundant in 2025'. For many years there has been a concern that the industry is an aging workforce - but should we be more concerned that those of us in the industry will still have employment in the future. Will technology take over?

If you would like a copy of the registration brochure emailed to you, or have any other questions about the conference, please contact the conference secretariat at:

Tel: 02 4973 6573
Email: info@bafa.com.au