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Latrobe Innovation Festival praised in national reportThe Latrobe Innovation Festival has been praised in a report to the Federal Government on the success of the Australian Innovation Festival (AIF), published by the AIF organisers. By Latrobe City Council - 7th August 2003 - Back to News The report acknowledged the inaugural Latrobe Innovation Festival as a "major highlight which made a significant contribution to the promotion of innovation across the region".
Peter Westfield, Convenor of the Australian Innovation Festival said the Festival organisers were delighted with the success of the Inaugural Latrobe Innovation Festival.
"The organisation and range of events well exceeded our wildest expectations and we look forward to working with the organisers of the Latrobe Innovation Festival again," Mr Westfield said.
The Latrobe Innovation Festival featured 25 events held during April and May this year, which made up nearly a third of the AIF events held in Victoria.
Local events included the ‘Federation Health Gippsland Business Awards’, the ‘Faith and Fabric Art Exhibition’, the information expo at Monash Gippsland - ‘Power in the Union’, the ‘Latrobe Business Arts Forum’ and business workshops such as ‘Inspiring Innovation’.
The festival was run under the auspices of Latrobe City and the Latrobe Valley Ministerial Taskforce Marketing Advisory Panel.
Latrobe City’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Latrobe Valley Marketing Advisory Panel, Richard Hancock, said the report and feedback from the AIF demonstrated that Latrobe is an innovative region that can hold its head high in a national context. "As a community we can draw great encouragement from the report," Mr Hancock said.
Mr Hancock was enthusiastic about plans for the 2004 Latrobe Innovation Festival. "We have conducted a debriefing with stakeholders from this year’s festival and envisage real potential in broadening the Latrobe Innovation Festival to include other parts of Gippsland," Mr Hancock said.
Latrobe Innovation Festival organisers are already approaching other municipalities throughout Gippsland to come on board and support the concept. AIF organisers have welcomed the concept of broadening the festival to include the whole of Gippsland in 2004," Mr Hancock said.
Businesses, groups and individuals interested in being involved in the 2004 festival can contact Janiene Ayre at Latrobe City, telephone 1300 367 700. Copies of the report can be obtained from Karen Block at Latrobe City Council, telephone 1300 367 700.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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