Latrobe Innovation Festival gains momentumThe inaugural ‘Latrobe Innovation Festival’ is growing in size and stature as interest builds within the Latrobe community. By Latrobe City - 23rd April 2003 - Back to News The inaugural ‘Latrobe Innovation Festival’ is growing in size and stature as interest builds within the Latrobe community.
Organisers had originally planned on supporting up to 20 events throughout the Latrobe Valley in the festival’s initial year. However, as a result of keen interest, following publicity, the festival will now showcase over 25 examples of innovation in business, community, the arts and tourism.
Chairperson of the Marketing Advisory Panel and Latrobe City CEO, Richard Hancock, said the objective of the festival is to demonstrate the value of research, development and partnerships that benefit the region. The program includes lectures, information sessions and exhibitions that relate to Innovation in Latrobe.
The Latrobe Valley will be the first Victorian Region to officially link with the National Festival which has over 300 participating events. Funding for the festival is being supplied through the Latrobe Valley Ministerial Taskforce Marketing Advisory Panel.
Mr Hancock, said that the Latrobe Innovation Festival will be a celebration of Innovation within the region. "We are very pleased with the response from business and the community. It demonstrates that Latrobe is a dynamic and innovative community," Mr Hancock said.
Organisers are quietly confident that the event will grow from year to year. "Due to the terrific response to the concept from the region, the Latrobe Innovation Festival already represents over a third of the events registered in Victoria," Mr Hancock said.
Latrobe Innovation Festival events already registered include: The Federation Health Gippsland Business Awards, Arts Innovation Week, Latrobe Business Arts Forum, Creative Gippsland – Cultural Tourism Forums, Football for people with disabilities, Good Access Good Business, Phillip Island & Gippsland Discovery Tourism Awards, Small Business ‘one on one’ Graduation, Innovation in Community Safety Promotion Forum, Sailability Gippsland Open Day, Fabric and Fur, and the Italian Desk Launch.
The official launch of the Latrobe Innovation Festival will be made by The Honourable Peter J McGauran MHR, Minister for Science, and will be held on Monday 5 May at Gippsland Aeronautics in Traralgon. It will feature a Keynote speech from Gippsland Development Ambassador, Professor Geoffrey Head, a renowned medical researcher; and a parachuting display from Janine Hayes.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

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