It is Friday 4th October at Pan Pacific Melbourne, a beautiful venue on South Wharf. The Asset Management Council is holding the annual Asset Management in Government Symposium. Delegates number over 130, with attendees from across the nation in both government departments and the private sector. The room is buzzing with anticipation. People mingle; some make new introductions, others reconnect.
Once the symposium is called to commence, the room falls silent. The idiom, ‘you could hear a pin drop’ comes to mind. Everyone leans forward slightly in their seat, keen to hear the latest in asset management strategies. Knowledge sharing is a great way to avoid potholes in the pathway to success. Those present acknowledge the importance of asset management but equally understand the pitfalls and gaps in implementing asset management strategies.
Dave Daines, the Asset Management Chair, welcomes all present before handing over to Toby Horstead, the emcee for the event.
A series of speakers are arranged for the day. The morning session focuses on Asset Management Challenges and Methods, with presentations from Andrew Curthoys from Queensland government, James Price from the private sector in South Australia, and Nicole Belcher from the Victorian government. Each speaker highlights the issues faced in the contexts of their roles, with the overarching element of communicating asset management plans and strategies across a whole-of-business approach as the way to achieve success.
During morning tea, the buzz of conversation grows. Delegates are keen to approach the speakers, the relevancy of their presentations finding a sweet spot. Others grab a coffee and mingle in small groups. The atmosphere is electric, tangible.
The three speakers before lunch speak on the Implementation of Asset Management. Helen Carroll, Christine Ip, and Deanne Leaver all bring their vast skills and knowledge into the room. The key theme for each speaker is that implementation of asset management is immense in any organisation. Challenges ought to be viewed as opportunities.
Lunch is a stand-up affair. People mill around the speakers again. The content provided in presentations brings new questions from attendees.
The early afternoon session in any conference or symposium can be a hard gig for the speakers. Lunch settles in bellies, eyelids droop, and mouths yawn. Our presenters, Sarah Hannah from AGL, Shirley Robertson from QIC, and Daniel Yuen from Sydney Trains expertly guide the attendees through this session, adeptly named Asset Management in Action.
After a stretch and a jiggle during afternoon tea, we’re ready for the home strait. Our last three speakers waited patiently all day to present, and they’re not about to disappoint. Lynne Jarman, from Victorian government, Ankur Maheshwari from Western Power and Hessam Mohseni from Victorian government present on Challenges and Learnings from Implementation.
Drinks close our symposium, offering a final chance of networking and relationship building. All agree the symposium is a huge success.
The Asset Management Council wishes to thank all our wonderful speakers for sharing their knowledge and insight in asset management.