22 November 2005
Top UK rail technology boss at Convergence Oceania '05
The man responsible for technology at Britain's leading rail freight operator is to give the keynote address at
Convergence Oceania '05, Australasia's largest wireless technology conference and exhibition.
Guy Mason, the Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Systems at English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd, is visiting New Zealand as part of NZTE's World Class New Zealand Programme.
In a coup for the event, Guy will speak about the issues and opportunities surrounding the wireless technology WiMAX
(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access).
Guy is also on the European Commission's list of technical advisors contributing to projects and policy in the European
Union, largely in the technology and transportation fields.
Convergence '05 is the APEC of the IT industry, attracting leading IT and technology companies and organised by the New
Zealand Wireless Forum.
This year it's being staged in conjunction with the Asian-Oceania Computing Industry Organisation's annual summit
(ASOCIO '05), in what will be one of the largest events of its kind ever held in this country.
It's the first time that ASOCIO, which represents more than 10,000 companies from 24 countries in the Asia-Oceania
region, has held its summit in New Zealand.
Wireless Forum President Steve Inglis says to secure a speaker like Guy Mason is a mark of how far Convergence has come
since it started in 2002.
"The event just continues to grow and grow because it provides such a great opportunity to share and promote leading
edge local innovation.
"New Zealand has almost every kind of wireless technology in operation - from satellite broadband to 3G and that's why
we have so many industry leaders starting to make waves internationally.
"With the deployment of 3G networks many local companies are now turning their research and development efforts to
multimedia applications - many of which we couldn't even have imagined a few years ago.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for our members to showcase their efforts to an international audience and to grow
their business."
As well as exhibits from some of New Zealand's leading IT and technology companies and organisations, wireless business
seminars will be held throughout the day.
Convergence will be held at Sky City in Auckland on 25 November. Entry is free.
For more information check out: www.wirelessforum.org.nz
ENDS