Open Source // Open Society sold out: releasing 50 more tickets
With three days to go, innovative new conference Open Source // Open Society (OS//OS) has sold out.
However, the event organisers have secured a larger space to hold the keynote addresses and are excited to be able to
release 50 more tickets.
The presence of the world’s biggest repository of open source code, Github, has meant serious interest from New
Zealand’s leading tech companies, as well as anyone interested in what ‘Open’ means for government, education, data and
innovation.
Taking place at the Michael Fowler Centre on the 16th and 17th of April, tickets have been snapped up by a mix of
entrepreneurs, software developers and open government enthusiasts.
Event director, Silvia Zuur says, “People are curious about the questions we are asking and what might emerge from a
true collaboration between technologist, the public sector, and business leaders.”
Keynote addresses will cover topics like ‘ How can ventures adhere to open source principles and be financially
successful? ’ or ‘ D oes open government data really help open society?’ Founder of the Open Technology Institute Sascha
Meinrath will open the two days with a much awaited analysis on how society is critically poised between a more
liberatory technological ecosystem or a far darker path (which we’re currently on).
Brandon Keepers, head of open source at Github says, “Entire industries become transformed when a critical mass embraces
openness. Openness drives innovation and those that embrace it survive.”
Alongside key international tech player, Github, the Wellington City Council is a major sponsor behind the event. The
Enspiral based event organisers have been successful in bringing the world’s biggest repository of open source code to
Wellington to cohost the event with Wellington based startups Loomio and Chalkle.
“To have GitHub cohost
their first conference outside of the US in Wellington is a strong endorsement of our tech capability. Open source
approaches align well with the collaborative nature of the tech community here. Wellington companies like Catalyst IT,
Silverstripe and Loomio have achieved international success using innovative open source models,” says Gerard Quinn,
Grow Wellington’s CEO.
Open source development is based on the ideas of mass collaboration, transparency and meaningful participation and its
principles are becoming increasingly important in all spheres of society.
Building on the success of open source software in powering the growth of the internet OS//OS will explore developments
in open government, open education, open data, and open business.
The conference runs from the 16th to the 17th April at the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington.
To get one of the 50 remaining tickets, register at Open Source Open Society .
ENDS