National SCADA Conference 2012

IBC Conferences is delighted to announce that the 11^th Annual National SCADA Conference will be hosted in Melbourne for 2012. The program will once again focus on regional, national and international case studies and feature a grand showcase of SCADA technologies.

The 10th Annual National SCADA Conference continued its role as Australias premier gathering for SCADA specialists offering the best opportunity to network and exchange valuable information and insights into the operation of SCADA systems across the nation.

The conference opened with Marty Edwards, INL Program Manager DHS Control Systems Security Program from Idaho National Laboratories and Mark Fabro, Chief Security Officer of Lofty Perch, both world leaders in increasing resilience for SCADA, conducting a fascinating double presentation on safeguarding infrastructure assets from cyber-terrorism.

Jason Smith, Assistant Director (Technical), CERT Australia & MacLeonard Starkey, CERT Officer, CERT Australia followed with insight into the Australian critical infrastructure protection standards development and compliance.

The morning was rounded out with a practical presentation from Andrew Tanner of Western Power, on the challenges of a SCADA security assessment.

Immediately following an extravagant lunch, Matthew Percival, Technical Specialist - SCADA, & Chung Taing, Technical Specialist ATRICS , from RailCorp delivered a fascinating session on power and signalling SCADA for the rail industry. Dynamic and powerful this presentation was a showcase of SCADA technology being applied in a different environment.

Andrew West needs no introduction being one of the top 3 global SCADA experts. Andrew was able to point the way to the future on IEC 61850 to DNP3 mapping. This was an extremely technical presentation delivered with insight and outstanding detail.

Case studies on SCADA implementations are always a highlight of the National SCADA program and Martin Stacey of Powerlink and Greg Flynn of APA Group delivered two beauties that were able to show practical problem solving in real life implementations.

Networking drinks on the edge of the harbour, watching the sun dazzle off the beautiful Sydney CBD skyline was a fitting way to lead into the official SCADA dinner held at Jones Bay wharf, with the lights of Sydney illuminating office blocks and homes, profiling the practical nature of SCADA in operation.

Day Two

Environmental issues are having a huge impact on SCADA systems around the country. Improved use of resources are certainly a key driver for SCADA systems control. This is most closely observed within the water industry but with an impending price for carbon emissions to be imposed shortly, the efficient use of electricity will become more entrenched.

Calvin Li from UGL Infrastructure presented a great case study on the SCADA implementation at the new St Marys Water Treatment plant. Efficiency of energy and water within the plant was a key goal. Other key deliverables included a reduction in the use of precious drinking water and the return to rivers of improved water quantity and quality. The growing importance for improved efficiency of finite resources perfectly details the increasing complexity of modern SCADA implementations.

Day two included many different aspects of the very complex issues associated with communications. Presentations included Mukesh Tejwani, Commercial Strategy Networks Manager of NBNCo and Anthony Goonan, Director Network & Commercial Planning, Telstra. Gary Lakeman, SCADA Systems Team Leader, SPARQ Solutions provided a case study on meshed communications and Ron Southworth another of the worlds formest experts in SCADA communications and author of the SCADA Perspective provided an interesting presentation on private radio networks.

The communications sessions were rounded up by a look to future technologies and the emergence of SNMP in SCADA systems presented by Steve Shilg, Managing Director of Maximation.

The final presentation focusing on integration of SCADA with asset management by Nicolas Ovsianniko-Koulikowsky, Operations Manager - East Asia Pacific, Automation Network Management Solutions, Alstom Grid.

Once again the National SCADA Conference presented a look to not only current best practice in SCADA implementations with many case studies on real life implementations but also to the emergence of future technologies that will shape SCADA environment over the next decade and beyond.

It is encouraging to have so many globally recognized SCADA experts in the Australian SCADA sector willing to share their knowledge and expertise with the rest. Last and finally a huge thank you goes out to Andrew West, who was not only a presenter but also the chairperson for the event, ensuring a dynamic, interesting and lively conference.

We look forward to welcoming you to 11th annual National SCADA Conference in Melbourne 2012.

If you would like to discuss presenting a paper at the 2012 event,
E-Mail:Bruce.Ewan@informa.com.au

and if you have an enquiry about promotional opportunities,
E-Mail: Deen.Haniff@informa.com.au

Book now to benefit from the 2011 early bird rate and secure your place at next years event at the old discounted fees. Available until October 31st 2011.

Heres what delegates said about the 2011 National SCADA Conference: