Welcome from the 2015 Conference Chair

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to join us in May 2015 for the CEFPI Regional Conference in the Nation's Capital.

It is appropriate that the conference be held in Canberra at this time as 2015 is a very special year in Australia's history where we celebrate in Canberra the ANZAC centenary, the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII and the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war.

Canberra is the heart of the Nation and exhibits many fine National Institutions which attract over 4 million visitors annually. Their educational facilities attract over 170,0000 students annually on school excursions and enrolment at local Schools and Universities total over 100,000.

The 2015 conference theme is 'Meeting Places, Learning Spaces', and we will engage with Canberra's National Institutions and local Educational Facilities to explore the learning environments they provide. We will also explore the link, opportunities and possibilities of partnerships between the National Institutions, Universities and Schools.

Canberra with its abundance of exemplar National Institutions, such as the Australian War Memorial, the National Museum, the Australian Institute of Sport, and the Science and Technology centre, Questacon, are all part of our conference educational facility tours.

These National Institutions together with several outstanding University buildings, Schools and Early Learning Centres will demonstrate the exceptional meeting places and learning spaces we have in Canberra.

We are excited by the enlightening keynote speakers we have assembled. Headed up by Ewan McIntosh from the U.K, we have two national and two local speakers who will respond to the theme of the conference from their perspective.

A feature of the program will be the 'snapshot' sessions where short sharp presentations will be led by a range of innovators in design, research and education. The presentations will include quick insights into challenging projects, innovative design and current educational research.

The social programme will highlight two of Canberra's special attractions. The cocktail party will be held in the National Portrait Gallery, where delegates will be able to view the Gallery's exhibits. The conference dinner will be held at the National Arboretum, another jewel in the crown of Canberra's attractions, overlooking Lake Burley Griffin and a wonderful opportunity to engage with the city and share with your colleagues..

Join us in Canberra for an exciting and rewarding experience. It will be a pleasure to welcome you to our city.

Bob Sly
Conference Chair 2015