Canterbury Software Summit & UCONZ to kick off

Canterbury Software Summit & UCONZ to kick off Rutherford Innovation Showcase events

First-ever partnership with University Commercialisation Offices of NZ will be a focal point on the 2011 Christchurch business technology event calendar

When: Thursday, 8 September 2011
Time: 11:45am - 8:00pm
Where: Addington Raceway, Christchurch
Cost: Free
Register: Visit http://canterburysoftwaresummit.eventbrite.com/

Press release, 5-August-2011, Canterbury Software Cluster, Christchurch, New Zealand: The Canterbury Software Cluster is hosting Christchurch’s business technology event of the year – the annual Canterbury Software Summit on 8 September at Addington Raceway. This is the first time that the event is free to attend for members of the ICT industry thanks to the generosity of our sponsors: JOOB, Clarus, NZTE and IBM, and NZICT who are including our event as the first in the series of the Rutherford Innovation Showcase.

Attendees to the half-day conference will get valuable insights and lessons from successful technology entrepreneurs and prominent speakers including:
• Dr Craig Nevill-Manning, Engineering Director at Google (Keynote)
• Andrew Lark, Chief Marketing Officer at Commonwealth Bank of Australia and former Dell Enterprise Chief Marketing Officer (Keynote)
• David Scott, Head of Business Technology and Transformation for Z Energy Limited
• Scott Bradley, CEO & Founder of VoucherMob
• Sam Gribben, General Manager of Serato
• Tyrone McAuley, Technical Director, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Sidhe
• Steve Orenstein, Founder, Connect2Field and
• Dave Fellows, CTO at GreenButton.
Separate business and technical breakouts will ensure appeal to managers and developers in the ICT industry.

Networking is always one of the major highlights of the Summit and this year will feature displays on research capabilities, projects and innovations from campuses across the country as the University Commercialisation Offices of New Zealand (UCONZ) host the evening programme. UCONZ aims to create stronger university research and business partnerships, and there is no better venue to do it than at the Canterbury Software Summit which is expected to attract over 300 attendees.

Craig Richardson, Managing Director of sponsor JOOB says, “Each year I am amazed by the openness with which presenters and attendees share their successes, failures and business aspirations in the spirit of disrupting markets, improving development practices, or simply building better stuff that will improve our daily lives. This is not a typical software conference where big brands present slick marketing pitches; this is a conference of passionate architects, real developers, authentic marketers and business owners out to share their ideas for making better software.”

“The 2011 Summit promises to be bigger and better than ever as we deliver a truly unique event encouraging growth, innovation and inspiration with business and technology personalities from around the world. The theme this year ‘Can you compete in the international market’ will inspire technology entrepreneurs, developers and IT professionals alike with stories from those who have jumped hurdles, tested waters, and are now succeeding on the world stage,” says David Johnstone, Chair of the Canterbury Software Cluster Committee. “The event will especially appeal to businesses in growth mode or looking for an injection of enthusiasm.”


About the Canterbury Software Cluster

The Canterbury Software Cluster (Canterbury Software Inc.) is Canterbury’s leading professional association dedicated to advancing software innovation, commercialisation and export. It helps to develop globally successful technology companies through collaboration and education for businesses small and large. The non-profit organisation is run by a voluntary committee and has over 200 members. The Canterbury Software Summit is one of our main events of the year. This year it will be held on 8 September and will feature inspiring stories from business leaders as well as informative technical sessions.
http://www.canterburysoftware.org.nz

About UCONZ
University Commercialisation Offices of New Zealand (UCONZ) - was formed in 2005 to bring together the commercialisation offices of the country's universities and to establish closer links with commercial research partners.

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