VicWater Annual Conference 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across Victoria, the VicWater Annual Conference was a completely virtual event for 2020. With metropolitan Melbourne in lockdown and a distance curfew in place the entire event was created and controlled in isolation.

Based on the experience gained from running webinars since earlier in the year, I decided the event would proceed incorporating similar timings to the usual physical event, but also taking advantage of virtual platforms to offer dedicated streams across a range of specialist areas.

My role included the entire event management and execution, everything from creating the dedicated conference website, to ticket sales and promotion, as well as facilitating the virtual platforms over the two day period. I was also responsible for sponsorships and agreements for the event. All sessions were recorded and the edited copies were published to the conference site for delegates to catch up on sessions missed or watch their favourite sessions again.

The virtual technology platforms selected for the event were tailored to the style and requirements of the session.

The morning sessions were run from WebinarJam, a robust solution which permits slideshows and video content to be pre-loaded, alleviating some of the strain on individual presenters internet connections.

Afternoon sessions were broken into the specialist streams, and were a mixture of ZOOM Webinar and standard ZOOM sessions. Standard ZOOM was a popular choice as it features Breakout Rooms, were the main group can break into smaller discussions, then return to add their perspective to the main group meeting.