Dear Western Australian innovators and supporters of the Lateral INCITE Awards,

As per my message last week, the INCITE Awards Committee met late last week to discuss how we are going to proceed to deliver the State’s premier IT and Tech Awards program in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A summary of the result of our meeting include:

• The 29th Lateral INCITE Awards will continue to go ahead according to our prescribed timeline. For those unaware, our timeline was developed to work alongside the national iAwards, international APICTA and the ACS’ Digital Disruptors Awards.
  
  We might change our timeline depending on the above awards’ potentially changed schedules but will keep you informed through regular communications should this happen.

   

• We are working on delivering a world class, first of its kind in WA, virtual events for our:
  • • Second Round Judging (currently scheduled for end of March)

• • • Pitchfest and Finalist Function (please note this will be changed from 3 April to after Easter, around last week of April)

• • • Gala Dinner Awards Night (for end of July/start of August)

The Committee is working with our key stakeholders (more below) to showcase the power of WA technology to deliver these world class virtual events.

• We will continue to provide regular updates via our newsletter, social channels and personalised communications as to what these virtual events look like as they take shape.
• We will focus on using our communications platform to showcase and share positive stories on how our local, national and international technology are helping to fight COVID-19. 

Our strategic discussion was supported by our commitment to:

• Work with our key stakeholders – our sponsors, entrants and industry body – to use our collective rich knowledge, experience, ideas and resources to create innovative solutions. We are confident by working together with our stakeholders we can deliver a solution that will keep our Awards going. Please note separate communications will be sent to key stakeholders on how we are inviting you to engage in our decision process.
• Show the world the power and capabilities of technology that exist in WA. Technology has been key to supporting challenges we face locally and globally. For example Cisco’s Tactical Operations (TacOps) established connectivity when disaster struck with Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Maria and Uganda’s Refugee Crisis.
  
  The Red Cross’ RC View, built on the ESRI data visualisation platform, informs situational awareness in the face of natural disasters by providing crucial data on water levels, shelter mapping, road closures and more.
  
  This is our opportunity to really show our local community and the world that WA’s innovation and technology is one of the very best, and is being used to create first of kind virtual events.
• Showcase and support our State’s innovators. The INCITE Awards exist to do exactly this. In the face of a pandemic, we believe more than ever that we need to support our innovators and their businesses, research and start ups with opportunities for:
  • learning business and professional skills from industry experts
  • publicity
  • networking with industry leaders and potential investors 
  • showcasing their tech to the local, national and international markets.

I thank you for your continued support of the INCITE Awards during these unprecedented times.

I also encourage you to believe in our 29 years of delivering the State’s best ICT and Tech Awards program, in the innovation that exists to get us through these challenges and the rich knowledge of our stakeholders combined, as we deliver something new and exciting. 

Stay tuned as we provide regular updates. 

Please subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on our social channels (LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook) for all these updates. 

Should you have any questions or concerns, I encourage you to contact myself or any members of our Committee member via email – [email protected]