ACS members and ICT professionals will have the opportunity to learn more about some of the most pressing technological issues facing society at the annual WA State Conference.

The flagship event takes place on 1 June at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth.

Subjects to be discussed throughout the day include big data, AI, education, neurodiversity, autonomous vehicles and blockchain.

A full day of masterclasses, panels and keynotes will be followed by the ACS WA Gala Dinner, where guests will hear from Mars One astronaut and comedian, Josh Richards.

The conference sets out to address a wide range of topics through the incorporation of a range of different streams, including for the first time a member-based stream.

This stream is based on a call for content and has been voted on by ACS members.

For the first time, ACS has asked other organisations to run sessions, with the Health Informatics Society Australia (HISA) and Mega Data Cluster both hosting sessions in a bid to diversify the content.

ACS WA Executive Member, Denis Coldham, said the new-look conference aims to bring members and the wider industry closer together.

“This year shows a large commitment from the WA Branch to improve the services for its members,” he said. “This is shown through a new format with the conference and more inclusive approach to the ICT network in WA.”

Professor Tele Tan will present alongside ACS Honorary Life Member and former national Vice President Jim Ellis on neurodiversity in education and employment.

Tan and Ellis work with the Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance (AASQA) to help individuals with autism spectrum disorders to achieve in the ICT industry.

Minister for Innovation and ICT, Dave Kelly, will deliver the welcome address.

Tickets for the conference are available here.