More than 50 infrastructure experts from Australia and overseas will gather in Melbourne this week to discuss infrastructure planning and development in growing cities around the world with a view to developing a best practice model for infrastructure planning in Australia.

This event is being organised by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and Infrastructure Australia, the Federal Government's principal advisory body on infrastructure issues.

Speakers include;

• Mr Jose Luis Irigoyen, Director Transport, Water, Information and Communication Technologies, World Bank, Washington;
• Dr Guy Felio, President, Infrastructure Strategies & Research Inc, Ottawa;
• Mr Michael Deegan, National Infrastructure Coordinator, Infrastructure Australia;
• Dr Surya Raj Acharya, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Transport Policy Studies, Tokyo;
• Mr Jordan Schwartz, Manager Infrastructure Policy, World Bank, Washington;
• Ms Megan Motto, CEO Consult Australia; and
• Dr Kerry Schott. Board Member, Infrastructure Australia.

The event will feature presentations and discussions on Australian and international approaches to infrastructure planning, with reference to Japan and Asian mega cities, best practice approaches and the planning environment in Australia.

Those attending will represent Federal and state infrastructure bodies, Engineers Australia, the construction industry, engineering consultancies, roads and transport bodies, universities and planners.

Speakers may be available for interview. Please contact Bill Mackey, Deputy CEO, ATSE,
Bill.mackey@atse.org.au or (03) 9864 0902 / 0418 923 370