Australian Web Week is just a couple of weeks away, and the team at the Australian Web Industry Association have created quite a unique event for the occassion.

Instead of the usual pre- Web Directions South Port80 drinks and pizza affair, which we’ve held for the last few years, we’re introducing a new event to your calendar: WebWiz.

The concept is great; there will be a panel for four web experts, plus an additional two contestants hand-picked from the audience to compete for ‘millions of dollars worth of awesome web kudos’.

Guaranteed to be a great way to spend a Tuesday evening in Sydney!

All the gory details are:

Tuesday 6th of October 2009
from 7:00pm
Top floor
Pyrmont Bridge Hotel
96 Union Street
Pyrmont NSW 2009
(Google Map)

Entry is absolutely FREE – however there are only limited places available, so I suggest you head straight over and RSVP now.

During the evening (which will include free nibbles and a cash bar), we’ll also be announcing some of the finalists for the Australian Web Awards, just to make it even more exciting!

I hope that you can make it!

The full exciting program for Edge of the Web 2009 has now been announced, and you can peruse the fine speakers and their topics over on the Program page.

Now, I could be biased (hey, I’m speaking at the event!) but I truly believe there’s a great line-up of talent, those locals, as well as those coming from both interstate and overseas, to our humble city to share their wisdom at Western Australia’s own web design and development conference.

People like Derek Powazek, who I saw speak in New Zealand earlier this year, Twitter API superstar, Alex Payne and well-known blogger, Anil Dash are visiting Australia for Edge of the Web.

In total, there are 22 kick ass speakers who will entertain, educate and invigorate you to push the web further. Add these to the great workshops and the black tie Australian Web Awards gala event, and you’ve got one great week!

The best part is, if you get in right now and register, early bird pricing is in place until September 15 (that’s right; only a week left!) which means you can save some of your money (hey, spend it on drinks at the number of social events which will also happen around the days before and after, and evenings of, the conference).

Don’t just take my word for it. Hit your favourite micro-blogging platform and ask your colleagues, or search for blog posts reviewing last years event. I’m positive you’ll love being at the Edge of the Web 2009!

Be quick organising those tickets though; the fun begins in only eight weeks time…

The Australian Web Industry Association is having our Annual General Meeting next month, which means we’ve once again got a number of committee positions available for nominations and voting.

The positions are typically for a period of two years, and involve a 1-2 hour monthly teleconference (Eastern States committee) or face-to-face (if in WA), as well as participation in our committee email mailing list (time requirement varies with role, typically 30 – 90 minutes of reading/replying per week).

The reward, being a volunteer position, is the great feeling and fame(?) that you are steering Australia’s longest running web industry Association, and helping shape events (such as Edge of the Web and Australian Web Awards), education and other activities that AWIA are involved with.

There are seven positions on the 12 member board this year, so there is no better time to get involved!

Nominations close at midnight, Friday 24th July. The only prerequisites are that you need to be a financial member of AWIA, and have a keen interest in the web industry. We encourage members from all states to be involved – this ensures a better national coverage.

To nominate for a position on the board, please email a nomination, consisting of a 50-100 word biography to secretary@webindustry.asn.au before the deadline. All nominee statements will be published on the AWIA website allowing people to read about you before voting (if required) at the AGM.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below, catch me on Twitter (@milesb) or via email using miles@webindustry.asn.au