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REVIEW
The InfoComm 100 We plunge head first into the AV Industry’s think tank. Text:\ Peter Swanson, CTS
So, there you are, working away at your desk, sweating over the latest project design, when suddenly a letter is dropped into your in tray. This is a surprise, as more and more people communicate by email alone, unless it’s sending out product catalogues. You open up the letter and see that the InfoComm logo is there, but juxtaposed with the number 100. Reading on, you find that you’ve been invited to an event comprising 100 executives in the AV industry… and about now you realise just how fortunate you’ve been. The InfoComm 100 began as an initiative in 2009 and was repeated in 2010. It comprises a mix of 100 people from around the globe and from all facets of the AV industry: consultants, integrators, manufacturers, technology managers and event professionals. To round this out, there are a few carefullyselected guests from related industries, such as architecture, project management and ICT. Run under the auspices of the InfoComm Leadership Development Council, it is focused on leveraging the skills and knowledge of current industry leaders, but also about seeking out the next generation and giving them mentoring and networking opportunities. The intention is that each year
50% of the attendees will be drawn from the previous year and 50% will be new members. The intention is to balance useful experience gained from prior years with new insights from different thinkers. TAKING THE PLUNGE
The program takes the form of a 1-2 day deep immersion in the current state of the AV industry and the directions in which it is likely to head over the next 3-5 years. The inaugural event in 2009 happened to take place just as the GFC was coming home to roost for many companies around the globe. Along with many of the other attendees, I was wondering about how exactly we could
be spending the time gazing off into the future when it seemed like our economic reality was crashing down around us. Fortunately, the InfoComm staff had considered this too and the introductory speaker, Rich Kaarlgard, gave an excellent talk that charted us through the current difficulties, considered past challenges in the world economy and left everyone feeling that the most important thing was to get on with making a difference to the industry by looking, and planning, forward. The discussions covered a huge amount of ground in very little time, including industry competition and structure; technology and science; market demographics; social values and client preferences; global economics and the business climate; and legislative, regulatory and political climate. In addition to all of these areas, the group also considered what the appropriate description of our industry was now and how it was changing. The attendees from architecture, project management and ICT really helped to frame discussions in the context of the world beyond the confines of our industry. It was inspiring to see so many leaders of the industry giving their time to such an event. There was a clear sense that people felt we had collectively achieved something of real value to the association, but had each gained