User-site and vendor speakers from Australia have joined the roster for SWUG New Zealand's conference in August.

The programme includes a plant tour, awards evening and networking dinner/quiz at the Millennium Hotel Rotorua, from August 29-30.

Chairperson Dan Blackbourn says the fact that Rotorua is centrally-located and a tourist destination contributed to the choice of venue: "We have a great line up of presentations covering a myriad of interesting print topics and several informative print site presentations," he says.

Among speakers from Australia are Fairfax Media print and logistics HR director and group HSE director Anthony Payne, Global Press Technologies managing director Andy Stephens, DIC Australia web technical service manager Steve Packham, Bottcher Australia managing director Mitchell Mulligan and manroland Web Systems service centre manager Martin Okkes.

Guest speaker Sir Ray Avery will discuss his life and latest invention - incubators designed for Third World countries - which Blackbourn says will amaze attendees.

Among other speakers are Chris Smallwood (Thermal Imaging Services),

Russell Wieck (NZME Ellerslie), SWUG Apprentice of the Year 2014 Molisi Saulala, Malcolm Lochhead (Fujifilm New Zealand), Steve Gallop (Inkwise, formerly Guardian Print), Shaun Thiele (Indisol), Ruth Cobb (PrintNZ), Ricky Baker (Fairfax NZ Petone Print Centre) and Willie Townend (Norske Skog Australasia).

The two-day event will include a gala awards evening at the Skyline Rotorua, an educational tour of the paper-making plant of Norske Skog in Kawerau with a networking dinner/quiz night that evening.

For further information please visit www.swug.co.nz or call SWUG chairman Dan Blackbourn on 021 770 804