News In Brief

Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you in no more than five paragraphs. Below are snippets of all the media releases we received from July 17 till the end of the week.

2023 Music Awards Finalists

Sydney, July 17: The stage is set for the highly anticipated 2023 Australian Women in Music Awards, as the list of finalists has been unveiled. Notable artists like Jessica Mauboy, Sarah McLeod, Kate Ceberano, Beccy Cole, Vika & Linda, and Marianna Annas are among those vying for recognition at the prestigious event. The awards ceremony, featuring a star-studded black carpet, concert, and party, will take place on September 27th, 2023, in Meanjin/Brisbane, with a later broadcast on ABC TV.
The Australian Women in Music Awards have established themselves as a pivotal event in the country’s music industry. The awards aim to celebrate and shine a light on the significant contributions made by women across all facets of the industry, from performers on stage to those working behind the scenes as technicians, leaders, elders, songwriters, producers, engineers, filmmakers, photographers, and music journalists.
Vicki Gordon, the AWMA Founding Executive Producer & Program Director, stressed the importance of gender equality in the music industry and called for its adoption as a core value. The AWMA actively supports and promotes women as essential contributors to the sector’s future growth, advocating for equitable access, safety, and recognition.
The countdown to the 2023 Australian Women in Music Awards intensifies as excitement builds among artists, industry professionals, and fans. The event not only serves as a celebration of creativity and talent but also stands as a powerful platform to advance gender equality and acknowledge the remarkable achievements of women in the music industry.

ABEA appoints inaugural CEO, Melissa Brown

Sydney, July 17: Melissa Brown appointed inaugural CEO of Australian Business Events Association (ABEA).
Her diverse international experience and passion for building teams make her well-suited to champion the business events industry.
Melissa’s role aims to elevate the industry’s prominence and provide impactful member services.
She assumes the position on Sept 4 and will engage with ABEA members and stakeholders immediately.

UC and Microsoft Innovate

New Zealand, July 20: University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and Microsoft have teamed up to enhance the student experience, research capabilities, and employability through tech innovation. As part of University of Canterbury’s Strategic Vision, this collaboration aligns with its mission to be an engaged, connected, and future-focused university. By leveraging Microsoft’s expertise in gaming, film production, cloud services, and AI, University of Canterbury aims to explore joint opportunities and maximize the potential of existing products.
One of the key benefits of this partnership is the early access University of Canterbury will have to gaming innovations, which will ensure that degree programs like the Bachelor of Digital Screen (Hons) and Applied Immersive Game Design remain relevant and produce highly skilled graduates. Director of Digital Screen, Sam Witters, highlighted the collaboration’s impact on empowering students in the creative media industry, enabling them to shape the future of digital entertainment.
An exciting joint initiative under the collaboration is the introduction of a new University of Canterbury chatbot, powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI technology. This advanced chatbot will extract answers from complex questions using private University of Canterbury data storage to ensure accurate and reliable information. By continually refining its knowledge base, the chatbot will play a crucial role in supporting the university’s digital transformation journey and providing valuable assistance to students and staff.

SCIB Blood Donation Day: Giving Back on Sarawak Day

Kuching, July 21: Sarawak Consolidated Industries Berhad (“SCIB” or the “Company”) is organizing the “SCIB Blood Donation Day” in collaboration with Sarawak General Hospital Blood Bank, celebrating Sarawak Day with a lifesaving cause.
Join us on July, 9 am to 2 pm, at Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, to donate blood and make a difference. Let’s unite and save lives together!