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The Home Economics Institute of Australia Inc. (HEIA) is the peak professional body for home economists in Australia. HEIA advocates for the interests of professionals working in education, industry, community health, consumer affairs, and family and hous

Expression of Interest: Join HEIA conference committees

We invite you to contribute your skills and expertise to help plan and organise the upcoming HEIA conference taking place from 4–7 July 2027 in Sydney

HEIA is calling for expressions of interest for positions on the Academic Program Committee and/or the Host Committee to help develop and manage the upcoming in-person HEIA conference. Please review the position descriptions and submit your expression of interest by Friday 4 April 2025. Be sure to include your details, along with your areas of interest or expertise in home economics and HEIA conference/event planning. It's a team effort, so you won't be responsible for every part of the role on your own. More details about each committee can be found below.

Submit your interest

Conference task groups

There are three task groups associated with the conference organisation—the Academic Program Committee, the Steering Committee, and the Host Committee—that will work closely together to make sure everything runs smoothly. Each group will bring its own expertise to ensure the event is well-coordinated and aligned. In addition, HEIA will engage Expert Events as our professional conference organiser (PCO) to coordinate the conference organisation.

1. Academic Program Committee

The Academic Program Committee ensures that a well-balanced, high-quality program is organised and presented at the conference and the conference theme is reflected in the selection of keynote speakers. Expertise in leadership, and identifying excellent keynote speaker and speakers of concurrent speakers is required. Collectively, the Academic Program Committee needs to have extensive knowledge of speakers and academics across a broad range of home economics areas, including health home economics, education, and technologies.

Responsibilities

● Propose a potential theme and work with the Steering Committee to develop a draft theme
● Identify and decide keynote speakers
● Handle the Call for Papers through the development of the expression of interest (EOI) form to present at the conference.
● Communicate the Expression of Interest (EOI)
● Review EOI applications by members to present at the conference and accept those that are deemed are appropriate for the conference (not all submissions may be successful
● Source keynote speakers, as well as non-keynote speakers, which made be in addition to the EOIs
● Host committee nominee should be able to advice on possible speakers from local government authorities, health authorities etc
● Source unpaid and paid presenters for workshops/concurrent and within budget –there is budget to pay for some speakers.
● Contact the authors of all submissions to inform them whether their submission was successful or not.
● Negotiate any necessary changes for successful submissions and notify authors of their presentation day and time once the program is finalised.
● Develop a letter and information package for reaching out to potential speakers and submit to Communications Standing Committee for approval.
● Divide the task of reaching out to potential speakers.
● Provide the Conference Steering Committee with regular updates on speaker selection.
● Have meetings with PCO as necessary
● Assist in the scheduling of session rooms; done in conjunction with PCO
● Develop survey tools (such as questionnaires) for speakers sessions and conference program.

2. Host Committee

The Host Committee handles the practical aspects of local conference arrangements. While they will collaborate with the PCO, the PCO will carry out much of the work. The Host Committee will suggest venues to the PCO for follow-up, but ultimately, the follow up and recommendations will come from the PCO. The Host Committee will make suggestions regarding

● excursions/experiences
● pre and post conference tours
● local speakers
● local sponsors
● potential venue with PCO; note the PCO will follow up with venues.

Ultimately PCO does the payments, bookings.

The Host Committee is also responsible for hosting the welcome reception. Knowledge of Sydney, including local venues, experiences, speakers and logistics, would be helpful for members of the Host Committee

Responsibilities

● Find and suggest venues for the conference.
● Suggest excursions and experiences for participants as part of the conference program, working collaboratively with the Academic Program Committee and Steering Committee
● Identify local speakers for the conference and provide information to the Academic Program Committee.
● Suggest local sponsors and provide information to the PCO for follow up.
● Host the welcome reception for participants, determining the venue and event details in collaboration with the Steering Committee.
● Participate as a member of the Conference Steering Committee (Chair or nominee).
● Participate as a member of the Academic Program Committee (Chair or nominee).
● Make recommendations for conference dinner venue, with the organisation/logistics undertaken by the PCO.
● Recommend local special guests to be invited to Welcome drinks and/or opening ceremony e.g. Premier, key people
● Suggest venues for dine around