Even if you are not a FOSS aficionado, this event might well make a good introduction to the genre and its a rare enough opportunity to make the connections as an Aussie event comes to NZ. linux.conf.au

linux.conf.au is a conference about Open Source Software, including Linux that brings together the world's community of Linux enthusiasts who contribute to the Linux operating system and the associated universe of free and open source software fro around the world.

Hosted each year in one of Australasia's major centres, in 2010 linux.conf.au will be hosted by Wellington from Monday 18 January to Saturday 23 January. There's a 3-hour newcomer's session on Sunday the 17th as well.

According to their site, linux.conf.au is a technical conference which attracts some of the brightest minds in the world. It is run by the community, for the community.

Even if you are not a techie, the associated minoconf series that runs on the Monday and Tuesday looks very interesting, each Miniconf running for 1 full day.

Miniconfs are miniature conferences, within the main LCA2010 conference, which are targeted towards specific communities of interest and offer delegates an opportunity to network with other enthusiasts while immersing themselves in a specific topic or project.

The LCA2010 Wiki has dedicated Miniconf pages, where the Miniconf Organisers have been uploading information about their Miniconf. For more information, please see: Miniconfs Wiki page

Four that might find some ready participation among NFPs would be:

• Data Storage and Retrieval Peter Lieverdink
• Education Tabitha Roder
• Multimedia Conrad Parker
• Open and the Public Sector Daniel Spector

If you decide to go, let me know and please feel free to report back on how it came out for you.

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