The main day of the CCI Symposium will be covered live via the blogging feats of Hannah Suarez. Suarez is founder of the website Brisbane Creative Industries, an events directory which lists creative industries events in and around Brisbane. For all the latest news on the day click here.

The Government 2.0 Taskforce is being formed against a backdrop of increased interest by governments worldwide in the potential uses of public sector information and online engagement. CCI's Brian Fitzgerald is one of the fifteen member panel that make up the Government 2.0 Taskforce.

The Taskforce will advise Government on structural barriers that prevent, and policies to promote, greater information disclosure, digital innovation and online engagement including the division of responsibilities for, and overall coordination of, these issues within government.

The Taskforce will work with the public, private, cultural and not for profit sectors to fund and develop seed projects that demonstrate the potential of proactive information disclosure and digital engagement for government.

The Taskforce will provide a final report on its activities to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation and the Cabinet Secretary by the end of 2009. The Taskforce will disband on completion of its final report.

Read more about the taskforce.

Congratulations to John Hartley, Distinguished Professor at QUT and Research Director at CCI, for his recent Member of the Order of Australia (AM) award announced last Monday in the Queens Birthday honours list.

Vice-Chancellor Peter Coaldrake has recently approved the award for the title of Distinguished Professor to Professor Stuart Cunningham in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a leading researcher and his contribution to humanities both nationally and internationally.

The announcement also notes the award also recognises his eminence in leading both the successful bid and a subsequent re-bid, for Australia's only ARC Centre of Excellence in the Humanities arena.

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, has called for written submissions on proposed reforms to Australia's intellectual property (IP) system. CCI encourages all interested stakeholders to contribute to the discussion.

The CCI annual report for 2008 is now available to download as a PDF. Or if you would like to receive a print copy please email infocci@qut.edu.au to request a copy.