Hello everyone,

I am interested in your thoughts on the merits (or lack thereof) of expanding the use of online conferences in a post-COVID 19 world. The Australian Institute of Health & Safety has made their 2020 conference fully online, and the American Society of Safety Professionals is currently considering doing the same for their annual event (~5,000 attendees); both conferences are held in June each year.  

Given that for most of us attending a face to face conference hosted in a city that requires a stay in a hotel is a significant financial cost, do you see value in expanding the use of online delivery for OH&S conferences? Technology continues to evolve, and while the personal experience of reconnecting with friends and colleagues face to face cannot be replaced by a webcam and microphone, online attendance likely makes conference participation much more viable for may OH&S practitioners, whose budgets and schedules make face to face attendance impossible.                       

I welcome your opinions!

Argyll