Posted on October 28, 2016
ADAO applauds the Australian Government for recognizing the dangers of asbestos and establishing the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) in 2013. As a leader in asbestos and awareness in Australia and around the world, ASEA combines education and advocacy to promote asbestos awareness and management throughout the country.
This year, ADAO is honored and excited to attend and present at ASEA’s 3rd International Asbestos Awareness and Management Conference on November 13-15, 2016 in Adelaide. I am so grateful to the Australian government for inviting me to be a part of this landmark event for a third year.
This 2-day conference funded by the Australian government, moderated by Australian Broadcasting Corporation Senior Journalist Matt Peacock, brings together some of the biggest players in the global fight to ban asbestos. The program features nearly 40 distinguished speakers representing Australia, the U.K., Indonesia, several regions of Asia, Sweden, Canada, and the U.S. Three international keynote addresses will come from Kathleen Ruff of Canada, Ted Emmett of the U.S., and Lesley Jane Onyon, of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Southeast Asian Regional Office. The Honorable John Rau, South Australian Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for the City of Adelaide, will lead a special industry breakfast on the final day of conference programming.
On the first day I’ll be speaking in Breakout Session 1, “International updates and approaches to asbestos management,” alongside Sebastien Brandt with the Swedish Electrician Union and Andrew Morgan, director of ASEA. On Day Two, I’ll participate in a Plenary Session titled “Where do we go from here? – Next step in asbestos awareness and management in Australia and overseas” with several dear international colleagues including Brad Parker of Australia’s Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and Geoff Fary, chairman of ASEA.
Australia’s exemplary proactive measures, including a full asbestos ban and continued emphasis on education and prevention, should be followed by our international community. We hope other governments will follow Australia’s lead in increasing national asbestos awareness efforts and that the USA will soon recognize the need to ban asbestos to protect public health and our environment.
I look forward to the opportunity to participate in this spectacular conference and strengthen international alliances for a world free of asbestos. Watch for ASEA conference updates and videos in the near future.
In unity,
Linda