Mega Meetup 2024 Recap – Thank You!

On Wednesday, 13 November, we hosted our highly anticipated annual Mega Meetup 2024 event in Canberra. Drawing over 200 attendees from both the public and private sectors, the event was a day filled with innovation, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration. As we continue evolving following the launch of GovCMS 3.0 earlier in 2023, the event provided a platform to reflect on recent developments, strengthen partnerships, and explore new tools and services designed to enhance digital government solutions. You can view Mega Meetup photos and some of the presentations of the day in our GovTEAMS GovCMS Community ‘Events’ tab now. 

Highlights of the day included keynotes:

• Possum Michael Hodgkin, Information Architect at Services Australia, shared his extensive experience in implementing a whole-of-government online services catalogue and discussed the intricacies of digital personalisation—an increasingly important area for enhancing citizen engagement with government services.
• Penelope Jones, Assistant Secretary for Digital ID Communication, Inclusion, and Governance at the Department of Finance, sharing how effective websites and digital services can serve as critical enablers in the rollout of Digital ID initiatives.

Celebrating Community Achievements

An integral part of the Mega Meetup is recognising the incredible work being done within the GovCMS community. This year, four Community Website Awards were presented to honour achievements in areas such as innovative website design, user-centred development, and responsive design. The awards also included a special Community Spirit category, which was given to Margery Tongway, Assistant Director at the Department of Finance. Marge was recognised for her pivotal role in fostering connections between GovCMS and the wider Drupal community. Her dedication to community-building and knowledge-sharing has made her an invaluable contributor to the platform’s success. You can view all the award categories, nominees and winners at this ‘Wrap Up’ article now. 

Positive Feedback

Feedback throughout the event was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees praising the diversity of presentations, the collaborative atmosphere, and the seamless logistics that made the day run smoothly. It was clear that the hard work and meticulous planning by the GovCMS team had paid off. Many participants commented on the value of the networking opportunities, the quality of the content, and the overall sense of community spirit that permeated the event.

Looking Ahead: The Road to 2025 and Beyond 

As 2025 approaches, we are gearing up for an exciting milestone—the 10th anniversary of GovCMS in March 2025. This celebration will be a chance to reflect on the platform’s journey, acknowledge the collective achievements of the community, and set the stage for the next decade of digital transformation in the Australian government.

Our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and community engagement ensures that GovCMS will continue to thrive, adapting to meet the evolving needs of both government agencies and citizens alike. As we look to the next chapter, there’s no doubt that the Mega Meetup will remain a central event in the GovCMS calendar, fostering the connections and ideas that will shape the future of government digital services.