A Game-Changing Experience: Recap of the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ on the Gold Coast

Australia, Sep 13, 2024

By Lara Barnett, Head of Marketing, Logicalis Australia 

From September 9th to 11th, the Gartner IT Symposium on the Gold Coast brought together over 2,000 IT professionals, including a large contingent from Logicalis Australia. As a third-year sponsor, Logicalis took its presence to new heights, focusing on brand awareness, customer engagement, hospitality, and thought leadership. What were the highlights? A few too many to count if I’m honest with you. But here are some of the most memorable that will stay with me for some time to come:

Elevating Brand Awareness with a McLaren Collaboration

Logicalis made a splash with an eye-catching focus on brand awareness. We seized the opportunity to increase our presence through a combination of out-of-home brand advertising across the Gold Coast and at the conference itself. Our partnership with McLaren to sponsor the engagement zone at the front of the Exhibition Centre was a standout element. The display of a hybrid McLaren vehicle adorned with Logicalis branding linked our commitment to sustainability with our brand campaign: "Logicalis Game Changers, Driving Sustainable Innovation." The buzz was palpable, with numerous conversations, photo ops, selfies, and many requests for a spin in the Logicalis McLaren!

We also enhanced our visibility with billboards strategically placed around the Gold Coast Airport and Broadbeach. These billboards celebrated the 'Game Changers'—our customers. These are the IT leaders who are transforming the industry. We wanted to ensure we put our incredible customers at the forefront.

As a result of all of the above, I’m not sure you could have left the conference without having heard or seen the name, ‘Logicalis’!

Engaging Customers at the Booth

At our booth, we prioritised robust customer engagement. Highlights included planting a tree for every badge scanned, a competition to win a luxury weekend away (with second prize, a McLaren LEGO set), and distributing fun, sustainable merchandise. The team’s creativity shone during the ‘Go For Gold’ networking night with standout costumes that made the event even more memorable. Thanks to everyone who visited our booth and engaged in insightful conversations with our team, we’ll be planting over 800 trees across Australia in collaboration with Carbon Positive Australia.

Hosting a Memorable Customer Dinner

On Tuesday evening, we hosted a private dining event for our team, customers, and partners. The night featured a captivating magic performance that set the tone for great conversation and celebration. This experiential event created an intimate opportunity to network, relax, and build lasting relationships in a memorable setting. This is our third year hosting this event, and each year it gets even bigger and better. We’re honoured that so many of our customers and prospects chose to spend the evening with us to celebrate. This year, the event was pretty special as we celebrated our recent win as Microsoft ANZ Azure Partner of the Year.  

Thought Leadership at its Best

A major highlight was our speaking session on Wednesday, where we showcased the expertise of three incredible Game Changing customers: Karina Foley from Western Sydney University, Christopher Johnson from Charter Hall, and Andy Wilson from TSA Riley. Joined by Logicalis Australia CEO Anthony Woodward on stage, they shared their insights on what partnership means to them, how they balance daily operations with innovation, and the importance of creating a leadership legacy in IT. Their discussion, "Creating Your Leadership Legacy as an IT Game Changer," emphasised transparency, building strong partnerships, and placing people at the centre of decision-making. It was a powerful reminder of the delicate balancing act between maintaining daily operations and advancing innovative IT strategies.

Looking Ahead: Partnering to Change the Game

As the Microsoft Azure Partner of the Year, Logicalis is committed to helping IT leaders accelerate their transformation journeys. Through our ‘Game Changers’ series, we aim to inspire IT leaders to embrace change and innovation. Ready to become a Game Changer? Connect with one of our team members to explore how partnering with Logicalis can help you lead the change and make a lasting impact in your organisation.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo™ on the Gold Coast a success. From the engaging conversations to the innovative displays, it was a rewarding and inspiring experience. We look forward to continuing the journey of transformation with you! 

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