SYDNEY, Australia and GARNER, N.C., Jan. 12, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The unheralded role that records and documents play in keeping the world in balance will be the primary focus of PRISM International's (Professional Records & Information Services Management) first "Business Across Borders-Asia" commercial records management conference in Sydney on February 18. Attendance to the conference is open to any organization with a need to store offsite.
Growing publicity about the vulnerability of documents - the lifeblood and heritage of industry and government - frequently sparks heated public debates about global security, harsher corporate governance laws, and stricter rules about healthcare information management and the privacy rights of individuals. Coupled with U.S. events like Enron and H-I-H in Australia, governments and businesses need protection, access, retention, storage and disposal of their vital information. Conference speakers will address many of these issues.
"The global importance of records management makes this very much a vital industry," said Brad McDonell, CEO of Australian facilities management company, Tape Management Services, and Chairman, PRISM International's Asian Membership Committee. "Following 'Business Across Borders- Asia,' we will get closer to a needed consensus about setting goals for the future."
According to McDonell, Sydney is the perfect place to launch discussions about best practices in records and information management because of Australia's quick adaptation of technology, its location as the doorstep to Asia, and its traditional ability to prove and implement ideas quickly. In fact, the conference will serve to debut the new book Why Records Management, developed to better educate prospective customers.
The "Business Across Borders-Asia" conference, to be held at Sydney's Hotel Intercontinental will be highlighted by two tours: a confidential destruction facility owned by Recall Corp and a records management facility owned by Grace Records Management, which is in the process of relocating to a newly constructed facility. Conference attendees will receive rare access to these state-of-the-art facilities, typically unavailable to non-clients, and will observe and discuss industry practices, and improve the overall base of knowledge.
"The shift from paper to more electronic storage has made records management more important than ever through increased demand for electronic data storage, space and manpower," said A.J. Wasserstein, immediate past president of PRISM International, a global not-for-profit trade association. "But paper storage is likely to remain a multi-billion dollar industry."
"Business Across Borders-Asia" will sharpen the skills of key information management outsourcing companies and empower governments and businesses to better control archiving costs, use space more efficiently, provide security for vital information assets and have needed services available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
John Fitzgerald, legendary Davis Cup tennis player and 2003 Australian team captain, will be the keynote speaker for the conference and PRISM International members will discuss risk mitigation; corporate liability; media vault operations; implementing IT systems for records management; and the risks and benefits of outsourcing to commercial information management companies. Grace Records Management will also provide insight into how innovative cooperation among Australian business and government leaders is leading the way for AustralAsian records management and client services and international standards development.
Specific program and registration information for "Business Across Borders -Asia" is available at the PRISM International website, www.prismintl.org, by contacting their North Carolina, U.S. staff at 01-919-771-0657, or calling toll free 1-800-336-9793 from North America.
About PRISM
PRISM International (Professional Records & Information Services Management) is a global not-for-profit trade association for companies that provide their clients with protection, access, retention, storage and disposal of their vital information. Association members receive unmatched industry information, education and a global network from which to gain the tools necessary to provide the highest quality of service to their clients. PRISM International members include the owners and senior management of leading information management companies around the world. Although a majority of our membership is located in the United States, members are also located in Australia, Canada, England, Hong Kong, Sweden, Thailand and 30 other countries.