CategorySecurity & Defense
AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ
🎯 Selling to this event's audience? Get a free tailored buyer list
Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
🔒 Get my buyer details Free · ~20 seconds
About this event
AFAC26 powered by INTERSCHUTZ
Date: 18–21 August 2026
Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Melbourne, Australia
Event Overview
AFAC26, powered by INTERSCHUTZ, is Australasia’s premier emergency management conference and exhibition. Organized in collaboration with Deutsche Messe, the Institution of Fire Engineers (Australia), Women and Firefighting Australasia (WAFA), and the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR), this event brings together thousands of emergency management professionals, industry leaders, and innovators. The conference aims to share knowledge, showcase cutting-edge technology, and strengthen connections across the emergency services and disaster resilience sectors.
Key Details
- Event Type: Emergency Management, Disaster Resilience, Fire Services, Public Safety
- Target Audience: Emergency management professionals, fire services, disaster response teams, government agencies, public safety organizations, technology providers, academia, and NGOs.
- Audience Reach: National (Australia) with international participation from global emergency management and firefighting communities.
- Estimated Attendance: Thousands of professionals, including exhibitors, speakers, and attendees from across Australasia and beyond.
Why This Event is a Good Buyer Fit
AFAC26 attracts decision-makers and key stakeholders in emergency management, including:
- Fire and rescue service leaders
- Government and public safety officials
- Disaster resilience and risk management professionals
- Technology and equipment suppliers for emergency services
- Academic and research institutions focused on disaster response
- Emergency response technology
- Firefighting equipment and training
- Disaster preparedness and recovery services
- Public safety software and communications systems
Industries Represented (Apollo Alignment)
- Emergency Services
- Public Safety
- Government Administration
- Defense & Space
- Environmental Services
- Nonprofit Organization Management
- Events Services
Sample Buyer Profiles
| Priority | Company | Website | Best Title to Target | Why This is a Good Buyer Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country Fire Authority (CFA) | cfa.vic.gov.au | Chief Officer / Deputy Chief Officer | State-level fire service responsible for procurement of equipment and training programs. |
| 2 | Fire and Rescue NSW | fire.nsw.gov.au | Commissioner / Director of Operations | Largest fire service in Australia, actively involved in technology adoption and disaster response. |
| 3 | Bureau of Meteorology (Australia) | bom.gov.au | Director, Emergency Management | Key government agency for disaster risk mitigation and response planning. |
| 4 | Deutsche Messe | messe.de | Project Manager, INTERSCHUTZ | Global organizer of emergency services trade shows; strategic partner for international expansion. |
| 5 | Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) | aidr.edu.au | Chief Executive Officer | National body for disaster resilience research and policy development. |
Client-Product Fit Note
To refine the buyer list, please share your client’s website. For example:
- If your client provides emergency communication systems, prioritize government agencies and fire services.
- If your client offers firefighting drones or thermal imaging technology, target technology procurement teams and exhibitors.
- If your client specializes in disaster response training programs, focus on academic institutions and NGOs.
Source: AFAC26 Official Website (https://www.afacconference.com.au/)
Data sheet
AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event date: 18–21 August 2026
Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Melbourne, Australia
Event status: Upcoming
Research date: 30 June 2026
Event Overview
| Event Name | AFAC26 Conference & Exhibition powered by INTERSCHUTZ |
| Event Date | 18–21 August 2026 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) |
| City | Melbourne |
| State / Region | Victoria |
| Country | Australia |
| Organizer | AFAC, in collaboration with Deutsche Messe, the Institution of Fire Engineers (Australia), Women and Firefighting Australasia (WAFA), and the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) |
| Official Event Website | afacconference.com.au |
| Event Type | Conference and exhibition |
| Primary Category | Security & Defense |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | IT & Technology; Environment & Waste; Business Services |
| Audience Reach | National with international participation across Australasia and global emergency management communities |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Thousands of professionals expected; exact figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Confirmed qualitative statement from official event website; no precise public count located |
| Main Purpose of Event | Knowledge sharing, technology showcase, professional development, supplier discovery, and sector-wide connection building across emergency management, disaster resilience, fire services, and public safety |
About the Event
AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ is positioned by the official event website as Australasia’s leading emergency management conference and exhibition. The 2026 edition returns to Melbourne and combines conference programming, professional development, keynote sessions, and an exhibition focused on operational capability, disaster resilience, response coordination, and emergency technology.
For suppliers, the event matters because it convenes a concentrated audience of emergency service leaders, public-sector stakeholders, resilience professionals, operational teams, technical specialists, and sector partners. It is commercially relevant for solution providers in communications, incident management, fleet and equipment, PPE, training, cyber, GIS, command systems, infrastructure resilience, and related public safety procurement categories.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency service executives | Fire and rescue authorities, emergency management agencies, disaster coordination bodies | Budget owners, strategic approvers, operational capability decision-makers | High-value targets for equipment, software, communications, fleet, and training solutions |
| Government procurement and contracting teams | State agencies, local councils, public safety departments, emergency response organizations | RFP/RFQ managers, procurement policy, contract and sourcing leads | Critical for public-sector vendor onboarding and framework participation |
| Operations and incident management leaders | Control centers, response units, command teams, field operations groups | Specify operational requirements and influence technical evaluation | Strong fit for command systems, mapping, communications, training, and interoperability tools |
| Technology and communications leaders | Public safety IT teams, digital transformation units, communications networks | Architecture, cybersecurity, systems integration, data platform oversight | High relevance for CAD, situational awareness, cybersecurity, radio, AI, cloud, and data systems |
| Training and professional development leaders | Emergency academies, workforce development units, skills and standards bodies | Influence course procurement, simulation tools, learning platforms, certifications | Relevant for e-learning, simulation, competency tracking, and workforce readiness vendors |
| Resilience, policy, and research stakeholders | Institutes, associations, resilience councils, universities, advisory groups | Shape standards, frameworks, pilots, and knowledge transfer | Useful for partnerships, pilot projects, grant-aligned outreach, and thought leadership |
| Equipment, logistics, and fleet stakeholders | Response equipment divisions, fleet managers, supply chain teams, warehouse and logistics units | Influence lifecycle purchasing and deployment planning | Relevant for vehicles, PPE, tools, containers, maintenance, warehousing, and readiness support |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | Host-city delegates, venue-based event traffic, local emergency and public-sector professionals | High | Strong access for Victoria-based agencies, suppliers, and public safety stakeholders |
| Victoria | State-wide emergency service, resilience, and infrastructure representatives | High | Host-state participation is likely to be significant due to travel convenience and local institutional presence |
| Other Australian states and territories | National delegates from emergency, fire, disaster management, and procurement communities | Very High | Official positioning supports national reach across Australia |
| New Zealand and wider Australasia | Regional emergency management and resilience stakeholders | Medium to High | Event is presented as leading for Australasia, indicating regional draw |
| International participation | Global emergency management, firefighting, and technology organizations | Medium | Supported by INTERSCHUTZ branding and collaboration with Deutsche Messe |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | The event is hosted in Australia, serves the emergency management sector broadly, and is positioned as a leading conference and exhibition drawing participants from across the country. |
| Regional / International | Secondary reach description | Official language references Australasia and collaboration with Deutsche Messe, indicating cross-border relevance beyond Australia. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
Current-year public buyer, attendee, or exhibitor organization lists were not located in the official website text provided at the time of research. The table below therefore prioritizes confirmed current-year sector organizations explicitly referenced by the event website. This is not a complete attendee list.
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFAC | Sector leadership / emergency management organization | Core organizing body connected to emergency management leadership and sector convening | afacconference.com.au | CEO, Program Director, Partnerships Director, Procurement Lead | Confirmed Current-Year Participant |
| Deutsche Messe | Event co-collaborator / international trade show operator | Relevant for partnerships, global exhibitor access, and emergency management market expansion | messe.de | Partnerships Director, Event Director, International Business Development Director | Confirmed Current-Year Participant |
| Institution of Fire Engineers (Australia) | Professional association | Influential body for fire engineering, standards, technical education, and professional engagement | ifeaustralia.org.au | President, Conference Program Lead, Technical Director, Partnerships Manager | Confirmed Current-Year Participant |
| Women and Firefighting Australasia (WAFA) | Sector association / workforce leadership body | Relevant for workforce initiatives, inclusion programs, and sector engagement partnerships | wafa.org.au | Chair, Program Director, Partnerships Lead, Education Manager | Confirmed Current-Year Participant |
| Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) | Disaster resilience institute / sector stakeholder | Relevant for resilience frameworks, training, knowledge networks, and strategic collaboration | aidr.org.au | Executive Director, Research Director, Program Manager, Partnership Manager | Confirmed Current-Year Participant |
Buyer-side organization names beyond the confirmed collaboration group were not publicly confirmed in the source material reviewed. For lead generation, this event is better used for sector-based targeting and conversation mapping unless a formal exhibitor, sponsor, attendee, or speaker directory is released closer to the event.
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Procurement Officer | Procurement | C-Level | Owns strategic sourcing and framework decisions |
| 2 | Director of Procurement | Procurement | Director | Drives vendor selection and purchasing processes |
| 3 | Procurement Manager | Procurement | Manager | Manages RFQs, vendor evaluation, and category procurement |
| 4 | Contracting Officer | Government / Contracts | Manager / Director | Key public-sector contract owner for emergency systems and services |
| 5 | Emergency Management Director | Operations | Director | Defines capability priorities and operational requirements |
| 6 | Operations Director | Operations | Director | Influences rollout and field adoption of systems and equipment |
| 7 | IT Director | Information Technology | Director | Owns integration, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and platform decisions |
| 8 | Chief Information Officer | Information Technology | C-Level | Sets enterprise digital and resilience technology roadmap |
| 9 | Communications Director | Communications / Technology | Director | Relevant for radio, interoperability, dispatch, and incident communications |
| 10 | Training Manager | Learning & Development | Manager | Buys or recommends simulation, education, and certification tools |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government Administration | Core public-sector emergency and resilience buyer base | Agency procurement and capability modernization |
| 2 | Public Safety | Directly aligned with emergency response and incident coordination | Operational systems, equipment, and communications |
| 3 | Defense & Space | Relevant for mission-critical systems, resilience, and interoperable technologies | Command, control, situational awareness, and field hardware |
| 4 | Security & Investigations | Covers security operations and risk management stakeholders | Site security, surveillance, command center, and emergency planning |
| 5 | Information Technology & Services | Strong fit for digital response and resilience platforms | Incident software, cloud, integration, data platforms |
| 6 | Computer & Network Security | Relevant for cyber resilience of emergency systems | Cybersecurity for mission-critical infrastructure |
| 7 | Telecommunications | Emergency communications and interoperability are core sector needs | Radio, broadband, dispatch, and field communications |
| 8 | Utilities | Utilities require resilience, emergency planning, and crisis response capabilities | Business continuity and infrastructure protection |
| 9 | Environmental Services | Disaster resilience and environmental incident response overlap strongly | Recovery, remediation, and environmental risk support |
| 10 | Logistics & Supply Chain | Response readiness depends on fleet, warehousing, and supply continuity | Emergency logistics, deployment, and stock management |
| 11 | Mechanical or Industrial Engineering | Relevant for equipment, vehicles, suppression systems, and operational hardware | Field equipment and engineering-led capability procurement |
| 12 | Professional Training & Coaching | Professional development is a formal event component | Skills, certifications, simulation, and workforce development |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | Thousands | Confirmed qualitative statement | Official event website states AFAC26 will bring together thousands of professionals | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer |
| Exhibitor count | Not publicly confirmed | Unpublished | No current-year count found in source text reviewed | Check future exhibitor prospectus or floor plan release |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Unpublished | No official buyer program numbers located | Likely mixed conference and exhibition attendance rather than a closed hosted-buyer model |
| Speaker count | Not publicly confirmed | Unpublished | Keynotes and invited speakers pages are referenced, but no count was confirmed in the provided source text | Potential future source for organization-level targeting |
| Sponsor count | Not publicly confirmed | Unpublished | Official text acknowledges sponsors but gives no total | Sponsor roster may later reveal high-value enterprise participants |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency management | Improved planning, coordination, and response readiness | Executive briefings, live demos, case-study discussions | Incident management software, dashboards, SOP tools |
| Disaster resilience | Risk reduction, continuity planning, recovery capability | Policy-oriented conversations and resilience framework alignment | Resilience consulting, analytics, planning tools, training |
| Fire services | Operational equipment, safety, vehicles, engineering support | Product trials, procurement discussions, field-use validation | PPE, suppression systems, appliances, tools, thermal imaging |
| Public safety technology | Mission-critical communications, interoperability, command visibility | Technical workshops and solution architecture meetings | Radio, broadband, CAD, mapping, command center platforms |
| Training and professional development | Skill maintenance, simulation, certification, workforce readiness | Education program tie-ins and pilot deployments | LMS, simulation, assessment systems, blended training content |
| Procurement and supplier engagement | Capability sourcing, vendor discovery, compliance fit | Pre-RFP networking and specification shaping | Framework-ready products, compliance support, vendor onboarding |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | High | Event theme is tightly aligned to emergency management, resilience, and public safety procurement. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Conference and exhibition format attracts leadership, operational, and technical stakeholders. |
| Data collection potential | Medium | Strong sector concentration, but public named attendee data was limited at research time. |
| Apollo targeting potential | High | Sector, role, geography, and department filters can be defined clearly despite limited attendee disclosure. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | Australia-first targeting with optional New Zealand and broader Australasia expansion. |
| Best outreach approach | High | Use consultative outreach tied to resilience, operational readiness, interoperability, compliance, or response efficiency. |
| Overall lead quality | High | Well-suited for B2B public safety and resilience solution providers, especially those selling into government and critical operations. |
| Best use case | High | Account-based outreach, sector mapping, conference networking strategy, and exhibitor/sponsor prospecting. |
| Limitations / risks | Medium | Public attendee-name transparency is limited; event may require supplemental prospecting beyond confirmed published participants. |
Suitability for B2B attendee list building: Moderate to High. Strong for sector-specific targeting and high-intent outreach, but best results will depend on release of formal exhibitor, sponsor, speaker, or partner directories.
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Government Administration; Public Safety; Defense & Space; Security & Investigations; Information Technology & Services; Computer & Network Security; Telecommunications; Utilities; Environmental Services; Logistics & Supply Chain; Mechanical or Industrial Engineering; Professional Training & Coaching | Align with emergency management buyers and adjacent resilience sectors |
| Departments | Procurement, Operations, Information Technology, Engineering, Public Safety, Program Management, Partnerships, Training | Narrow to buying and influence functions |
| Seniority | C-Level, VP, Director, Head, Manager | Focus on decision-makers and solution evaluators |
| Job titles | Chief Procurement Officer, Director of Procurement, Procurement Manager, Contracting Officer, Emergency Management Director, Operations Director, Chief Information Officer, IT Director, Communications Director, Program Manager, Training Manager, Partnerships Director | Capture direct and indirect buying roles |
| Geography | Australia first; expand to New Zealand and wider Australasia where relevant | Match event reach and travel likelihood |
| Employee size | 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000, 5,001+ | Prioritize agencies, enterprise operators, and larger public bodies with budget and procurement structure |
| Keywords | emergency management, disaster resilience, incident management, fire services, public safety, command and control, emergency communications, crisis response, interoperability, resilience, emergency operations, field response | Surface organizations aligned to event themes |
| Technologies | Use if relevant: GIS, radio communications, cloud, cybersecurity, incident management software, dispatch systems | Useful for niche technical solution providers |
| Revenue range | Optional; medium to large enterprise and government-linked entities | Helps prioritize accounts with complex procurement cycles |
| Company type | Government agency, statutory authority, public safety body, association, critical infrastructure operator, large enterprise supplier to emergency sector | Improves fit for event-aligned outreach |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: ("emergency management" OR "disaster resilience" OR "public safety" OR "incident management" OR "fire services" OR "emergency communications") AND (procurement OR operations OR technology OR communications OR resilience OR training).
Client Fit Review Required
Please share the client website or product/service details. I will review the client offering and identify the highest-fit buyer companies, Apollo industries, seniority levels, departments, and job titles from this event.
Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFAC26 Official Event Website | Official event website | Event name, dates, venue, city, positioning, organizer collaboration group, and official statement that AFAC26 will bring together thousands of professionals | High |
| Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) | Official venue website | Venue identity and location reference for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | High |
🎯 Selling to this event's audience? Get a free tailored buyer list
Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
🔒 Get my buyer details Free · ~20 seconds