Cisco Brings Cisco Live! to Africa

Cisco® recently announced the introduction of Cisco Live! a new format for the company’s annual networkers’ conference.
The event which draws network engineers from all over Africa for technical training, education and networking, will take place in Sandton, South Africa from 1st – 4th  December, 2008 and is themed: “The Power of Collaboration.”
The annual conference has for years, been at the forefront of educating participants on new technologies. This year, the new networkers at Cisco Live! will incorporate a mix of technical and business offerings. The format broadens the traditional technical focus to include executive tracks that examine the role of technology in improving business in a challenging economic climate. 
“It is exciting that the first time the Cisco Live! brand is being introduced outside of the United States to Africa. With Cisco Live! we are taking the event to the next level to provide a platform where industry players from Nigeria and indeed across Africa can learn new technologies, discuss business trends, share ideas and network,” said Richard Edet, regional sales manager, Cisco Nigeria.
Furthermore, networkers at Cisco Live! will provide a platform for customers to share their technology success stories and discuss best-practice approaches with influential business leaders and decision makers. Delegates will also have an opportunity to meet with Cisco executives and experts to gain valuable insights into Cisco’s technology strategy and roadmap.
Rick Hutley, vice president of Global Innovations for the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group, will be a keynote speaker at the event alongside a host of world renowned resource people.
Hutley, who bears responsibility for engaging Cisco’s largest global customers, will discuss the role of collaborative technologies in addressing the key business challenges and opportunities that organisations face today.
Networkers at Cisco Live! is expected to attract more than 1,500 delegates from across Africa, making it the largest Networkers conference hosted in South Africa to date. The programme will comprise sessions ranging from technical trainings to an invitation-only executive symposium. Delegates will also have the opportunity to view the world of solutions demonstration area, which will showcase collaboration and communication tools and technology, such as Cisco TelePresence.
“In recent years, specialization, globalization and new technologies have resulted in more collaborative environments made up of global virtual networks and communities that improvise and find more productive, innovative and faster ways to do business. Cisco Live! Will further empower Nigerian industry leaders to embrace communications and collaboration capabilities within the context of a business process to allow workers increase their productivity, speed and agility,” Edet said.