Microsoft Australia Partner Conference 2016 kicks off on the Gold Coast!

Today, the Microsoft Australia Partner Conference (APC) 2016 kicks off on the Gold Coast.

 As the new Director of Microsoft Australia's Small, Mid-market Solutions and Partners (SMS&P) business, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all the delegates attending APC this year. I wish you a valuable and productive week ahead that helps you define your future. This year I unfortunately won’t be at the conference as I’ve just had back surgery and I’m unable to travel, but I’ll be keeping up-to-date on APC As it Happens.

 APC As it Happens is a new digital experience and it's perfect for people like me who can’t be at APC in-person. Essentially our 50+ speakers will be posting their insights and reflecting on what they're learning and hearing through the course of the conference. As our goal is to make APC the best forum for exchanging ideas, I'm looking forward to seeing APC take on its own digital life and extend its reach beyond the venue's walls.

 Shared understanding strengthens our community. And shared goals build our future success. This week is an opportunity to create both. With the backdrop of digital transformation, there's a great line-up of speakers and sessions designed to spark ideas, learn more and create debate.

 In short, the content at APC 2016 has been forged from the realities you are facing and the opportunities for business growth. Microsoft's partner strategy for this year has been driven by the same principles.

We are embracing digital transformation with all the known and unforeseen opportunities it is uncovering. Customers are, rightly, demanding new depth in the business value we jointly deliver, so we plan to go deeper with our industry focus this year. Similarly, customer lifetime value is transforming how you think about your business and how you go-to-market. We will be investing to ensure we're continually moving our joint customers to greater business value in our products and solutions. And the pace of innovation and change continues at breakneck speed, so our commitment to investing in capabilities, incentives and programs remains unwavering.

Tonight, the Microsoft Australia Partner Awards 2016 will take place. It is Microsoft's thank you for the incredible work and innovation coming out of this community. Microsoft Australia is one of the fastest transforming subsidiaries for Microsoft globally with particular note to the growth of our cloud business. You have played a huge part in this success and I want to extend a personal thank you for your continued investment and support.

 Here’s to a great APC for everyone on the ground and for those experiencing it through APC As it Happens.

Mark Leigh
Director, Small and Mid-market Solutions and Partners
Microsoft Australia