The conference evolved out of meetings of AODP Directorate staff initiated by Dr Anthea Duquemin, which identified communication within the program as an area requiring attention. A volunteer Conference Organising Committee was set up and spent many hours constructing and refining a conference agenda that would meet the needs and expectations of program staff. Extensive consultation was conducted with staff to ensure this was indeed the case and it is hoped that parts of the conference, if not all of the conference, were interesting and relevant to those who attended.