The Australasian Lighting Industry Association (ALIA) has been formed with the aim of bringing together everyone in the region with an interest in lighting - at any level and in any area. After many months consulting with the industry, ALIA became incorporated in June, and has since been signing up members. An interim committee is currently in place and the association’s first Annual General Meeting is planned for this month.
The focal point for the association, which covers an area larger than Western Europe, is the website - www.alia.com.au - where news is regularly posted. It’s also proving an invaluable source of technical information, and includes one of the web’s most extensive pages of lighting-related links. Like PLASA, ALIA aims to promote an understanding of the industry to others, and will also facilitate appropriate professional education and training.Regular Technical Meetings are an important feature of ALIA and forums were held in late 2001 in Sydney and Melbourne on the difficult issue of equipment testing and electrical safety. The first of the regular sessions was held in Melbourne in early July on the topic ‘The Once and Future History of Lighting Control’ with many from the industry coming together to discuss this important topic.
Proving popular are ALIA’s Backstage Tours. Members have toured an Elton John show and the Cameron Mackintosh production of Oliver! Tours are also planned for Sam Mendes’ production of Cabaret, Kylie’s Fever show, the Cameron Mackintosh production of The Witches of Eastwick and local TV shows. For more information on ALIA, visit the website at
