Introduction The Global Ocean Observing System Scientific Steering Committee (GSSC) is organizing a workshop to bring together those involved in implementing and operating oceanographic systems for the Indian Ocean, Asian, SW Pacific and Australian regions. The organizers aim to involve key individuals responsible for technical, organizational and advocacy aspects of these systems. Need for the Workshop As global and regional oceanographic observing and forecasting systems begin to become fully operational there is a growing need to exchange experience of building and running such systems. There is also a need to better understand the societal and business benefits of linking global and regional capabilities to local applications in support of the case for sustained public funding. This workshop will build on a previous event (held at UNESCO/IOC Paris on 7 April 2008) focussed on similar objectives for those involved in implementing and operating systems in Europe and North America. Goal of the Workshop The overall goal of the workshop is to explore how the principal players engaged in designing, building and operating systems in the Indian Ocean, Asian, SW Pacific and Australian regions can benefit from sharing their collective experience. Expected outcomes of the Workshop The following outcomes are expected: • Exchange of operational best practice • Plans for improved coordination of outreach to governments and industry • Plans for regional capacity building • Improved links between global capability and regional and local applications • Improved links to weather and seasonal forecasting applications • Improved coordination of advocacy for sustained funding Organization of the Workshop The workshop will be designed to foster practical collaboration of mutual benefit to participants. Presentations will increase collective understanding of the plans and achievements of existing initiatives and breakout sessions will identify areas of collaboration that can yield mutual benefits. The workshop will approach these objectives through an agenda structured around geographical regions.

If you require a specific invitation letter to confirm your invitation to the workshop, please contact Simonetta Haond, s.haond@unesco.org , and we can provide an IOC letterheaded document. For hotel Reservations at the Citigate Hotel in Perth please fill in this form: Citigate Perth Reservation Form . Fax or email the completed form to: Reservations Citigate Perth 707 Wellington Street Perth WA 6000 Fax +61 8 08 9327 7017 Reservations@cp.mirvac.com.au IMPORTANT: PLEASE INFORM THE HOTEL WITH CC TO s.haond@unesco.org IF YOU HAVE A LATE ARRIVAL AFTER 8:00 p.m.! If you want more information about Perth and Western Australia just click: visit Western Australia See also PICO-II meeting See also GSSC XII meeting