Around the 1st of August 1978, the Australian Computers Equipment Suppliers Association (ACESA, later AIIA) was formed in Sydney. After a number of secret meetings throughout the year, where an assembly of representatives of the largest multinational IT companies in Australia, headed by Bill Wells of Sperry-Univac (later Unisys), met and discussed the need for an industry association, the association finally announced it’s formation.
The aim was to form an association through which the suppliers could deal with the Federal government on an industry basis. ACESA represented the need for the Australian Information Industry to have a representative voice, with which the industry would be able to engage in discussions with the government (both on State and Federal levels) on the future of IT in Australia.
