Announcing the Inaugural Critical Operations Forum 2026

We are pleased to announce the inaugural Critical Operations Forum 2026, hosted by Verena and her team, taking place October 13–14, 2026 in Graz at the Messe Congress Graz.

Held concurrently with the World Usability Congress, this new forum brings together professionals from global critical operations, including energy, emergency services, healthcare, industrial operations, and more, to focus on a shared challenge: keeping humans effective when the stakes are highest.

Over two days, COF will feature expert talks, cross-domain exchange, and practical insights into how people and technology must work together in high-reliability environments where failure is not an option.

Who should attend

COF is designed for practitioners, engineers, managers, safety officers, UX and HMI designers, first responders, and executives working at the intersection of people, technology, and high-pressure operations.

What to expect

Participants will gain:

• Expert insights grounded in real-world operations
• Cross-domain perspectives across industries such as energy, air traffic management, emergency services, and healthcare
• Interactive formats including talks, panels, and discussions
• Networking opportunities with peers facing similar high-stakes challenges

Topics will include cognitive load, human-machine interface design, explainable AI, team performance under pressure, and human-centered resilience.

As the field of critical operations evolves rapidly—with increasing system complexity, AI integration, and staffing pressures, COF places the human factor at the center of the conversation.

Seats are limited, and early registration is encouraged.

For more information, visit the official conference website:
👉 https://www.cof2026.org/