hen the 8th International Pacific Rim ( PacRim ) Breast and Prostate Cancer Meeting was staged in the Northern Territory ( NT ) in August 2024 , organisers selected the lush tropical environs of the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens Events Centre as their inspiring meeting location .

Just two kilometres from Darwin , the Botanic Gardens encompass 42 hectares and are noted for their collections of north Australian and tropical climate botanical species .

Cutting-edge health sector objectives The four-day ‘ think-tank ’ meeting brought together leading scientists , clinicians and researchers from around the world to discuss critical issues . The programme addressed breast and prostate cancer in Indigenous communities , especially relevant to the NT where 30 % of the population are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders .

These meetings are delivered for an international network encompassing Australia , Canada , the Americas and the broader Asia-Pacific region . The Darwin event was the 21st milestone

anniversary of the meeting series , with delegates invited to enjoy the unique cuisine , natural beauty of the landscape and the opportunity for meaningful Aboriginal cultural engagement .

Darwin ’ s close proximity to Asia and the international flight connections via Singapore ( just 4½ hours away ) enhanced the destination ’ s appeal and support provided via the NT Government ’ s official convention bureau , Northern Territory Business Events , also greatly assisted .

Nature and culture combine The Meeting programme commenced with a guided tour of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory ( MAGNT ), close to the city centre . A Welcome to Country ceremony was delivered by the Larrakia Nation prior to the conference . ( The Larrakia People are traditional custodians of the Darwin region ).

Cultural experiences were arranged with Readback Aboriginal Art Darwin , an art gallery where visitors can meet and engage with Aboriginal artists .

There were two optional half-day tours . One visited Litchfield National Park , 1¼ hours from Darwin and home to waterfalls , rock pools and weathered

Left :

Litchfield

National Park

sandstone pillars . Another was a sunset cruise on Corroboree Billabong in Kakadu National Park , Australia ’ s largest national park . World Heritagelisted Kakadu wetlands are home to the largest concentration of saltwater crocodiles in the world , along with a variety of other wildlife .

An iconic Australian experience Professor Wayne Tilley , convenor of the Darwin Meeting , said : “ It was an honour to hold the 8th PacRim meeting in an iconic Australian destination such as Darwin .

“ We had the opportunity to incorporate local businesses into the Meeting programme such as the MAGNT , Pee Wee ’ s at the Point , Mindil Beach Casino Resort , locallyowned tours as well as local performers . Attendees were encouraged to fully immerse themselves in the local culture and extend their stay to maximise their Top End experience .” n n Visit www . ntbusinessevents . com . au for further information about the NT .

Northern Territory Business Events ( NTBE ) is a Government , nonmembership convention bureau providing impartial advice and information for meeting and event planners in the Northern Territory ( NT ). The NT is ‘ different is every sense for business events ’, with destinations that provide a multisensory experience encouraging delegates to disconnect from their hectic , everyday routines and find a renewed energy to achieve positive outcomes relevant to their business event . n Contact : Anna Stewart : anna @ accesspr . com . au T : + 61 419 721 268