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Melbourne conferences leave a stronger legacy – how ?
MELBOURNE HAS A HISTORY OF HOSTING HIGH-IMPACT CONFERENCES . FROM AIDS 2014 TO WORLD INDIGENOUS CANCER CONFERENCE 2024 , HOW HAS THE CITY BEEN ABLE TO CREATE THESE LASTING LEGACIES ?
I n 2014 , Melbourne hosted a conference that changed thousands of lives .
AIDS 2014 was an event where world leaders , including former US President Bill Clinton , called for a renewed commitment to fighting HIV / AIDS . It led to Australia pledging an additional A $ 200m to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria . It set the stage for the Fast-Track Cities initiative , which has since helped over 500 cities worldwide adopt ambitious HIV response strategies . The event also sparked increased collaboration between the Burnet Institute and international health organisations , accelerating research into HIV prevention methods that continue today .
The list goes on . In 2024 , Melbourne held the World Indigenous Cancer Conference 2024 . Indigenous health leaders from across the world developed a global action plan for improving cancer outcomes in Indigenous communities , which has since been taken up by research bodies in Australia , Canada and New Zealand . The event also secured new funding for community-led cancer prevention programmes in Australia ’ s Northern Territory .
In this article , we ’ re going to look at two case studies of conferences in Melbourne that collaborated closely with local companies and researchers . Then , we ’ ll break down Melbourne ’ s conference
Left : Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre track record more generally , and explain why organisers should consider the destination for their events .
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis ( ISTH ) 2019 Before the conference : Melbourne was already home to leading cardiovascular research institutions , including Alfred Health , the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute , and Monash University ’ s Thrombosis Research Unit . During the conference : The ISTH Congress 2019 attracted global leaders in blood disorder research , and discussions directly led to a new international collaboration between Alfred Health and European cardiovascular research institutes to study clotting disorders . After the conference : Research findings from Melbourne experts contributed to updated global guidelines on anticoagulant use , which have since influenced how blood thinners are prescribed worldwide .
International BioFest 2016 Before the conference : Melbourne was already a leading biotech hub with 186 biotechnology companies and 10 + major medical research institutes . During the conference : Delegates engaged with Melbourne-based biotech start-ups and pharmaceutical firms , leading to multiple joint research projects . After the conference : Some Melbournebased innovations showcased at BioFest , like CSL ’ s work in immunotherapies , received global funding and partnership interest .
A joint initiative between Melbournebased Alfred Health and various European cardiovascular institutes was set up to study clotting disorders . These findings have since contributed to revised global guidelines on blood-thinning medications , helping to treat conditions like strokes .
In Melbourne , conferences have a habit of leaving an impact . The conference industry there works directly with local research institutes , labs and policy forums .
38 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 135