Quantum leap Brisbane is Australia’ s quantum computing powerhouse, with the city hosting two of Australia’ s four Quantum Centres of Excellence. This sub-sector is expected to grow to be worth AUD $ 2.2bn by 2030.

The world’ s first commercial-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer is to be built in Brisbane by PsiQuantum, a USbased company which is also planning to establish its Asia Pacific headquarters in Brisbane. The fact that governments are investing AUD $ 1bn in the PsiQuantum project is testament to the faith in the Brisbane team.

It is expected this computer will be able to tackle challenges across many sectors, including energy. The company is also planning to establish a Climate Research Centre in Brisbane.

The 2024 Asia Pacific Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition also hosted at the BCEC, attracting over 3,000 experts. The list of recent energy related business events staged in the city also includes the 8th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Engineering( 2024) and the Critical Minerals Conference( 2024).

Australia’ s leadership in mining technology, exploration, and renewable energy, along with its status as the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas further underscores Brisbane’ s potential as an international hub for any association or company active in the sector.

As well as a strong delegate base and industry knowledge, Brisbane can offer a wide selection of potential sponsors and exhibitors to support events in this sector n

BCEC

Environmental science – a natural hub

and 800 animal species, Brisbane is the most biodiverse capital in Australia and the city boasts more than 52,000 hectares of greenspace.

The city is also a hub for environmental science bolstered by its proximity to unique ecosystems such as Moreton Bay, tropical rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. These natural wonders also attract international business events keen to leverage local expertise and research around the topic. And such natural wonders are simply extremely appealing to delegates for pre- and post tours.

The city is rightly proud of its natural heritage. Brisbane City Council has a specialist Brisbane Sustainability Agency charged with accelerating its long-term plan for positive environmental outcomes across biodiversity, water, waste, energy, and resilience. One target is to increase natural habitat on mainland Brisbane to 40 % by 2031.

Above: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

The Lord Mayor’ s Young Environmental Leadership Network( LMYELN) is another supporter of sustainable aims and is empowering young leaders to create real change in their schools and college communities.

In this sector, too, BEDA closely collaborates with Brisbane’ s three universities( UQ is ranked in the Top 20 of the QS World University Rankings for environmental science) to maximise opportunities.

The universities have longstanding collaborations with influential environmental and scientific institutions in Australia and globally – these include the World Bank, UNESCO, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the UN Environment Programme.

The Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and its Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, as well as CSIRO, the national science agency, are all on board actively promoting opportunities in the environmental science sector, so event planners will never be short of friends, collaborators and key support.

The University of Queensland vicechancellor professor Deborah Terry AC says:“ The ecological and