Conference & Meetings World Supplements Australia Supplement | Page 15

AIDS 2014

LANDMARK CONFERENCE
AIDS 2014 made history in Australia and in doing so created real change

A

fter more than
two years
of extensive
planning and preparation,
thousands of delegates
from 170 countries
world-wide converged on
Melbourne in July 2014
as the city played host
to the largest ever health
conference in Australia –
the 20th International AIDS
Conference (AIDS 2014).
The Conference
provides a platform for
people working in the
field of HIV, policy makers,
persons living with HIV and
individuals committed to
ending the pandemic,
to present new scientific
knowledge and dialogue
on the issues facing the
global response to HIV.
AIDS 2014 was the first
ever International AIDS
Conference to be held
in Australia, providing a
unique opportunity to
explore the diverse nature
of the local and regional
response to HIV.
The International AIDS
Society (IAS) chose
Melbourne as the
host destination for its
collaborative approach,

strong support from the
city, state and federal
governments and the
exceptional facilities at
Melbourne Convention
and Exhibition Centre
(MCEC).
Most significantly, the
strength of Melbourne’s
scientific community and
expertise in HIV research
lead by Club Melbourne
Ambassador, Professor
Sharon Lewin, was a major
factor to the city’s success.

could have, with
overwhelming feedback
in praise of how the city
welcomed them.
The reach of AIDS 2014
was extended through the
City of Melbourne’s cultural
program, which consisted
of more than 160 events,
encompassing more than
200 local businesses and
was the largest city-wide
activation in the history
of the International AIDS
Conference.

CITY-WIDE
COLLABORATION AT ITS
BEST
Melbourne Convention
Bureau (MCB) secured
AIDS 2014 in 2011 and
then worked closely with
the IAS right through to
the event, particularly in
facilitating contacts for
ease of visa processing
and driving attendance.
AIDS 2014 showcased
what Melbourne does
so well in a collaborative
sense to win, deliver and
welcome an event of
this scale. MCB teamed
with its city-wide partners
to deliver the best
experience delegates

SHOWCASING
MELBOURNE
CONVENTION AND
EXHIBITION CENTRE
AIDS 2014 utilised the
entire Convention Centre
and Exhibition Centre – all
66,333 square metres of it.
The in-house technology
team facilitated more
than 100 satellite events
and uploaded 700
presentation sessions to
the AIDS 2014 website. It
made history in Australia
by creating real change,
demonstrating why the
business events industry is
crucial to the growth and
development of the city,
state and country.

Above

No mean feat,
hosting delegates
from 170 countries

CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD

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