By Emma Bowyer

Nobody expected the reopening of Australia’s international borders last month to immediately result in an influx of delegates at upcoming meetings. But the proof is in the pudding and, after a two year hiatus, we are seeing above expectation registration rates, with a 50% ratio of in-person to virtual delegates for meetings we are running in hybrid format between April and June of this year. We predict that the percentage favouring in-person will only lift. Notwithstanding the benefits that virtual conferencing has provided, I think we can all agree that the networking functionality is just not the same.

We expect the majority of virtual attendees will be from international markets while local delegates will be attending in-person, however an international association conference in May has already achieved registrations from over 70 countries!

In-person meetings will grow in size over the coming 12 months, particularly those benchmark events that will be able to showcase new program initiatives, enhanced networking opportunities with special touches, as well as superior industry engagement. It is this holy trinity that will shape the conference landscape in the future.

What is exciting for the entire business events sector is that the lessons we have all learnt during COVID-19, particularly around the delivery and capture of content in virtual meetings, will serve us well as we transition, with digitisation of content a permanent feature.

Until then, we look forward to working with all of our clients on their meetings now and into the future.

Hybrid meetings remain strong for 2022

With all of Australia’s borders now open, most meetings during Q1, 2 and 3 of 2022 are hybrid, with ICMSA managing a variety of events for national and international clients. Upcoming hybrid meetings include:

20th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering icsmge2022.org - 1-5 May, 2022
International Meeting on Lithium Batteries 2022 imlb2022.org - 25 June - 1 July, 2022
18th International Conference on X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Hybrid (XAFS 2022) xafs2022.org - 10-15 July, 2022
32nd Annual Conference of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) ascia2022.com - 30 August - 2 September, 2022
XXXIV International Congress of the International Academy of Pathology (IAP 2022) iap2022.com - 14-15 October 2022 (virtual October 11-13, 2022)

Watch this space as we share the trends and benefits of the hybrid format. ICMS Australasia’s view is that a customised plan for hybrid should be developed for each event and that this format should be managed on a scale. A virtual format provides full risk mitigation but limited in-person networking that may be more valuable for some. Striking the right balance needs a strategic approach to achieve the goals of the event.

Strong new business wins

ICMS Australasia is continuing its strong run of new business wins, securing national and international meetings from November this year and right out to 2024. What is also exciting is these events are scattered around the country.

New Meetings in our portfolio include:

• Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference, 15-17 November 2022, Sydney
• Australian Lung Cancer Conference, 15-17 February 2023, Gold Coast
• IEEE International Conference on Multimedia Expo, July 2023, Brisbane
• Forensic and Clinical Toxicology Association Meeting, March/April 2024, Hobart
• AusACPDM (Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine) National Conference 2024, Cairns

Meet our new recruits

With business continuing to grow, ICMS Australasia has welcomed two new employees in the past month, with Alex Knibbs joining as Website Administrator and recent Victoria University Bachelor of Business graduate, Emily Glen, taking on a full-time role as Conference Service Coordinator following a short period working at ICMSA as an intern.

Learn a little more about them here…

Emily Glen, Conference Service Coordinator

My areas of responsibility include managing all registration, accommodation and onsite administration for my allocated conferences.

I intend to contribute to the success of ICMSA by utilising the skills I have learnt throughout my Bachelor of Business degree, attained through Victoria University, and from my six years in the hospitality industry. I look forward to contributing my customer service skills and my adaptability to be a team player in any role needed.

Something about me that people might not know is that I have an obsession with music. I own over 50 vinyl records and try to catch live gigs whenever I can!

Alex Knibbs, Website Administrator

I am responsible for the design, development and maintenance of our clients’ websites.

I intend to contribute to ICMSA by providing creative solutions for our clients on digital and virtual platforms.

Something about me that other people may not know is that I love to grow my own food and cook. I’ve been keeping and expanding my garden throughout COVID-19.

Virtual meetings continue to deliver for delegates and organisations

Lockdowns may be fast becoming a distant memory but the power of virtual meetings continues to be profiled, with recent events demonstrating that there remains a place for elements of virtual technology.

The cancellation of the in-person 58th International Association of Forensic Toxicologists meeting in South Africa in January and a switch to fully virtual resulted in 714 participants and a swathe of positive comments from attendees and the host organisation to ICMS Australasia.

TIAFT President, Dr Marc LeBeau, said the meeting “really was a wonderful (and exhausting) event”.

“I was so pleased with the quality of the talks, posters, and the opportunities we provided for people to network and socialize.”

He made special mention of ICMSA’s Creative Director Lili Lin and Managing Director Emma Bowyer, “and the entire ICMS Australasia staff. We greatly appreciate your professionalism, creativeness, eye to detail, calm demeanour… and friendship that you exhibited throughout.”

ICMS Australasia also received high praise for the combined 11th Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AusACPDM) and the 3rd International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability `Better Together’ Conference 2022, held from 1-5 March, with 1,005 attendees.

AusACPDM Past President, Kirsty Stewart, said at its conclusion the feedback from delegates “has been amazing”.

“I want to extend a huge thank you to you both (ICMSA Event Director, Kate Stevens and ICMSA Event Coordinator, Emma McPartlan) for such a professional and smoothly run conference… It has been an absolute pleasure working with you all over the past two years…”

AusACPDM will continue their journey with ICMSA for their in-person event being scheduled for Cairns in 2024.

World first Indigenous Strategy for international mathematics conference

ICMS Australasia launched a world first Indigenous Strategy at last week’s `Launch event’ for the 15th International Congress on Mathematics Education in 2024, with the principle concept of taking a cultural perspective of mathematics and engaging Indigenous students.

The ICME-15 Indigenous Strategy is designed to allow students to learn mathematics from their own cultural knowledge and first language and was a key factor in the ICMI Executive Committee awarding the hosting of the 2024 World Congress to Australia.

The goals of the ICME-15 Indigenous Strategy includes having mathematics and Indigenous peoples as a core theme throughout the congress, highlight Indigenous mathematics-based work in Australia and New Zealand and to provide all delegates with the opportunity to learn more about Australia’s First Peoples, their cultures, knowledges and languages.

ICMS Australasia Owner and Managing Director, Emma Bowyer, said the creation of this Indigenous Strategy specifically for ICME-15 has become the catalyst for the preparation of similar strategies for other clients in the areas of science, business and education.

“We see this first Indigenous Strategy for ICME-15 having synergies with the goals and aspirations of so many other specialists and specialisations that we work with and could significantly elevate their programs further.”

If you would like to discuss creation of an Indigenous Strategy for your Meeting contact Emma Bowyer.

And learn more about ICME-15 by visiting the Congress website.

When Experience Matters

ICMS Australasia manages projects from concept through to final audit, providing expertise in attracting delegates, sponsors and exhibitors; budget and cash flow control, business and scientific program development; information, presentation, communication and staging technology, creation and delivery of social and recreational activities and accommodation. From idea generation to post event evaluation we provide expertise, creativity and a healthy respect for the financial bottom line.

If you are interested in bidding for an event or need help with an event already confirmed, pick up the phone or send us an email.

Our experience will matter.

Talk to Emma Bowyer now.