In 2019 alone, 18 global meetings will bring some 10,500 healthcare professionals, policy makers and researchers to Sydney in a line-up that includes the World Congress on Inflammation; International Society for Bipolar Disorders; International Conference on Global Health Security; and the 20th International Congress of Cytology.
BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said, “When NSW hosts global meetings, it’s not just dollars flowing into the visitor economy. These events bring the global stage to Sydney.”
“More people across our ecosystem will be exposed to more international experts, building capability and connections, and helping the Australian health system remain at the forefront of global best practice. Equally, emerging practitioners from overseas get a taste of Sydney, which might persuade them to consider working here in the future.”
“These wins don’t come by chance. BESydney’s global bidding experts have been working years in advance, and, in the face of stiff competition, targeting international meetings and conferences that our bid partners in the Australian health sector believe will address this country’s health needs into the future,” Ms Lewis-Smith added.
NSW Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research Brad Hazzard said NSW has incredible expertise to offer visiting international health specialists.
“The health of our citizens is a priority for the NSW Government. I’m proud of the fact our State is home to world-class health and medical research expertise and infrastructure in our public hospitals, research institutes and community health facilities.”
She added that Australia’s research and leadership in healthcare best practice, the support of local experts, and committed State and Federal Governments prioritising the sector, had played a huge part in BESydney’s winning streak. BESydney’s bidding partners included the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity; the Centre for Critical Care Collaboration C4; St Vincent’s Private Hospital; the University of NSW’s School of Psychiatry; University of Sydney’s Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology; and the Brain and Mind Research Institute.
Beyond 2019, BESydney has already secured a further 18 health-related global meetings through to 2023 which are expected to attract more than 40,000 delegates and generate more than $162million in direct expenditure including: Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2020; International Conference on Eating Disorders 2020; World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics (MedInfo) 2021; and the FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2021.
The Australian health sector is still benefitting today from the global discussions and networks forged during some of the world’s most-respected health events previously held here, including the 15th World Conference on Lung Cancer 2013; Congress of the International Society for Burn Injuries 2014; Annual World Congress of SBMT on Brain, Spinal Cord Mapping and Image Guided Therapy 2014; International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia 2015; World Congress on Cancers of the Skin 2018 and the 32nd International Papillomavirus Conference 2018.
