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MCB launches Conference Leadership Series
March 14, 2025
In Melbourne Convention Bureau’s (MCB) latest interview series, professionals from a range of fields share their experiences of being a conference leader in Melbourne and the impacts that international conferences have on their industries and professional communities on a global scale. Leading international conferences presents an opportunity for researchers and industry professionals to accelerate career growth and expose their research on the world stage, raising their professional and organisational profile. As a world-class hub of knowledge, growth and inclusion, Melbourne is the ideal location for business events, championed by our leading local experts.
The impact of business events
Business events drive economic growth and advance innovation and collaboration, fostering stronger international connections, social progress, and long-term legacies. As a premier destination for international conferences, Melbourne leads the way in delivering business events that create lasting impact and provides the ideal setting for new conference leaders to experience hosting an international event with global reach.
From boosting the local economy and stimulating businesses, to facilitating knowledge transfer to further strengthen our world-class academic and professional communities, MCB has a strong track record of delivering international conferences that have had profound benefits for Victoria.
The Positive Impact of Business Events Report highlights some of the many events that have driven economic activity and fostered community engagement. This comprehensive report revealed the economic impact of business events – with $2.34 billion in economic contribution generated over the past ten years – as well as the lasting legacies of events.
International conferences provide a unique opportunity for local industry leaders to network, share knowledge and insights, and collaborate to solve some of the most pressing global challenges. For local conference hosts, they present the chance to showcase their research or business success on a global stage, raise the profile of their organisation or university, highlight key trends and opportunities in their sector, advocate and collaborate to solve issues, showcase their work to a global audience, and create strategic domestic and international collaborations.
Conference leaders share their insights
From growing your international network, to professional development opportunities, to contributing to your industry and community, being a conference leader presents a range of benefits and long-lasting impacts to experts within their fields. Conference leadership represents an unparalleled opportunity for academics and industry professionals to advance their leadership profile and demonstrate create real and lasting impact on a global scale.
The Conference Leadership interview series invites Victoria’s top academics and professionals to provide their insights on the value of business events to their sector and wider community, as well as their own personal experience of working with MCB to deliver a successful business event.
One of the videos from the series featuring conference leaders sharing advice for Engineering and Technology professionals
The series reveals how conference leadership can benefit from empowering a range of voices within the international conference space, including early and mid-career professionals wanting to raise their profile.
Interviews with female conference leaders provide insights into the unique perspectives that women bring to conference leadership. Female researchers note how business events provide a platform for career growth and confidence building, with ample support provided by MCB to ensure a smooth bidding and conference delivery process.
With experts in fields such as engineering and technology, trade and investment, medical research and public health, the series demonstrates Melbourne’s strengths in hosting conferences in a wide range of fields, bringing together global experts and fostering collaboration and creativity.
Some of the conference leaders profiled include Club Melbourne ambassadors, who play a crucial role in securing international events that showcase some of the world's greatest leaders in Melbourne and Victoria, and who offer invaluable support and inspiration to the next generation of conference leaders.
Additionally, the interviews show the many ways in which Melbourne provides an ideal environment for events centered around diversity and inclusion. Conference leaders share their insights into conference design that prioritise cultural differences and intersectionality. As a city committed to equality and accessibility, with a strong multicultural community, Melbourne is the ideal place to host people from around the world to share insights and experiences in an inclusive environment.
The City of Melbourne has positioned the city as a knowledge capital by fostering a dynamic ecosystem that emphasises education, research, and innovation. Home to world-renowned universities, research institutions, and a vibrant tech sector, Melbourne attracts global talent and investments, as well as a year-long calendar of world-class events.
Explore the Conference Leadership Series to hear firsthand from Melbourne’s top conference leaders.