NEURO SURGEONS from Australasia and Asia are heading to Wellington for a conference aimed at improving access to specialist treatment for people in New Zealand and the Pacific islands.
The winning bid to host the Asian-Australasian Congress of Neurological Surgeons in 2028 was led by Wellington-based members of Aotearoa Neurosurgeons New Zealand, with support from Business Events Wellington and Tourism New Zealand Business Events.
The congress is expected to attract up to 1,000 delegates to Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre and deliver more than NZ$3.39m (about US$2.99m) in delegate spending to the city and beyond.
More on Wellington… NZ waters draw conference win
New Zealand’s medical know-how and the Tākina venue were important factors in winning the bid against competition from Perth and Singapore.
A spokesman added that New Zealand’s strategic funding support and the potential for positive outcomes from hosting the event in Wellington were also important in the decision.
Kelvin Woon and Agadha Wickremesekera, the two co-conveners of the conference, said: “It’s an honour and privilege to host such a prestigious meeting, the AACNS 2028, here in Wellington, New Zealand. This event presents a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and address common challenges in the global neurosurgical community.
Hosting this congress will increase international visitors, while leaving a longer-term legacy for the benefit of New Zealanders and our Pacific neighbours.”
– Penelope Ryan, Tourism New Zealand
Members of the organising committee say the congress will showcase New Zealand’s neuroscience capability and provide a platform to attract neurosurgeons and other health workers in the neurosciences to the country.
According to official figures, New Zealand has 0.49 neurosurgeons per 100,000 population, compared to approximately 1 neurosurgeon per 100,000 people in countries such as the United States or Australia.
The congress will also address the lack of neurosurgery services in the Pacific Islands and explore solutions to the region’s current infrastructure limitations.
More… Medical congress gets truckin‘
Business Events Wellington manager Irette Ferreira said: “Attracting this congress to New Zealand’s capital city, where there is the potential to engage with policymakers and key decision makers to address some of the challenges facing this sector, was a huge motivator in making this bid. We’re very proud we successfully secured this event for Wellington.”
Penelope Ryan, Tourism New Zealand’s global manager for business events, said: “This is a great win for Wellington and New Zealand, enabled by the recent funding boost for business events. Hosting this congress will increase international visitors, while leaving a longer-term legacy for the benefit of New Zealanders and our Pacific neighbours.”
Main picture… Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre played an important part in attracting AACNS 2028 to Wellington
