Case Study - 29th International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, 14 -19 February 2009
02 Mar 2009

“We could not have been more pleased with the selection of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre as the venue. It provided the space required but more importantly for this particular event, it met the many environmental issues that the symposium organisers and delegation wanted to address. When it came to sustainability the venue ticked all the right boxes,” Suellen Holland (ICMS Australasia)

“The AV technical services provided by the Centre had the Speakers and Session Chairs raving and the audience without complaint.” Dr Chloe Schauble, Symposium Organising Committee Coordinator.

Event Overview
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre was host to 680 delegates from 66 countries at what is the world’s largest event dedicated to discussion on sea turtles. Researchers, resource managers, government representatives, community groups and members of Indigenous communities attended the annual symposium in Brisbane organised by The International Sea Turtle Society to promote and advance global knowledge of sea turtle biology and conservation.

High Points 
PCO Suellen Holland said staying true to the Symposium’s overall objective of creating community collaboration was a definite highpoint. This was achieved she said through engaging the community at a number of the Symposium’s events.

Symposium Organising Committee Coordinator, Dr Chloe Schauble named the Centre’s Speakers’ Presentation Centre as an outstanding feature. “It was one of the easiest processes all 137 speakers had encountered in the Symposium’s history and all commented on the efficiency and helpfulness of the audio visual staff,” she said.

Destination 
A major factor in the selection of Brisbane Australia, was the existence of an internationally renowned research program in Brisbane’s home state of Queensland and the fact that Australia is home to six of the seven endangered sea turtle species. Pre and post touring centred around sea turtle watching islands along the Queensland coastline. The proximity of Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef meant it was high on the agenda for many of the delegates.

Outcome
Dr Schauble described the Symposium as an outstanding event. “From world key note speakers to local community groups, the delegates listened, learned, shared, debated and connected. The scientific program was very strong and will have important consequences for sea turtle management and conservation world-wide,” she said.