The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists’(ANZCA) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) was executed with precision and ease, demonstrating the Cairns Convention Centre's capability to host large-scale academic events through its modular and flexible spaces
Event brief
The conference, themed Future Proof, explored the future of anaesthesia, pain, and perioperative medicine – it sparked timely conversations about how the profession can evolve, both environmentally and personally. The meeting attracted 1,946 delegates, including 263 speakers and facilitators, and featured an extensive programme comprising over 115 workshops and 55 scientific sessions.
The Cairns Convention Centre worked in close partnership with ANZCA’s organising committee, led by Andrew Potter, a local Cairns anaesthetist, to deliver a conference that seamlessly integrated scientific excellence with sustainability and regional expertise.
The event was supported by the Queensland Government Partner Funding and Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Bid Fund.
Event highlights
ANZCA ASM 2025 was distinguished by its scale, innovation, and commitment to sustainability.
The event achieved significant sustainability outcomes by focusing on waste reduction and carbon offsetting. Key results included the elimination of 21,500 disposable cups through the avoidance of single-use items, contributing to an overall 55 per cent waste reduction to an average of 0.84kg per delegate per day.
Furthermore, the event offset 287.62 tonnes of carbon emissions supported by a A$6,324 (US$4,168) donation to Greenfleet, and contributed an additional $A3,900 to various climate-focused charities. Finally, the event demonstrated a commitment to community by redistributing all surplus catering to YouthLink, a local community organisation.
The Centre, in collaboration with Waldron Smith Management and Wallfly, effectively delivered a dynamic schedule of concurrent workshops and plenary sessions, demonstrating its capability to host large-scale academic events with precision and ease.
In addition, the Welcome to Country delivered by Gavin Singleton provided a meaningful connection to First Nation’s culture and aligned with the conference’s sustainability ethos.
Delegates also enjoyed a range of optional activities, including a tour of James Cook University and the Cairns Aquarium to explore turtle conservation and anaesthesia; a cooking demonstration with chef Nick Holloway at the award-winning Nu Nu Restaurant; wellness sessions such as yoga and Pilates on the Centre’s Trinity Terrace with Kynd Studio; and a mountain biking skills tour at Smithfield MTB Park with Ridefundamentals.
Challenges
ANZCA ASM 2025 navigated several operational and strategic complexities with confidence, thanks to collaborative planning and the Centre’s exceptional flexibility.
A primary logistical challenge was the coordination of over 110 workshops in a single day, requiring precise scheduling and spatial adaptability. The Cairns Convention Centre’s modular rooms and responsive staff enabled the seamless execution of the comprehensive programme, as its capacity to reconfigure spaces in real time was critical to maintaining the academic schedule.
Jan Sharrock, ANZCA’s executive director of fellowship affairs, reflected: “The versatility of the Centre’s spaces helped us deliver this seamlessly and with an enhanced delegate experience. The Cairns Convention Centre team was flexible with our requests, understood the delivery needs, and adapted as required. Not something we see, or say, all the time.”
Sustainability was a central pillar of the conference’s planning and delivery. Implementing environmentally responsible practices across catering, logistics, and delegate engagement required a coordinated effort between ANZCA and the Centre’s operational teams.
Potter emphasised the collaboration between the Centre and ANZCA, which extended from the use of reusable cutlery and locally-sourced produce to energy-efficient venue operations and thoughtful delegate experiences.
“The efforts made by Cairns Convention Centre to promote sustainability during the meeting were noted and appreciated by delegates. It reinforced the key messages we wanted to deliver,” he said.
Event Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Annual Scientific Meeting
Dates May 2 to 6, 2025
Organiser Waldron Smith Management, and Wallfly
Venue Cairns Convention Centre
Attendance Around 2,200 delegates
