Business Events Wellington, with support from Tourism New Zealand, has successfully won bids for three new international conferences focused on marine biology, network engineering, and music.
The three events, scheduled for 2026 and 2027, will attract delegates from across the globe in fields where Wellington boasts research excellence.
“We maintain a strong focus on attracting conferences aligned to our intellectual capital,” said Business Events Wellington’s manager, Irette Ferreira. “Our close partnership with Victoria University of Wellington was the catalyst for securing these important conferences, maximising benefits to the city through international networking and global exposure.”
The International Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World will be hosted at the Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre in 2026.
VUW senior lecturer in marine biology, Christopher Cornwall, noted that Wellington is the perfect location due to the Taputeranga Marine Reserve being on its doorstep. He emphasised the conference’s importance in addressing the effects of climate change, such as ocean acidification and warming, at a time when New Zealand is poised to tackle these issues.
In the same year, the International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications 2026 will bring international networking scholars and researchers to the capital. Hosted by VUW professor of network engineering Dr. Winston Seah, the conference will serve as a key platform for sharing advanced research transforming modern life and work.
In 2027, the Conference of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music will capitalise on Wellington’s vibrant arts scene. Visiting scholars will engage with research from VUW and Massey University, and utilise resources like the Turnbull Archives.
Geoff Stahl, director of communication at VUW, said the event is an opportunity to showcase Aotearoa’s diverse musical cultures and celebrate the graduation of the first cohort of VUW’s new Bachelor of Popular Music degree.
Tan brings over 30 years of experience across the hospitality and technology sectors, with expertise in hotel distribution, sales strategy, and client relationship management. She most recently served as vice president of sales – APAC at Lighthouse, a SaaS platform supporting more than 75,000 hotels worldwide.
He previously held senior positions at The Regent Hotel Group in Hua Hin, The Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya, The Steigenberger Riverside Bangkok, The Landmark Bangkok, and The Landmark London.
