In August 2025, Cairns Convention Centre welcomed the 20th International Bat Research Conference (IBRC), bringing together 507 in-person delegates – plus 70 online participants for the National Flying-fox Forum – from 58 countries. With four keynote speakers, 32 symposia, 281 talks, 69 posters, seven workshops and seven field trips, the conference was a compelling demonstration of Cairns’ ability to host complex international scientific meetings in a destination that adds genuine depth to the delegate experience.
Held every three years, the conference is one of the most important gatherings for the global bat research, conservation and management community. Its goals were to share the latest research, build international collaboration, create a welcoming space for students and early and mid-career researchers, and showcase Australian bat fauna and nature. In Cairns, those goals were not only met – they were brought to life in vivid and impactful ways.
A destination made for discovery
For the organising committee, Cairns stood out for several compelling reasons. Surrounded by extraordinary biodiversity and located on the doorstep of two UNESCO World Heritage–listed sites – including the Wet Tropics Rainforest – the city offered an ideal Australian setting for a conference centred on wildlife, ecology and conservation. Just as importantly, Cairns combined that natural advantage with a strong local community of researchers and conservation practitioners, a world-class convention centre capable of hosting more than 500 delegates, and a compact, walkable city with accommodation and dining close to the venue.
The destination became a genuine extension of the event itself. Rather than serving simply as a backdrop, Cairns enriched the scientific dialogue, strengthened connections between delegates, and reinforced the relevance of field-based learning, conservation practice and place-led storytelling.
Delegates from the 20th International Bat Research Conference at Cairns Convention Centre
Science in session, science in the field
The strength of the programme was well matched by the richness of the setting. Four concurrent oral presentation sessions ran across four conference days, supported by a full workshop day that included the National Flying-fox Forum. Formal networking moments – the welcome mixer, poster session, mentor lunch and gala dinner – sat alongside highly valued informal exchanges during breaks, where delegates met, reconnected and formed new collaborations.
Field trips were a defining feature of the conference. Delegates visited sites including Tolga Bat Hospital, Cattana Wetlands, Kuranda and the Wet Tropics Rainforest, connecting conference themes directly with real habitats, species and conservation work across Tropical North Queensland. These experiences reinforced Cairns’ value as a living laboratory, where research is not confined to presentation rooms but can be encountered directly in the landscape. Professor Justin Welbergen observed that “the diversity of habitats and species in Tropical North Queensland enriched scientific dialogue and inspired new partnerships” – a point borne out consistently across the week.
Delegates document bat imaging techniques during a visit to Tolga Bat Hospital
Local expertise also played a major role in shaping the programme. Speakers from conservation groups, research institutions, consultancies, government agencies and First Nations ranger groups helped ground the event in cultural knowledge and regional practice. This strong sense of place was further reinforced through the conference branding, which featured the endangered spectacled flying-fox – a species many delegates were able to observe flying around the city during their stay.
For Maree Treadwell, president of the Bats and Trees Society of Cairns and a member of the organising committee, “Cairns offered not just a spectacular backdrop, but a genuine living laboratory for biodiversity and conservation in action.”
Spectacled Flying Fox receiving care at Tolga Bat Hospital
Community connection and sustainability
The conference created strong links with the local community. Organisers worked with local Cairns organisations and suppliers wherever possible, including the Bats and Trees Society of Cairns, Tolga Bat Hospital, Cattana Wetlands Environmental Park and local tour operators. Printing was kept to a minimum, with abstracts made available digitally, while printed materials and merchandise were sourced locally.
Auction items, raffle prizes and social elements also drew on local businesses and artists, helping the event feel truly embedded in its destination. Even the caterers joined in – bat-themed cocktails appeared at local venues throughout the conference week, adding a distinctive and playful sense of place to the occasion.
Flexible spaces, confident delivery
From planning through to delivery, organisers described their experience with Cairns Convention Centre as highly positive, highlighting the team’s professionalism and collaborative approach. The organising committee noted that the team was “responsive, calm and easy to work with,” consistently able to adapt as requirements evolved throughout the week.
A plenary session in progress at the International Bat Research Conference, Cairns Convention Centre
This flexibility was particularly important for a conference of this scale, involving multiple concurrent sessions, workshops, sponsor booths, networking events and changing room requirements across several days. As Professor Welbergen observed, “the spaces were fantastic with a mix of rooms for the sessions, workshops, sponsor booths and breaks,” with the team remaining highly accommodating as needs evolved. “The staff were very flexible to room requests and changes when we realised that we needed more space for one of the concurrent sessions,” he noted.
The variety of spaces also enhanced the delegate experience. “It was great to also have the gala dinner upstairs in the Trinity Room,” said Welbergen, “as it was a completely new space for the attendees, while being close and convenient.”
Conference delegates engage in a breakout session at the International Bat Research Conference, Cairns Convention Centre
Technical delivery was another area that stood out. The AV team provided strong on-the-ground support throughout, successfully managing a high volume of presentations across multiple concurrent rooms, including hybrid elements. “The AV team were excellent,” said Welbergen. “They handled the large number of talks, multiple concurrent rooms and hybrid elements with minimal issues, and were very approachable for speakers.” That reliability allowed organisers and presenters to focus on scientific content rather than logistics.
Catering also received strong feedback for its quality, variety and dietary inclusivity, with many attendees commenting on the range of options available and the efficiency of service, which was well timed around the programme. Welbergen summarised the overall experience simply: “The Centre’s staff were friendly, professional and proactive, whether involved in the overall organisation, working on the floor, in catering, or on the tech side.”
Delegates connect over catering during a lunch break at the International Bat Research Conference, Cairns Convention Centre
Outcomes that matter
Beyond the event itself, the conference generated meaningful outcomes for research, conservation and global collaboration. New cross-continental projects were formed across areas including disease, acoustic monitoring and conservation genetics. Global and regional networks, such as GBatNet, used the event to plan joint activities, while targeted sessions on threatened species contributed to ongoing recovery planning and policy discussions. A number of conference presentations are now being developed into scientific papers, extending the impact of the event well beyond Cairns.
The conference also helped raise broader awareness of bats and bat conservation through media attention and social media activity. For Cairns Convention Centre, it was another strong example of how the venue can support high-level international association conferences while elevating them through destination knowledge, local partnerships and immersive regional experiences. As Treadwell reflected, “Many delegates have told us it was one of the best IBRCs they’ve attended, and the Centre and location were a big part of that.”
Conclusion
The 20th International Bat Research Conference proved that Cairns is far more than a beautiful backdrop for scientific meetings. It is a destination where biodiversity, research, community and world-class conference delivery come together to create something genuinely distinctive.
Janet Hamilton, general manager of Cairns Convention Centre, said Cairns was “uniquely positioned to support and inspire this important global gathering” – a sentiment reflected in both the destination fit and the quality of on-site delivery. Tara Bennett of Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef described Cairns as offering “a rich learning and networking environment” for delegates, with hotels, restaurants and the Esplanade all within easy walking distance. “As a result, the destination became a genuine extension of the event itself. Rather than serving simply as a backdrop, Cairns enriched the scientific dialogue, strengthened connections between delegates, and reinforced the relevance of field-based learning, conservation practice and place-led storytelling.”
For delegates, Cairns offered the opportunity to share ideas, build collaborations and experience bat science in one of the world’s most ecologically rich regions. For Cairns Convention Centre, the conference was a powerful demonstration of the venue’s ability to deliver globally significant events with professionalism, flexibility and a strong sense of place.
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