Plug in to a city: Making local partnerships work in Melbourne

In Melbourne, organisers and academics work side-by-side to create real-world outcomes and build events with a legacy.

Good conferences leave a footprint; great conferences leave a lasting legacy – a research partnership, perhaps even a policy change. As well as being a benefit to the industry and to the world, this is, of course, also an ideal situation for the organiser. This legacy model is one that Melbourne, in Australia, does exceptionally well. Universities, researchers, hospitals and local experts are all deeply embedded in the local events community. Here, we’ll explain how the city turns short-term events into long-term impact.

Team Melbourne: A citywide support model

Melbourne’s success in this space is the result of a model led by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) called Team Melbourne. It’s a coordinated, citywide approach that connects organisers with the right people, early. Every event is different. Some are initiated by local academics that MCB has worked with in the past. Others begin with MCB identifying an opportunity and then finding the right local partners to help shape a winning bid. That might be a university department, a major hospital, a policy body or a commercial research institute. From there, the timeline can stretch across years – from qualification and bidding through to hosting and delivery. But that longer lead time allows real relationships to develop between organisers and local stakeholders. Case study: 2024 World Congress on Menopause

Melbourne World Congress on Menopause at MCEC

One of the clearest examples is the 2024 World Congress on Menopause, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The event was led by professor Susan Davis AO, director of the Women’s Health Research Programme at Monash University and a member of the Club Melbourne Ambassador Programme. She worked closely with the Australian Menopause Society, Monash University and MCB to build the programme over several years. “The success of this event was underpinned by strong collaboration between the International Menopause Society, the Australasian Menopause Society and the Melbourne Convention Bureau,” Davis said. “The Australasian Menopause Society played a vital role in mobilising local networks and attracting a significant contingent of Australian delegates.” She continued: “Melbourne’s standing as a hub of academic and clinical excellence in women’s health also contributed significantly to being chosen as the host city. We boast one of the highest concentrations of leading researchers and clinicians in this field within Australia. “This local depth of expertise not only strengthened the programme’s content but also meant rich interdisciplinary engagement for local and international attendees.” How to make the most of local networks We asked professor Davis how event organisers can make the most of local expertise and networks in Melbourne. She broke it down into three key steps:

Engage with national and international organisations “The first step is to identify national organisations most closely aligned with the event’s focus and to establish early engagement with their international counterparts. Collaboration between these societies is highly effective in broadening reach and relevance.”
Identify and involve local opinion leaders “Equally important is identifying and involving local opinion leaders. These are respected voices in the community who continue to hold significant influence within their fields. Their insights are invaluable in shaping a programme that resonates locally and builds credibility with international guests.”
Create a programme that appeals to local and international attendees “Achieving a balanced programme is essential. Content must resonate with local practitioners, not just international attendees. Engaging with local healthcare providers to identify current clinical needs helps to ensure the programme delivers practical and immediately applicable insights.”

The tangible benefits Professor Davis explained that the medical industry is already seeing benefits from the event: “It’s a little too soon to fully assess the congress’ impact but we’re already seeing tangible benefits in clinical practice. “The local general practitioners and specialists who attended the congress have since been upskilled in the latest developments in menopause care. Events like this are critical in bridging the gap between research and application in the real world.”

Student precinct

Access to world-class institutions Melbourne’s ability to support these partnerships is rooted in its local talent and infrastructure. The city is home to some of Australia’s most respected research bodies, including:

The Doherty Institute, a global leader in infectious diseases and immunology
WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute), the country’s oldest medical research institute
The Florey Institute, specialising in neuroscience and mental health
The University of Melbourne, consistently ranked among the world’s top universities for life sciences.

These organisations frequently co-host and participate in academic congresses, helping to ensure they leave a footprint. Professor Davis said that talent is Melbourne’s greatest appeal: “From a medical perspective, Melbourne’s best asset is our talent base. “Our city is academically rich, and I’m pleased to contribute through the Club Melbourne Ambassador Programme which unites leading experts and strengthens our ability to attract high-calibre presenters and attendees.” Why local partnerships matter to organisers For international planners, there’s a great deal of value in this. A partnership with local institutions:

Strengthens your bid – Working with high-profile researchers and academics adds weight when pitching to global associations
Creates better content – Local experts can help attract high-calibre speakers and refine programme tracks
Extends the event’s relevance – Research projects, policy dialogues or clinical collaborations formed during the conference can continue for years
Delivers more “reputational value” – Demonstrating meaningful partnerships with respected institutions reflects well on the organiser and helps with future bids

It also enhances delegate engagement. Conferences that feel locally embedded tend to attract higher attendance, more engaged audiences and better post-event feedback. Delegates remember a conference where the city felt like part of the programme. All of this is made possible because of structure. Melbourne facilitates these partnerships from the beginning. MCB acts as a connector between organiser needs and local opportunities. The Team Melbourne model is based around legacy. Not every city can offer that. In Melbourne, there is a combination of impressive academic talent and a coordinated community. This enables organisers to consistently make the most out of local networks and generate a lasting legacy for their event. The takeaway If you’re an organiser looking for a host city that offers more than just square footage and skyline photos – in Melbourne, the infrastructure is strong, but the relationships with local talent are stronger. The city’s institutions form a knowledge ecosystem that positions Melbourne among the global leaders in scientific research. Melbourne is home to over 18 medical research institutes, 11 teaching hospitals and a life sciences workforce of more than 100,000 professionals – more than any other state in Australia. The University of Melbourne ranks 20th globally for medicine (QS World University Rankings), while Monash University ranks #2 in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology. Melbourne also hosts over 300 clinical trial sites, making it a hub for practical, real-world innovation. For international organisers, this means your event can tap in to industry-leading change. To discover more about holding a business event in Melbourne and access key local industry leaders, visit: melbournecb.com.au. Or, to learn more about bringing your next event to Australia, visit: businessevents.australia.com for resources and research. Email: info@melbournecb.com.au to get started.

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