Flagship event combines learning, fun and networking.
For the more than 1200 delegates at the New Zealand Dental Association, NZDA annual conference, held over three days in August 2024 at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, the event was not only an opportunity to share knowledge and catch up on the latest scientific and technical developments, but to also enjoy a few days of wellness, networking and business opportunities.
A diverse event
NZDA Chief Executive Dr Mo Amso says with a concurrent plenary and scientific programme, business meetings, a products and services expo, an employment fair and packed social programme – ranging from a comedy night to an awards dinner – the annual conference is a diverse event. This made Te Pae Christchurch a natural choice to host the event for the second time in three years.
“Te Pae has a wide array of rooms and spaces that cater to our different requirements,” says Dr Amso. “The venue is purpose built, so it suits our full range of needs.”
Although the conference has a number of moving parts, the overall event, which was organised with the support of Conference Innovators – a Professional Conference Organiser partner of the NZDA for around two decades, ran very smoothly.
“We were just talking at our debriefing about how non-stressful the whole event was, helped by the support of the venue,” says Dr Amso.
Professional support
As well as the four separate conference programmes, which included 36 speakers from around the world, and over 55 presentations held in Te Pae Christchurch’s auditorium and meeting rooms, the conference also included a jobs fair for the next generation of industry professionals.
“New Zealand only has one university that graduates dentists, so we have them all fly up to the venue, and they have an entire afternoon of what’s been called ‘speed dating’ – interviews with private and public sector employers seeking to hire new graduates,” says Dr Amso.
“These are all student members of the Association, so we support them by trying to connect them with jobs, as well as providing a scientific programme for them on ‘Young Dentists Day’, held the following day– it’s about supporting the future of the profession.”
Flexible event design
Other unique aspects of the programme included a change to the way catering and breaks were run, a popular move that provided two longer breaks throughout the day where delegates could have more time to interact and visit the expo, and a President’s Shout event, held in one of the venue’s large foyers.
The sold-out expo, which featured everything from specialist supplies to a Kia electric vehicle, also included an opportunity for non-delegates from the sector to engage with the range of industry representatives and other service providers, with over 100 people attending the expo only.
“As an association, we are quite open to trialling things,” says Dr Amso, “The President’s Shout event in particular in the Dobson Room foyer was very successful.”
A walkable advantage
This year’s event also saw a larger than expected number of delegates take part, something Dr Amso puts down to ‘the Christchurch factor and the Te Pae factor’.
“We need a large venue that’s big enough to accommodate a very diverse range of events and it needs to be well connected to a bustling scene because you want people to have fun, you don’t want to lock them indoors for two days listening to lectures. And so Christchurch delivers, and Te Pae delivers,” says Dr Amso.
“When you arrive in town, you’re likely to be staying at a hotel which is walking distance – all the hotels within walking distance are lovely and reasonable value. There are restaurants and bars and social activities in the precinct where some people hosted events. This year we had a fun run in Hagley park, which was a short walkaway, and I attended an affiliate event in the art gallery – again a short walk away.”
“A lot of this you just couldn’t do at other venues.”
Successful opportunity to connect
Ultimately, the event at Te Pae Christchurch was considered a major success for the Association.
“Quite a few of the delegates we surveyed wrote that it was the best conference ever – so that’s quite telling,” says Dr Amso.
Dr Amso says the conference, which attracted people from across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, as well as guests from around the world, represents the opportunity to do a lot more than share knowledge.
“When we surveyed our members earlier this year, they told us the best thing they like about our Association are the opportunities for collegiality, networking and connection,” says Dr Amso.
“We think conferences deliver more than just an opportunity to learn and the way we’ve tried to design them is for you to connect, catch up with mates, do a bit of shopping, have some food, have a bit of a dance and a laugh and just go back refreshed.”
“It’s not just a two-day lecture fest. What we try to deliver is learning, fun and networking.”
