Reinventing your association conference experience

Brett Jeffery explains how to reinvent your association gatherings to ensure they are well worth the time, effort, and cost to members.

An audience, wearing business attire, sit and listen to a presentation at the Harcourts Conference at the TSB Arena in Wellington.

Association conferences are instrumental in fostering professional growth, collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and networking. But ongoing challenges in attracting numbers mean organisers must be willing to adapt. By breaking away from traditional formats, association conferences can stay relevant.

Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) New Zealand general manager Brett Jeffery says organisers hold the key to unlocking a world of possibilities. Understanding members’ needs, introducing new formats, and enjoyable, rewarding content can help engage audiences.

Tailor content to audience needs

Understanding the evolving needs of your members and aligning content is crucial for success. Conduct surveys or seek direct feedback from members to get valuable insights. Find out the topics and themes that interest them the most. Provide multiple streams within the conference programme. Participants can tailor their experience to suit their professional goals and interests.

Promote inclusivity and diversity

A reimagined conference experience must strive to be inclusive and embrace diversity. Curate diverse speaker panels, representing a range of backgrounds, industries and perspectives. This fosters an environment where attendees feel valued and encourages a rich exchange of ideas. Provide accessible facilities and materials across the programme. This ensures all attendees can participate, irrespective of their abilities.

Break the mould

Instead of standard lecture-style presentations, consider incorporating interactive elements. Workshops, panel discussions, fireside chats and even gamification can invigorate a programme. They allow attendees to participate in the learning process and engage in thought-provoking discussions. When audiences can contribute their perspectives, it results in a more enriching experience.

Foster engaging, interactive sessions

Engagement is at the heart of reinventing the conference experience. Adopt interactive technologies such as live polls, audience response systems, and real-time Q&A sessions. to make presentations more dynamic. This keeps participants attentive and presentations dynamic. It also empowers audiences to shape the direction of discussions and delve deeper into topics that resonate.

Offer value-add benefits

Make your conference more attractive by providing extra benefits to attendees. Access to exclusive content, post-event resources, or networking opportunities beyond the conference dates. By offering additional perks, it demonstrates your commitment to the growth and success of your members. It also entices them to participate in future conferences.

Learn more about AuSAE’s upcoming events.

Looking for more?

At start of items
A presentation at the New Zealand Respiratory Conference (NZRC) 2020 at Te Papa, Wellington.

Launching a new conference for long-term success

Alexander John of event management company MCI shares three important steps to restart or start a conference. It requires extra focus to manage the risks.

large conference room with colourful blue and pink lighting from the ceiling. in the foreground is a couch with people sat down and in the background is many people standing and talking

Improve future event experience through reflection

The end of business event is the time to reflect, build on legacy aspirations, and make improvements for next time, explains Jessica Ferguson from Arinex.

A presenter on a stage at the WaterNZ conference.

A memorable milestone for Water New Zealand conference

Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre was a key factor in the success of WaterNZ's largest conference to date, with more than 1,600 delegates.

Four people sit at a table at the Life Sciences Summer 2024 at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Life Sciences Summit achieves breakthrough

Now in its second year, New Zealand’s Life Science Summit aims to create a better government understanding of the biotech sector.

Three delegates in semi-formal wear stand together and smile for a picture being a large painting on a easle at the ICMS Australasia dinner.

Attracting delegates from the Asia Pacific region

ICMSA’s Emma Bowyer shares strategies for attracting Asia Pacific delegates to your conference and growing the attendance at your Wellington business event.

Prof. Helen Danesh-Meyer speaking on stage at the New Zealand Women in Medicine Conference 2024.

Women in medicine build networks

The New Zealand Women in Medicine Charitable Trust’s Wellington conference united medical wāhine to tackle industry challenges and build a stronger community.

Jehan Casinader, keynote speaker at a business conference gives a presentation on wellbeing in the workplace.

Giving delegates a new perspective on wellbeing

Keynote speaker, Jehan Casinader, a survivor of depression and suicidality, talks about putting wellbeing at the heart of your conference experience. 

Delegates talk at the New Zealand International Education Conference in 2024.

Sustainability initiatives part of NZIEC KI TUA success

Sustainability was top of mind at the New Zealand International Education Conference KI TUA held at Tākina Wellington Conference and Exhibition Centre.

Person on stage speaking into a podium microphone out to many people in the background seated at tables. Dim mood lighting surrounds the area with spotlight on the speaker.

Engaging Māori culture in business events

Integrating Māori practices into events is no longer just a symbolic gesture. It is a meaningful reflection of an organisation’s cultural capability.

Delegates walk through the Te Papa entrance next to a Māori carving.

Navigating conference budgets in an uncertain economic climate

Organisers need to stay financially agile to deliver successful events without compromising quality. Here are a few tips to help plan conferences in Wellington.