World leaders in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences choose Brisbane

The world’s premier pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences congress is heading to Brisbane for the very first time.

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) will play host to the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2021 with an expected 2,500 delegates.
 
As an emerging hub of innovation in the health care sector, with a strong pharmaceutical sciences community at the forefront of research and education and within close proximity to the Asia Pacific region, Brisbane is in a prime position to host the Congress.

A local host consortium including The Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA),Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA)presented a united front working in collaboration with the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and key convention partners, Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing to secure the prestigious Congress.

The five-day event which will deliver more than $7.5 million directly into the local Queensland economy is viewed as a great opportunity for Australia, home to some 29,000 registered pharmacists.

The Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, is proud to support the conference through the Business Events Acquisition and Leveraging Fund. Business events are vital to Queensland’s tourism industry, attracting visitors and promoting our destinations to domestic and international visitors. 

Consortium Chair, Professor Parisa Aslani, from the University of Sydney’s School of Pharmacy, believes hosting FIP 2021 presents a unique opportunity for Australian pharmacy.

“Importantly we believe the Congress will give Australian pharmacy the opportunity to showcase its world leading expertise and practice particularly in the areas of education, research in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences.”

Professor Aslani said the Congress will provide a platform to showcase global innovation in pharmacy as well as challenges and opportunities for a future pharmacy sector. 

BCEC Advocate Professor Lisa Nissen from Queensland’s University of Technology (QUT), who was also on the Bid Steering Committee was a driving force and a strong champion for Brisbane as the host destination.

FIP 2021 is just one of an impressive line-up of international conferences heading to Brisbane and Queensland – the result of a strong performance by BCEC and its convention partners in recent months.

Conferences totalling 153 won for Brisbane and BCEC during the last financial year will attract 68,000 delegates, with an economic value to Brisbane and Queensland of $148.7 million.

A further 30 conferences secured during the first quarter of the current financial year will attract an additional 15,340 delegates with an added economic benefit of $32.9 million.

Conferences include: 2019 International Symposium on Dental Hygiene, 145th International Air Transport Association (IATA) Slot Conference 2019, 17th Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Asia Pacific Forum 2020, The 15th International Congress on Nursing Informatics 2020, International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) International Conference 2021, 35th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education 2022, The World Congress of the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS) 2026.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said winning the competitive bid was a sign of Brisbane’s rising reputation as Australia’s new world city.

“Securing this prestigious world congress demonstrates the depth of Brisbane’s local expertise in pharmaceutical sciences and exceptional offerings as a business events destination,”Cr Quirk said.

“Every convention that flows into Brisbane builds on our appeal as a business and research destination and delivers economic benefits for tourism and hospitality businesses, including hotels, restaurants and retailers.”

BCEC General Manager, Bob O’Keeffe, said Brisbane’s strengths in science, research and health care and the Centre’s strong collaborative partnerships with the local scientific community continue to play an important role in attracting key sector conferences to Brisbane.

“These events provide a unique opportunity to showcase the Centre’s renowned expertise in hosting major international events and Brisbane’s outstanding appeal to international delegates. We will show them the very best that Brisbane and BCE have to offer.”