Melbourne to host international Mycology conference
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today announced the 19th Congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) 2015 will be hosted in Melbourne.
The Congress, which is expected to attract more than 800 delegates from across the globe to the city over five days, will generate an estimated $3.8 million AUD in economic impact for the state of Victoria.
Ms Asher said the host organisation of the major annual event, the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology, had chosen Melbourne over competition from New Delhi.
"Melbourne was recently officially ranked by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) as the number one city in Australia for international congresses and conventions, and many major international associations have Melbourne on their list as a first choice of destination to host their next major event."
"The city's major events capabilities and global reputation as an outstanding business events destination assisted significantly in securing the bid for Melbourne which was led by Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau," Ms Asher said.
Ms Asher said that in addition to Melbourne's reputation as a city that stages world-class events and conferences, Victoria's reputation as a science and medical research hub was also a major catalyst in attracting the Congress to the city.
"Victoria is a leading state in medical research and innovation and the work of Victorian researchers in the field of mycology has led international studies. This includes work by Dr Orla Morrissey from the Alfred Hospital and Monash University and Professor Monica Slavin from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, who have recently led a team of medical researchers to improve the management of invasive aspergillosis (a life-threatening infection due to the Aspergillus fungus
)in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation and treatment of acute leukaemia.Associate Professor Wieland Meyer of local host organisation The Australian and New Zealand Mycoses Interest Group (ANZMIG) said the Congress is expected to enhance collaborations between Australian mycologists, clinicians and researchers across the globe.
"The 19th ISHAM Congress will offer Australian mycology experts access to some of the best minds in the mycology world where delegates have the opportunity to learn from key individuals during the Congress timetable.
Chief Executive of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) Peter King said this was a great win for Melbourne.
"We look forward to welcoming the Congress delegates in 2015 and showcasing MCEC's food and wine, audio visual and other award-winning services to the world."
Mycology, which is a branch of biology that focuses on the study of fungi and its uses within a human and animal context, is a well-established area of research in Victoria.
