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Canberra Welcomes the World: Four International Conferences this Spring

Canberra has secured four prestigious international conferences for spring 2025, cementing the city’s growing reputation as a destination of choice for global knowledge exchange.

This October and November, the capital will host conferences across the fields of space science, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and healthcare. These events will bring together over 1,200 leading thinkers, innovators and practitioners from around the world, contributing significantly to Canberra’s visitor economy and research ecosystem.

Kicking off this month is the Scientific Detector Workshop, hosted by the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Held at Mount Stromlo and the award-winning ANU Research School of Physics building, the program includes a public lecture and stargazing event with Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt.

Canberra will then welcome the International Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction (ACII) including a gala dinner at the National Gallery of Australia. With the theme for this year being ‘Socially Responsible Affective Computing,’ this will deep dive into research on the design of systems that can recognise, interpret, and simulate human emotions.

Also demonstrating Canberra’s strengths in digital technology and systems design, the 27th International Conference on Multimodal Interaction 2025 (ICMI). This conference will bring together global leaders in artificial intelligence and human interaction research.

In November, the globally recognised International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare will draw together leaders in health from all over the world who are focused on innovation in patient safety. The event will explore inclusive healthcare approaches linking climate, equity, Indigenous knowledge, and leadership for lasting system-wide impact.

“Canberra offers a distinctive and inspiring setting for international conferences — combining world-class research institutions, iconic cultural venues, and access to national decision-makers,” said Michael Matthews, CEO of Canberra Convention Bureau. “We are proud to support these events which elevate Canberra on the world stage.”

By aligning with Canberra’s knowledge economy and growth sectors, and fostering collaboration between business, government, and research institutions, business events held in the capital play a critical role in driving innovation, investment, and global engagement. The Canberra Convention Bureau plays a pivotal role in attracting and securing these events—strengthening Canberra’s position as a national leader in knowledge exchange.