The conference from October 1 to 3, is expected to have an economic impact of $350,000 for New Zealand’s largest city and generate 870 room nights.
Two associate professors of chemical and materials engineering from the University of Auckland, Meng Wai Woo and Saeid Baroutian, are co-chairing the event, which is focussed on chemical engineers leading the way for a sustainable future. The New Zealand prime minister’s chief science advisor, Dame Juliet Gerrard, will speak at the conference gala dinner.
“The conference will showcase New Zealand’s strength in chemical engineering and provide a platform for industry and academia to bridge new linkages and strengthen existing partnerships,” said Wai Woo.
All four universities in New Zealand which offer chemical engineering degrees will have an opportunity to showcase their work while there will also be a hackathon for university students, challenging them to design an alternative gaseous fuel infrastructure solution to support the to net zero carbon emission in the dairy industry.
High school students are also being invited to the conference to help spark interest in becoming chemical engineers.
“This will provide high school students with an introduction to chemical engineering and the impact this field is making to the community,” said Wai Woo.
Auckland Convention Bureau head Ken Pereira hailed the event as a great opportunity.
“Bringing this conference to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is a great opportunity to advance chemical engineering in Aotearoa to create a more sustainable future, upskilling this generation of engineers and scientists and inspiring the next.
“With 200 delegates coming to the region, this is an opportunity to promote Auckland as a business events destination, and promote our innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors.”
The conferenced is being managed by Australian-based PCO ICMS Australasia.
