Australasian Epidemiological Association
2006 Conference

Jodie and the team joined us in organising the conference late in the scheme of things. Under the circumstances we believe that she did a great job! The 2 days ran smoothly and we had confidence in the team’s abilities. Overall the conference has been regarded as very successful!

Dorota Gertig
Conference Chair

The Way Forward: Chronic Disease Self Management
Conference 2007

To Jodie, Tess and Kate,
Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou!
For all your help and patience in organising the first CRD national conference.

Joanne, Richard and Amanda
Organising Committee

Dairy Science 2007

In September 2007, the 3rd Dairy Science Symposium (‘Dairy Science 2007’) was held at the University of Melbourne. Unlike the previous Symposia, this one was run as a joint event with New Zealand, and included invited speakers from Ireland plus delegates from the US and Europe. This event was an outstanding success. There were several reasons for this, but perhaps the most important was the fantastic service we got from Jodie and her team at Melbourne Conference Management. Indeed, one of my colleagues on the organising committee, who has been to most major dairy/animal science conferences in Australia and New Zealand in the past 30 years, had no hesitation in noting that MCM was the best conference management group he had ever encountered. The feedback from delegates was uniformly positive.

What was so good about the service we received? Firstly, it was very professional. Everything was well planned out, done on time, and done well. Secondly, it was friendly and personal. Jodie, Tess and Kate made every one of the 160 delegates feel like they were being specially catered-for. Nothing was too much trouble. Thirdly, it was imaginative and resourceful. When we were stuck for ideas, Jodie invariably came up with excellent suggestions (then went away and put them into effect!). MCM also took on the challenge of coordinating the printing of a 600-page refereed volume of proceedings (60+ papers), which came in on-budget and on-time: this was a mighty effort. Fourthly, it was excellent value for money. MCM cost significantly less than the equivalent service engaged for the 2nd Dairy Science Symposium – and did it better.

Dairy Science 2007 was the first time I had chaired the organising committee for a major science conference. I’d heard from others who have performed this often thankless task before, and was somewhat apprehensive about it all. I needn’t have been. The best decision we made was to contract MCM as our conference organizers. After that, the job was pretty straightforward – it all just happened! I unreservedly recommend Jodie North and the MCM team to any prospective conference organizing committee planning a major event at the University of Melbourne. As well as receiving outstanding service, you will also be contributing something back to the student body at the University. You will not be disappointed.

David Chapman Professor
Pasture Science, School of Agriculture and Food Systems
University of Melbourne; and Chair, Dairy Science 2007 organising committee

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