After running previous iterations of the event in Sydney, Chile and South Africa, the long-standing partnership between Australian PCO Think Business Events (TBE), and the World Federation of Occupation Therapists (WFOT) has once again delivered the large international Congress.
Occupational therapists from all over the world gathered in Paris 28 to 31 August, to learn, network and celebrate the industry at the event, which was delivered both in-person and online.
Working together with the WFOT executive team and local PCO K.I.T. Group France, TBE succeeded through language barriers, multiple time zones and a global pandemic to get the Congress off the ground. Originally slated to go ahead in March of this year, with ongoing restrictions in place due to Covid-19, the event was postponed to August.
The team managed thousands of abstract submissions to create a scientific programme with over 900 presentations, more than 700 e-Posters, three keynote addresses, an exhibition hall, social events and pre-congress workshops.
“It was quite complex logistical event, and took a lot of discussions and negotiations with suppliers from around the world to bring it to life!” Think Business Events director Denise Broeren said.
Overall, the Congress was a truly global event welcoming more than 2,000 in-person and more than 700 virtual delegates from over 100 countries, with the speaker line-up representing over 60 nations.
“There was such a buzz from all the delegates there, to be back immersed in learning and networking amongst their peers and colleagues from all around the world.”
With use of a mobile translation app, interpretation services were offered in both English and French with the feature available for both in-person and virtual delegates. A strong social media presence was used pre-congress to keep delegates informed and excited for this once every four-year meeting. The Congress hashtag formed some impressive social media data with 20 million impressions and more than 5,000 tweets throughout the week of the event.
The Congress was the fifth conference that Think Business Events completed over the month of August.
