Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has won the bid to host the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2021.

An estimated 2500 delegates are expected to attend FIP 2021, which will deliver more than $7.5 million directly into the local economy.

A local host consortium including The Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA), Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) worked in collaboration with BCEC, Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing to secure the event.

Consortium chair Professor Parisa Aslani said hosting FIP 2021 presents a unique opportunity for the Australian pharmacy industry.

“Importantly we believe the congress will give Australian pharmacy the opportunity to showcase its world leading expertise and practice particularly in the areas of education, research in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences,” she said.

Brisbane’s conference calendar grows

FIP 2021 is just one of an impressive line-up of international conferences heading to Queensland over the coming years.

In the last financial year, Brisbane and BCEC secured 153 conferences, set to attract 68,000 delegates to the region. A further 30 conferences secured during the first quarter of the current financial year will attract an additional 15,340 delegates.

BCEC general manager Bob O’Keeffe said Brisbane’s strengths in science, research and health care play an important role in attracting key sector conferences to the city.

“These events provide a unique opportunity to showcase the Centre’s renowned expertise in hosting major international events and Brisbane’s outstanding appeal to international delegates,” he said.

“We will show them the very best that Brisbane and BCEC has to offer.”