What is the Auckland Advocate Alliance?

The Auckland Advocate Alliance works to bring more business events – conferences, conventions, exhibitions, meeting and incentive travel – to Auckland to exchange knowledge and ideas, build relationships and attract investment and talent to our city.

The programme brings together influential thought leaders from multiple industries and communities who work to promote Auckland as an international destination for business events. Launched in 2015, it is the first programme of its kind in New Zealand.

Who are the Auckland Advocates?

Auckland Advocates are leaders in their field who are committed to growing Auckland’s business events sector, and in turn its economy.

What do they do?

They engage with peers – both local and international – to help bring business events that are relevant to their sector to Auckland. Our advocates play a key role in opening doors, creating opportunities and communicating the economic, professional and social benefits of bringing an international convention to Auckland.

Want to get involved?

Talk to Gemma Wood in the Auckland Convention Bureau team to find out more about the Auckland Advocate Alliance.

Success stories
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Professor boosts field by bringing conference to Auckland

Securing a bid to host the most prominent international microbiology conference is a professional and personal win for Mike Taylor, Professor Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland.

Bidding to host a conference was easier than she thought

Kath Eastwood never expected to be bidding to bring an international conference to Aotearoa, but working with the Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB) made the experience far easier than she anticipated.

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How Alan Ovens bid for an international conference – and won

Associate Professor Alan Ovens is the Discipline Leader of Sport, Health and Physical Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Auckland. Here, he shares his experience of bidding to bring an international conference to Auckland – and how he succeeded.  

Dr Nirmal Nair powers up professional profile with conferences

The Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Auckland is now somewhat of an expert in another field – bringing international conferences to Auckland.

Conference shines spotlight on women and sport

Rachel Froggatt, former Chief Executive Officer of Women in Sport Aotearoa (WISPA) and Secretary General of the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport Conference and Secretariat. Read about her experience of bringing an international conference to Auckland to shine a spotlight on women and sport in New Zealand.

What Auckland Advocates say
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Dr Alan Ovens

Principal Lecturer, School of Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of Auckland

"Auckland delivers world-class experiences at every level. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to things to do here. I feel incredibly proud to be able to share our culture, sustainability, our clean and green environment and the scholars and academic societies we have here.”
 

Dr Nirmal Nair

Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Auckland

“ACB brings professionalism into the whole bid document   process, which sometimes time-poor researchers or conference organisers struggle with. This win could not have happened had it not been for ACB.”

Kath Eastwood

General Manager of Dieticians New Zealand

“I would definitely recommend working with ACB on bringing an international conference to New Zealand. I never thought it would be something I would do, and in such a small organisation. We have a very small team, but it was such an easy process.”