Australia’s Marinas22 conference calls for papers

The Marina Industry Association (MIA), which represents the interests of marinas, boatyards and industry suppliers in Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region, is making a further call for papers for its Marinas22 International Conference & Trade Exhibition, which will now take place 23-24 May 2022 at the JW Marriott Gold Coast.

The MIA would like to hear from anyone who believes they have a paper or presentation that would be of interest to marina owners, operators, suppliers, and related government agencies. Submissions should be emailed to MIA CEO Suzanne Davies.

Davies says: “While the program was almost finalised prior to our postponement late last year, we recognise that the world has changed a lot in the last 12 months. Many countries around the world are seeing a boom in recreational boating, the labour market has tightened, and supply chains disrupted. Add to that the announcement that Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic Games and the huge interest from superyachts coming to Australia and the Pacific, we recognise the need to review what we had planned, to ensure we are providing delegates with the most relevant and topical conference content available.”

The MIA connects over 2,000 industry leaders and decision makers, and works in support of developing sustainable marina industries through the delivery of leadership, guidance, education, accreditation, and research. It has over 300 corporate members, 75 per cent of which are marinas, yacht clubs and boatyards, and more than 80 per cent of larger marinas (over 100 berths) in Australia are members of the MIA.

The biennial conference and tradeshow brings together delegates comprising the region’s leading marina and club operators, owners and vendors, along with related government agency representatives.

“We are also planning a focus on the elimination of single-use plastics within our exhibition space,” adds chairman of the Marinas22 organising committee, Mike Harvey. “We seek to showcase products that can assist marinas to eliminate single use plastics. In line with this theme, we would like to hear from and will consider the presentation of papers that provide solutions for industry as we head towards 2050 net zero emissions.”