17 July 2015

World steel building experts to meet in Christchurch

Christchurch has won a bid to host the 2018 Steel Structures in Seismic Areas (STESSA) international conference.

Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau (CCCB) partnered with Tourism New Zealand Business Events (TNZ) to prepare the successful bid, presented by Dr Gregory MacRae from the University of Canterbury at the 2015 STESSA conference in Shanghai last week.

The three-day conference, held once every three years, will attract around 300 mostly international delegates to Christchurch in February 2018.

Dr MacRae says New Zealand is well known for its earthquake engineering and low damage construction techniques, and Christchurch has a wealth of experience to share with international researchers and practitioners in this field.

The Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at University of Canterbury has gained worldwide recognition for its extensive theoretical and experimental research in the behaviour of steel structures.

“Christchurch is a living classroom, and a rare example of a city where we have both steel structures and earthquakes.

“We will be able to tour the city talking about the practical issues and our first-hand experience, to help advance global research about seismic design of steel structures,” he says.

CCCB Manager Caroline Blanchfield says the STESSA conference is an example of the type of conference business the Bureau is working hard to attract.

“It fits with city as it rebuilds, and is one of our target segments - building technology. The number of delegates can easily be accommodated in our existing venues.

“International business events like this bring opportunities for global media exposure, pre and post conference touring, social and cultural benefits, and valuable technology transfer and knowledge sharing.

“The Bureau’s collaborative approach with the TNZ Bid team is really paying dividends for the city and region,” she says.

For more details about business events in New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand’s Conference Assistance Programme (CAP) visit www.businessevents.newzealand.com.

For more information about conferencing in Christchurch visitwww.christchurchconventions.com.

ENDS

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