Cairns Convention Centre The Cairns Convention Centre will host the 20th International Bat Research Conference (IBRC) from 3–8 August 2025, attracting more than 400 researchers and conservationists to Tropical North Queensland.
Held every three years, the IBRC is being co-hosted by the Australian Bat Society and the Pacific Bat Conservation Network.
Following recent editions in Texas and Phuket, the 2025 event underscores Cairns’ growing prominence as a centre for environmental research and international collaboration.
“We are honoured to welcome the IBRC to Cairns in 2025,” said Janet Hamilton, General Manager of the Cairns Convention Centre. “With more than 44 species of bats found in our region, and a strong local research and conservation community, Cairns is uniquely positioned to support and inspire this important global gathering.”
The six-day programme will include symposia, hands-on workshops and curated field trips across key ecological sites such as the Tolga Bat Hospital and the Cattana Wetlands. Sessions will explore a range of urgent issues, from the impact of wind energy on bat populations to conservation genomics and emerging zoonotic diseases.
“This conference is a vital forum for advancing bat science and conservation globally,” said Professor Justin Welbergen, IBRC organising committee member and Professor of Animal Ecology at Western Sydney University. “Bringing the IBRC to Cairns reflects the region’s growing importance in environmental research and its commitment to fostering international collaboration.”
Tara Bennett, General Manager of Partnership & Events at Tourism Tropical North Queensland, noted the appeal of the destination: “The accessible city of Cairns, where it’s only 10 minutes’ walk from the Convention Centre to hotels, restaurants and the Esplanade, provides a rich learning and networking environment for delegates.”