Professor Julian Eaton-Rye is certainly persistent. After bidding three times in six years, the University of Otago biochemistry professor is finally bringing the 18th International Congress on Photosynthesis Research to Rotorua in 2020. His commitment will see some 1,300 academics and professionals across a broad range of fields associated with photosynthesis meet in New Zealand for the first time. These will including world-leading specialists in plant science, agronomy and agriculture, ecology and climate change, to those looking to capture solar energy into useable fuel.

What finally secured the win? “We showed them we were organised,” he says. “The conference cycles between Europe, the Americas, and the rest of the world. I was on the international committee. It was the turn of the Americas in 2013 and in the 2010 bidding period they didn’t bid, so I thought, ‘why not?’. However, the US put in a late bid and they decided to go with them.

“In 2013 in St Louis, I decided I was going to bid again. The conference was expected to go to Europe, but I wanted to let them know we were still interested. We tied for the conference in the initial voting, and again in the second round. Then, after a long discussion they decided it was Europe’s turn. This third time everyone knew it was ours and we didn't even have a competing bid. In essence we won it in St Louis as long as we were prepared to be patient.”

Eaton-Rye notes that support from Tourism New Zealand in all three bids was vital to his ultimate success. This included comprehensive bid material and promotional marketing material, from slides to videos, that made a positive impression. “In every bid we’ve been the most professional. People think we’re obviously capable. And I know New Zealand's reputation and appeal has definitely been a big drawcard. A large number of delegates plan to bring their families and stay longer. Throughout this process there has been strong support and great enthusiasm for bringing the conference here: ‘Keep going, Julian, people want to come to New Zealand!’”

He adds: “Tourism New Zealand’s Conference Assistance Programme backing was very important to making this all work out. I received financial support to attend the conference in the Netherlands to deliver the third, successful bid. That was very important; The University of Otago will support me to attend one international meeting a year but I had already been to one this year. If Tourism New Zealand hadn't paid that would have come out of my own pocket, so that was a big boost. I was surprised it was an option, but it was great.”

Personal victory aside, Eaton-Rye says winning a conference like this has multiple benefits for New Zealand, not least an estimated $3 million injection for the local economy.

“It’s an opportunity to do something for this field. Science funding in New Zealand is not so good, particularly in basic research for plant sciences. We can't do some of the research we’d like to do, but this will raise the profile of the plant science community in New Zealand. Usually these things are held in big cities and become quite anonymous, but here it will have a much bigger profile with the community, and in terms of media attention. Its great for the local students and professionals in these fields to have these people on their doorstep to learn from and network with. A number of universities will get involved, and we aim to have a website with educational materials on it for schools, as well as hosting public lectures around energy security, food security, the implications for climate change.”

Rotorua also played a starring role in winning the event, thanks to its appeal as a tourism destination and its excellent events infrastructure, including conference venue the Rotorua Energy Events Centre. Eaton-Rye adds: “Given the city’s focus on forestry and forestry sciences, the opportunity in Rotorua to involve the local community is unique and we will harness the local expertise. We have invited Scion, the Crown Research Institute for the New Zealand forest industry, to become involved. A conference like this will have lots of spin offs for plant science and the energy sector in New Zealand.”

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