CASE STUDIES
Women Deliver 2026
EVENT
Women Deliver 2026
DATES
April 2026
LOCATION
Narrm, Melbourne
Background
Arinex was proud to support the delivery of the Women Deliver 2026 Conference, one of the world’s largest and most influential gatherings dedicated to advancing gender equality. Bringing together global leaders, grassroots advocates, policymakers and private sector partners, Women Deliver is a powerful platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange and meaningful action.
Held over five days at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), the event brought together more than 6,000 delegates from 189 countries, including global leaders, grassroots advocates, policymakers and private sector partners, under the theme “Change Calls Us Here”.
At a time when gender equality is facing increasing global challenges, the conference was designed as a highly inclusive and accessible platform that elevated diverse voices, particularly from the Oceanic Pacific, while fostering meaningful dialogue and action.
The conference was officially opened by a distinguished cohort of global leaders, including the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Jacinta Allen; the Prime Minister of Tuvalu; the Governor-General of Australia; the Hon. Julia Gillard AC; the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; and Women Deliver President and CEO, Dr Maliha Khan, underscoring the significance and global ambition of the event as a powerful forum for collaboration, knowledge exchange and policy influence.
THe challenge
As the first Women Deliver Conference to be held in the Oceanic Pacific, the event successfully attracted a broad and diverse international audience while placing strong emphasis on regional representation. Accessibility, inclusion, sustainability and safeguarding were embedded as core, non-negotiable principles across every aspect of the conference design, ensuring a safe, equitable and welcoming experience for all participants.
A key component of this commitment was the administration of a comprehensive scholarship programme, which welcomed 350 scholarship recipients and supported youth from across the Oceanic Pacific to attend and actively participate, strengthening diverse and inclusive representation throughout the event.
In parallel, Arinex facilitated the presence of international ministers engaged in bilateral meetings with Australian government representatives, helping to foster meaningful dialogue and support productive outcomes aligned with the conference’s global objectives.
the Approach
Arinex worked closely with the conference organising committee, venue partners and industry stakeholders to deliver a seamless, end‑to‑end conference experience that supported both technical excellence and meaningful connection.
Conference management services included abstract and paper management, registration, speaker coordination, sponsorship and exhibition delivery, and onsite logistics. The technical program was supported through dedicated speaker preparation facilities, presentation management and session support across multiple concurrent streams.
The exhibition was integrated into the heart of the conference experience, creating a central hub for delegate interaction with industry partners, technology providers and suppliers. Social events, networking functions and hosted activities were strategically programmed to encourage connection across disciplines and career stages, reinforcing ATC’s role as a focal point for the underground infrastructure community.
Technical workshops and offsite visits complemented the core conference program, providing delegates with practical insights into current projects, methods and innovations relevant to the Pacific context.
our SOlutions
Programme & Session Coordination
Arinex brought its full expertise to bear across a programme of significant scale and complexity. The team coordinated abstract submissions and review, speaker management, and AV logistics across 12 plenaries, 12 pre-conference workshops, 120+ concurrent sessions, 118 side events, and a dedicated Arts Hub, all within a single venue footprint at the MCEC.
Accessibility & Inclusion
Accessibility was embedded into every layer of event design. Working closely with Women Deliver, Arinex delivered multilingual conference materials, on-site wellness and mental health support, a dedicated quiet room, gender-inclusive bathrooms, free childcare, and fully accessible venue layouts. Trained safeguarding officers were present throughout, and a Feminist Nesting Hub was established at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre as an additional delegate resource.
Sustainability
As Australia’s first carbon-neutral event organisation, Arinex applied its sustainability framework to minimise WD2026’s environmental footprint. Sustainable supplier procurement, waste reduction targets, and carbon offset measures were implemented throughout, aligned with Women Deliver’s own sustainability commitments and the Oceanic Pacific’s deep connection to climate justice as a lived reality.
Venue, Exhibition & Signage
117 exhibitors were accommodated across the MCEC exhibition floor, with Arinex managing the full exhibitor journey from application through to on-site build. Inclusive, multilingual wayfinding signage was designed and deployed throughout the venue, complemented by city-wide signage and wayfinding supported by the City of Melbourne to welcome the 189-country delegation.
VIP & Ministerial Coordination
WD2026 attracted more than 30 international ministers, heads of state, and senior UN officials alongside the high-profile programme of keynote speakers. Arinex provided end-to-end VIP coordination covering travel, transfers, green room logistics, bilateral meeting support, and on-site escort services, managed by senior team members deployed specifically for the role.
the outcome
6,100+
Delegates
189
Countries
300+
Speakers
117
Exhibitors
69
Sponsors
118
Side Events
380
Scholarship Recipients
12
Pre-conferences
1,477+
Visas Granted
5,500+
Room Nights Booked
$42M AUD
Economic Impact
$190M USD
Global Commitments
The conference was a landmark not just for Arinex or Women Deliver, but for Narrm, Melbourne, and the Oceanic Pacific, placing the region at the centre of the world’s most significant conversation on gender equality.