Welcome to ASM2018

ASM 2018 Welcome 

On behalf of the organising committee and the ASM Executive, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Brisbane for the Australian Society for Microbiology's Annual Scientific Meeting and trade exhibition (ASM2018) at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre (BCEC). We are proud to present a fantastic scientific and social program with a range of leading scientific speakers from Australia and around the globe. 

Microorganisms affect every aspect of life on Earth, and our speakers will cover a wide range of topics that reflect the diversity of microbiology and that highlight the relevance of microbiology to all areas of our daily lives. Our speakers are also from a range of career stages, including Students, Early/Mid-Career Researchers, and Senior Researchers, and we have tried to give as many people the chance to present their work as possible. I hope you all learn a great deal and have the opportunity to catch up with old friends and colleagues, and also have time to make new friends. 

I would like to thank all our sponsors for their generous support of the ASM, and I encourage you all to take the time to visit their exhibits and see what they have on offer. Their support is essential and allows us to deliver a meeting of such high standard. There will be plenty of time to interact with the sponsors during the conference, especially during our evening poster, trade and social functions. The Sunday night Welcome Reception and Poster & Trade Session, and the Monday night Poster & Trade Session will be held in the open BCEC Plaza Auditorium Foyer, with canapes/bowl food and drinks on offer. The Tuesday night Rubbo celebration will be held in the BCEC Sky Room that overlooks South Bank and the Brisbane wheel, and will include various food stations, drinks and desert, and even some music and dancing for those interested. During your visit to Brisbane, I also hope you have some extra time to explore surrounding areas. The conference venue is just a few steps from the beautiful Brisbane River and a few minutes from the vibrant city centre, and in close proximity to a host of world-class restaurants, museums (including the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art), and weekend Markets. 

Finally, this meeting would not have been possible without many hours of dedication from my colleagues on the organising committee and I would like to thank them all for their hard work - please see the next page for everyone involved. Similarly, the ASM Executive (Roy Robbins-Brown, Dena Lyras, Cheryl Power and Jack Wang) have provided invaluable support. I would also like to thank ASN Events (especially Kara Taglieri the ASM National Office Manager) for their work in organising this conference. 

I hope that this year’s meeting is a rewarding and memorable experience and that we will see you again next year in Adelaide for ASM 2019, June 30 - July 3.

Kate L. Seib 
Local Organising Committee Chair, ASM2018