Uppsala Convention Bureau
Why meetings and events matter for our city – our hosts share their stories
International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
In June 2023, the annual ISBNPA conference was held in Uppsala – the first ever in Sweden. With a record number of participants from 48 countries, the event focused on research in diet, physical activity, and health. The conference theme was Sustainable Lifestyles, reflected in its presentations and lectures.
As part of the event, a memorable street basketball tournament was organized, where researchers met local children and youth from Uppsala. The tournament took place at Summerzone, a space that promotes spontaneous sports activities. This initiative from Uppsala was not only a great success – it also received certification from Generation Pep in connection with the conference.
The conference brought together researchers and participants in a unique setting for knowledge exchange and networking. Professor Marie Löf of Karolinska Institutet reflected afterwards:
“It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my research career – it felt like the whole world came home to me.”
Fredens hus - International Network of Museums for Peace
“We really noticed during the conference how people we’ve worked with for a long time suddenly started connecting in new ways.”
Jesper Magnusson, Director of Fredens Hus in Uppsala, hosted an international conference together with the International Network of Museums for Peace. Over 100 participants – academics, museum professionals, and artists from nearly 40 countries – gathered at Uppsala University Main Building to share experiences, visions, and dreams.
In a time when much is happening in the world, Jesper highlights the importance of talking about peace – not only from a Swedish perspective but also from a global one.
PEN International Congress
In autumn 2022, Swedish PEN and PEN International co-hosted PEN’s International Congress in Uppsala. The event was an opportunity to strengthen PEN both internationally and nationally – as well as locally. Over 200 delegates from 89 PEN centres worldwide came to Uppsala, joined by participants and audiences from across Sweden. The congress created new meeting places and strengthened collaborations within the local cultural scene.
“For me, it was important to organize the event in a way that strengthens PEN in the long run – to let the international network meet local expertise and engage more people in the challenges of freedom of expression.” – Hanna Nordell, Executive Director, Swedish PEN
National Meeting of the Swedish Garden Society
“For us, it was only natural to choose Uppsala – it’s close to Linnaeus.”
In summer 2023, the Uppsala branch of the Swedish Garden Society hosted the national meeting for members from all over the country. Organizer Petra Holmgren Reichler describes the many challenges involved – from transportation and logistics to arranging dinners for hundreds of guests. Thanks to strong collaboration between SLU, the Linnaean Gardens, and Destination Uppsala, the event was a great success. Hear Petra tell the full story in the video.
The Water Conference (Vattenstämman)
Uppsala Water and Waste welcomed more than 700 colleagues from across Sweden to Uppsala for the annual Water Conference. CEO Sigrid de Geyter, passionate about sustainability and infrastructure, saw the conference as both an opportunity to showcase Uppsala and to highlight the company’s work to local partners.
“We now have the chance to bring hidden infrastructure to the surface – and talk about it, together.” – Sigrid de Geyter, CEO, Uppsala Water and Waste
The Archives Week (Arkivveckan)
For Sara Håkansson, City Archivist and Head of Uppsala City Archives, Arkivveckan was an opportunity for her team to feel proud – a chance to showcase their excellent work. Uppsala’s city archives are recognized nationally, and Sara wanted to highlight that success at home by hosting the conference in Uppsala.
“I think more people should consider hosting a meeting. It’s a lot of work, but it’s rewarding work – and it leads to so many positive things, both for Uppsala and for us as a workplace.”
“I want to create a sense of pride among my colleagues – that we’re doing something truly good.”
Sweden’s Largest Procurement Conference
“We’re now attracting more applicants from across the country when we recruit.”
Hosting a national congress is an excellent way to strengthen your organization’s reputation as an attractive employer. Suzanne Afzelius, Head of Procurement at Uppsala Municipality, emphasizes this after Uppsala hosted Sweden’s largest procurement conference in spring 2019. Hear her share the positive effects the event brought – for her, for her team, and for Uppsala.
Skadeplats – National Conference for Emergency Response
For Elisabeth Samuelsson, Fire Chief at Uppsala Fire Department, hosting Skadeplats – Sweden’s largest conference for emergency response professionals – was a major opportunity to develop the organization. The event allowed her colleagues to participate in valuable networking and professional development.
“To anyone who’s hesitating about organizing a conference – I’d definitely say: DO IT! It’s incredibly educational and rewarding.”
“Thanks to the conference, we’ve learned from how other countries work too.”
Conference on Health Communication
“Together we could integrate our different perspectives into new ideas – it led to many insightful and inspiring conversations.”
With the conference Communication breakdown? Food and health in an age of abundance, Professor Paulina Nowicka wanted to create a shared platform for researchers in health communication. The event brought together representatives from healthcare, government agencies, major employers, marketers, and researchers from Uppsala and other universities. Together, they exchanged ideas and built new collaborations.
Hear Paulina Nowicka share her reflections on what the conference meant to her and her colleagues working with health communication in healthcare around the world.