Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Narrm, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and to Elders of all First Nations communities that visit MCEC.

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MCEC Hosts Hybrid Q&A Event

At a time when people are seeking reliable information they can trust about COVID-19, MCEC connected the experts with a broad audience via a successful hybrid event.

The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), a centre of excellence in immunisation, hosted ‘COVID-19 vaccines - your questions answered’, with an MC and a panel of four experts, led by Doherty Institute Director and MCEC Club Melbourne Ambassador, Professor Sharon Lewin AO.

Sponsored by MCEC, the event was conducted from a broadcast studio set up in the Clarendon Auditorium and reached more than 1,050 people, including 1,006 remote attendees who attended the session live or watched the stream on demand within 24 hours of the live event.

According to Alison Bottcher, Marketing Communications Officer at the Doherty Institute, the hybrid experience was excellent.

“The platform was easy to access, intuitive and user-friendly. We were able to reach a large audience on the day and deliver an exceptional experience. And MCEC provided a high quality video the next day that we could share with others.”

Five people sitting on stage presenting to a crowd of people with a COVID-19 presentation on a large screen behind them.
High quality hybrid technology

The Clarendon Auditorium studio was perfect for this event. The stage accommodated the presenters and MC comfortably and safely, while the room was welcoming for the live audience.

MCEC’s Technology Services Department set up, filmed and recorded this event, and provided support to the presenters, live audience and event organisers. Pre-installed technology in the auditorium included LED strip lighting, screens for showing live crosses to remote guests and presentations, LCD foldback monitors and crystal clear audio. For this event, two broadcast cameras (one operated, one fixed) were used, ensuring very high-quality broadcasting and recording.

Peter Whalley, the Technology Services Planner who worked on this event said,

“At MCEC, we have the spaces and the technology to deliver hybrid events that are interactive and engaging. We have flexible live studio spaces, excellent production equipment, a team of technical experts, a high-speed content delivery network and a brandable event platform”.

Live and on demand

Fifty people accessed tickets online and attended the event in person at MCEC, in accordance with COVID-19 density restrictions. A total of 537 people participated remotely in the live event and a further 469 people watched the stream on demand in the 24 hours after the live event.

The event was streamed live on the Doherty Institute website and on YouTube and is still available to view on YouTube. To date there have been more than 3,000 views via YouTube.

“The technology allowed us to create an excellent experience for both the onsite and online audiences. Everyone could participate and ask questions. Hybrid events also allow us to reach more people and MCEC provided a flexible approach to accommodate an audience that was growing each day in the lead up to the event,” said Alison.

Joining the conversation

Registered attendees were invited to submit questions before the event and people in the auditorium and online were able to ask questions during the live event. Live audience members could simply raise their hands and ask questions via a central microphone, which ensured clarity for all audiences and for the recorded product. Remote attendees could join the conversation online or on their smartphone via streaming, live chat and moderated question and answer functions.

MCEC was delighted to welcome the Doherty Institute team and sponsor such an esteemed panel talking about this most important topic.

“This was our first major hybrid event since we reopened our doors and it was an important event for us given the significance of the topic and the calibre of speakers. We have a great partnership with the team at the Doherty Institute and it is always a pleasure to work with them” said Event Planner Claire McGillivray.

The Panel

The event was hosted by Michael Rowland, ABC presenter.

  • Professor Sharon Lewin AO, Director, Doherty Institute

  • Associate Professor Margie Danchin, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Children's Hospital and Clinician Scientist at the University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children's Research Institute

  • Professor Terry Nolan AO, Head of Vaccine and Immunisation Research Group, Doherty Institute and Murdoch Children's Research Institute

  • Dr Janine Trevillyan, Lead, COVID-19 Vaccination Program, Austin Hub; Head, Clinical Virology and HIV Services, Austin Health; and Infectious Diseases Physician

Considering virtual options for your next event? Check out our hybrid solutions and reach out to the team .