Kind words from our clients
Managing a conference, and not sure who to trust, read a few of our testimonials for how our clients feel about us.
What people are saying
“Composition were nothing short of brilliant in all facets of their conference organisation, from early planning, responsive communication, sound budget development and management through to their creative marketing, registration management and onsite management.”
— Arron Perriam Business Operations Manager, Rata Foundation
“Thank you so much for being the perfect conference organisers. I have always felt so confident in how you work and so much faith in you getting things right. Being able to feel such trust has been a huge part of reducing the stress attached to these conferences.”
— Karen Guilliland, CEO, New Zealand College of Midwives
“A huge thanks must be extended to Arna and Nerida and the team from Composition. This is the 8th year that Hospice New Zealand and Composition have been working together and it’s fair to say we couldn’t and wouldn’t do this without you. Your skills are exceptional and I am sure we all agree the behind the scenes organisation has been seamless. Thank you.”
– Mary Schumacher, CEO, Hospice New Zealand
Highly recommend Composition for your next conference!
Dates
2023 - Victoria University, Wellington
2021 - Virtual
2020 - Postponed
2018 - Christ’s College, Christchurch
The expertise of the Composition team cannot be understated. They guided us through not only postponing the conference by one year but then switching to a virtual conference at four weeks’ notice. All elements of the conference, including the programme, budget, social elements, and delivery modes, had to be reviewed and updated at lightning speed. The team at Composition balanced the needs of all our stakeholders to ensure we delivered on the key objectives that we had identified when we began the project.
Our conference committee was primarily based in Auckland with two members in Hamilton and Christchurch. Composition is also based in Christchurch. Despite this, we always felt connected throughout the project with regular communication and the use of all the modern technology we had available.
That our conference was a professional offering with an overall spirit of collaboration was, in large part, due to Composition’s relentless pursuit of excellence. They remained calm, responsive, polite, and professional while ensuring some laughs along the way, in spite of the obstacles we faced. If you’re looking for a professional conference organiser to partner with and entrust your conference to, I wouldn’t look any further than Composition.
Christine Hanley
Convenor for CLESOL 2021 Conference
On behalf of the New Zealand College of Midwives, Composition has been our conference organising company for four of our Joan Donley Biennial Research Forums and three of our Biennial National Conferences.
Dates
2023 - Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
2020 - Postponed
2018 - Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
2016 - SkyCity Convention Centre, Auckland
2014 - Claudelands, Hamilton
2012 - Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
Joan Donley Biennial Research Forum is held in the alternate year to our national conference, and is a smaller forum, with usually 300 delegates over a two-day period with no exhibition or sponsorship, and a dinner as the only social function. The forum is held in the regional centres of New Zealand.
Our national conference is a large conference, held over 2 – 3 days, with over 600 delegates and 40 exhibitors and a complex programme, usually comprising of international keynote speakers, New Zealand speakers, up to six panel discussions (all with various session chairs and speakers) and concurrent sessions. The concurrent sessions are managed via a Call for Abstracts process, and the Programme Committee being formed to review the submissions and Composition managing the process with the authors from then on.
All our conferences have a regional organising committee and cultural component, woven throughout the programme.
Our 2016 national conference was held at SkyCity Auckland and this year’s conference is to be held at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua.
As a professional organisation, the New Zealand College of Midwives has a Code of Ethics and advertising guidelines which restrict the range of advertisers and sponsors that we can work with, it is essential for our conference partner, to understand this, when looking at enquiries for sponsorship and exhibition.
We have developed a very strong relationship with Composition over the eight years that we have been working with them. The services that they provide are prompt, efficient and without fault. We attribute the success of our conferences and research forms in many ways to the exceptional organisational skills, experience and knowledge that they bring to the process.
Over and above the outstanding services that Composition provide, in planning and executing the conference, we have found their approach to working with us has been one of their key strengths. As a membership organisation New Zealand College of Midwives has a strong interest ensuring that our conference and research forums reflect the values of our organisation, and our member’s needs. We therefore require a close working relationship with our conference organisers as the many decision points that occur during the conference planning process necessitate a collaborative approach and shared decision making.
Composition’s approach has enabled us to develop a highly trusting relationship with them. This strong relationship in turn, enables the complex process of organising a large conference to go as smoothly as it possibly could.
We have not hesitation in highly recommending Composition to manage our conference, or to any organisation looking for a professional conference organiser.
Please feel free to contact me for any further information.
Kate Clark
Conference Liaison
New Zealand College of Midwives
Trust Waikato was the host of The Combined Community Trusts 2018 Conference.
Dates
2022 - Rotorua
2020 - Postponed
2018 - Claudelands, Hamilton
2016 - Rydges Latimer, Christchurch
We engaged Composition, as our conference organiser, as they came highly recommended from Rata Foundation, who were the host trust of the 2016 conference.
Naturally being based in Hamilton, we initially had some concerns that our conference organiser wasn’t in the same city as us but these concerns were quickly allayed once we started working with Composition. Regular meetings via teleconference, Zoom and in person in Hamilton were easily conducted and all actions were followed up quickly and efficiently, with easy communication over email and phone.
The conference was held over a very busy time for us at Trust Waikato, with a new grants system being implemented, a new building being constructed and the Trust rebranding. This meant it was critical our team were involved when they needed to be, but the details were taken care of by Composition.
The conference logo was designed, and replicated in the conference dedicated website, print and promotional collateral, including the conference app, were all managed by Composition, to ensure the same constant messaging and look and feel. We had over 200 delegates, starting with a powhiri and hangi at Turangawaewae Marae, about twenty minutes’ drive from central Hamilton. This required the co-ordination of delegates onto buses, handing out waiata songsheets, and packed catering bags (with the dietary requirements taken care of). This was followed by two days of plenary and concurrent sessions, with a variety of presenters. Onsite, Composition managed the speakers, sponsors, venue, suppliers and delegate interactions, ensuring any relevant issues were brought to our attention, only when required.
As with any conference, one of the highlights was the social element, and The Combined Community Trust is no exception. We had a ‘Back to the 80’s’ theme conference dinner, celebrating the formation of community trusts 30 years ago.
Composition co-ordinated and arranged the caterers, theming, entertainment, venue, for a wonderful night that will be talked about for many years. We valued Composition devising unique solutions for us, such as branded writing pads, lolly jars, which were more cost effective than using the venue’s pads and pens, and the hiring of items to soften the stage. They effectively built a relationship with our keynote speakers, prior to them arriving onsite, and made them feel welcome. Composition ensured their dietary requirements were taken care of and a special gift delivered to them. Our conference is a closed conference, only those who are involved with trusts may attend, but it’s vital the correct information is conveyed to all the personnel and board members within each trust, and Composition placed together a plan, which outlined what information was going to be distributed, when and how.
We would highly recommend Composition, to anyone wishing to have a professional conference organiser.
Natalie Jessup
Communications Manager,
Trust Waikato
