Associations Forum National Conference 2026 has made history as the first ever show to open at Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, Victoria's newest business events venue on the Geelong waterfront. Delivering the exhibition build was long-standing partner Moreton Hire, marking the first exhibition in the brand-new precinct.
 
The 50-booth showcase continues a partnership between Moreton Hire and Associations Forum that began in 2017, having previously delivered across Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. This year's move to Geelong, one of the largest association management conferences in the Southern Hemisphere, welcoming around 400 delegates for its 20th year, put that consistency to the test in an entirely new venue, and Moreton Hire delivered the same standard from day one.
 
That reliability is exactly why associations return to Moreton Hire year after year. With over 55 years' experience in business events, the team understands the specific demands of association-led events: multi-stream conferences, AGM-adjacent expos and sponsor-driven exhibition halls, often run by volunteer-led committees working to tight timelines and resources. Scalable infrastructure, from 20-booth pop-ups to 200-booth national congresses, combined with modern modular systems and streamlined logistics means the same quality is guaranteed whether the event is in Melbourne or the brand-new venue in regional Victoria.
 
"Associations Forum values long-term partnerships, and our collaboration with Moreton Hire has been instrumental in delivering high-quality exhibitions year after year," said John Peacock AM, CEO, Associations Forum. "We are delighted to do so with a supplier who understands our sector and consistently delivers for our members and exhibitors."
 
Simon Morahan, COO of Moreton Hire, added: "Associations Forum has always valued suppliers who understand the unique needs of association-led events — consistency, reliability, and the ability to scale nationally. Bringing this event to Nyaal Banyul is a proud moment for us."