Global experts in anaesthesia and pain medicine meet in Auckland

The 2026 meeting from 1-5 May will bring together more than 1800 delegates, including anaesthetists, specialist pain medicine physicians, scientists and clinical researchers from Australia, New Zealand, the UK and US.

The meeting at the New Zealand International Convention Centre features a broad scientific program covering perioperative medicine, consciousness, patient safety, education and training, artificial intelligence in the healthcare setting, and the evolving challenges facing healthcare systems, including workforce pressures and access to care in regional and rural communities.

Keynote speakers include neuroscientist Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Professor Mary Ellen McCann, Professor of Clinical Anaesthesia at Harvard Medical School amongst others.

Professor Tracey’s research using advanced brain imaging focuses on how pain is perceived and how anaesthetic agents alter consciousness.

Professor McCann, a paediatric anaesthesiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, has spent many years researching the safety of general anaesthesia and sedatives in children. 

The ANZCA College Ceremony oration on Saturday 2 May will be delivered by New Zealand anaesthetist and diving medicine specialist Professor Simon Mitchell, whose work spans clinical anaesthesia, hyperbaric medicine and human performance in extreme environments.

Professor Mitchell will draw on his experience as both a clinician and diver in his address to new college graduates (new fellows) as they start their careers as anaesthetists and specialist pain medicine physicians after years of specialist training.

ANZCA President Professor Dave Story says the ASM provides a vital platform for sharing knowledge and strengthening collaboration across the profession.

“The ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting is one of the most important gatherings for our specialties of anaesthesia and pain medicine. 

“It brings together global leaders and frontline clinicians to exchange ideas, showcase new research and ultimately improve the care we provide to patients.”

The Faculty of Pain Medicine Symposium at the JW Marriott Auckland on 1 May will highlight the latest developments in pain research and multidisciplinary approaches to managing acute and chronic pain.

“The challenges facing healthcare today are complex and evolving,” Professor Story says.

“Meetings like the ASM ensure our fellows and trainees remain at the forefront of clinical practice, equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to deliver safe, high-quality care.”

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), including the Faculty of Pain Medicine and the Chapter of Perioperative Medicine, is one of the largest medical colleges in Australia and New Zealand. ANZCA is responsible for the postgraduate training of medical practitioners to become specialist anaesthetists and specialist pain medicine physicians.