Guiding Principles

INCLUSION & EQUITY STATEMENT
The International Congress is committed to the promotion of a culture of inclusion, diversity and equity. We welcome and encourage participation by geneticists regardless of gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion, age or geographic location and will make all reasonable provisions to support participation in the Congress. The Organising Committee will ensure gender diversity within its organisational structure and is committed to diverse gender, geographical and age representation within the Congress program.

SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT
The Congress recognises the importance of environmental sustainability and is committed to minimising the environmental footprint of the Congress by undertaking a range of practices including:

Conducting the Congress at the world leading 6 star green rated Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre and supporting their Sustainability Strategy which is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and focuses on the following measures:

Sustainability Management Team and 5 year strategy
Food waste
Reducing its CO2 emissions
Adopting Food Growth practices
Sustainable Design of the Venue
Waste Diversion Program
Energy Management
Harvesting Captured Rainwater

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Conducting meetings of the Local Organising Committee and Scientific Program Committee online to avoid the impact of travel
Encouraging participants flying to Melbourne to offset their carbon emissions with an approved program that will contribute to the environmental protection
Suggesting local participants consider alternative modes of transport to travel to the Convention Centre
Marketing the Congress using digital and electronic mediums rather than print collateral
Communicating with Congress stakeholders electronically rather than in print and focusing on the website as the central point for the most current information about the Congress
Avoiding the use of any single use plastics such as drink bottles
Using Digital Signage where possible to reduce the amount of wasted print material
Selecting menus that feature locally sourced fresh produce and ensuring any unused food and beverages are donated to an approved charity
Encouraging exhibitors to use recycled materials in their displays within the Congress exhibition
Working with third party suppliers who support the sustainability approach of the Congress in the provision of their services/products.

We encourage our participants to support our sustainability approach to ensure collectively we have a greatly reduced impact on our environment.

COVID-19 STATEMENT

The Organising Committee is committed to taking all reasonable steps to provide the safest possible environment for onsite participation at the International Congress by delegates, speakers, exhibitors, guests, employees and suppliers. All participants are required to be aware of and comply with any relevant COVID Safety Guidelines and protocols in place at the time of the Congress and these will be communicated in advance.

Social distancing where possible will be encouraged; hand sanitisers available onsite and the provision of face masks will be available for any participant who feels more comfortable taking this measure.

Importantly, at the time of the Congress, if you are not feeling well and are displaying COVID-19 symptoms, we ask that you do not attend the Congress. We suggest you test accordingly for COVID-19 and notify the Congress Managers (icg2023@wsm.com.au) immediately to advise you will not be in attendance.