The 60th annual conference of the Entomological Society of New Zealand will be held in conjunction with the 42nd annual AGM and conference of the Australian Entomological Society at Lincoln University in Canterbury New Zealand. Provisional dates have been set aside for August 28th to September 1st 2011 and more information will be available shortly.

The key note speakers were:

Dr Max Suckling. Max Suckling is a Senior Scientist with Plant & Food Research Ltd, where his research focus is on pheromone and chemical ecology of insects. Max has 20 years experience in research and research management and is a past President of the New Zealand Plant Protection Society. He completed his PhD in entomology in 1983 at Lincoln University, following completion of a post-graduate diploma in Biotechnology (1980) and a BSc (Honours) in Zoology at Massey University (1978). He joined DSIR in 1983, and has worked for Plant and Food Research (previously HortResearch) since it was formed in 1992, where he has contributed extensively to the development of sustainable methods for horticultural production in New Zealand. In November 2003, he was made Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in recognition of his significant scientific leadership on biosecurity matters. Max is also a recipient of the New Zealand 1990 Commemorative Medal for Excellence in Science.

Emeritus Prof. Tim New is an entomologist with wide interests in insect conservation, systematics and ecology and has published more than 400 reviewed papers/book chapters, and about 30 books. He is Professor of Zoology at La Trobe University, Melbourne. He serves/has served on a number of conservation advisory committees and editorial boards, and his work on insect conservation has been recognised by the Marsh Christian Trust Award for insect conservation (Royal Entomological Society) and the Henry Bates Award (Association for Tropical Lepidoptera) amongst others.

Prof. Simon Pollard. Simon is Curator of Invertebrate Zoology at Canterbury Museum and Adjunct Professor of Science Communication at the University of Canterbury. His recent research has focussed on understanding cognitive processes in a blood-drinking jumping spider from Kenya, respiratory biomechanics and the predatory behaviour of a crab spider that lives in pitcher plants in Borneo and costs associated with the evolution of extreme sexual dimorphism in an endemic New Zealand harvestmen.