Behind the Scenes at AIEC: Catania Aviles on Social Events, Themes, and Community Connections

You’ve sorted your sessions, booked your flights — now it’s time to talk about the fun stuff. In this AIEC Warm-Up episode, I’m joined by Catania Aviles, Conference Manager for the Australian International Education Conference, to give you the inside scoop on all the socials at this year’s event in Canberra.From florals to flannels, cocktails to costumes, Catania takes us behind the scenes of the networking events that bring 1,500 delegates together every year — and explains why these moments often spark the best professional connections of all.Highlights you’ll hear in this episode:Welcome Reception: A Floriade-inspired opening night sponsored by Study Canberra — bringing spring blooms and local flavour to the exhibition hall.Happy Hour on the Terrace: Sponsored by ELS, featuring a DJ, cocktails, and a relaxed outdoor vibe to unwind after Day 2. Gala Dinner – “A Night at the Museum (Australian Edition)”: Held at the National Museum of Australia, complete with Aussie classics, open galleries, and costume inspiration from Ben Stiller to Vegemite jars.Why social events matter: how informal conversations can lead to lasting partnerships and unexpected collaborations.A sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes bump-in (with time-lapse!) and what it takes to pull off Australia’s biggest international education gathering.Catania also shares what she’s most looking forward to — from having exclusive use of the NCC Canberra to finally putting faces to the hundreds of names she’s emailed all year.Whether you’re attending for the content, the connections, or the costumes, this episode will get you hyped for the week ahead at AIEC 2025.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]