Over several days in February 2025, sixty academics, students and industry leaders from seven countries gathered in Coogee for the annual Sydney Quantum Information Theory Workshop (colloquially referred to as the “Coogee Conference”) . Their goal? To discuss the latest developments in to discuss quantum information theory including quantum error correction, quantum hardware, and quantum foundations.
The Coogee Conference 2025 is the 16th iteration of a conference series that began in 2006, and which continues to be a firm fixture in the conference circuit in the quantum science field. Intrigued by the conference series’ longevity, I reached out to its organisers for their take on its enduring appeal.
Conference organiser, Campbell McLauchlin, believes that a major draw card is the conference’s picturesque setting in the beach-side suburb of Coogee. Not only does this serve as a strong incentive for international speakers to attend, but the relaxed atmosphere lends itself to discussion among attendees and the forming new working relationships. As McLauchlin points out, “There aren’t many other conferences that allow for lunch-time swims at the beach!”
Another aspect of the conference that sets it apart is its small size. As another conference organiser, Seok-Hyung Lee, points out, attendance is deliberately kept to a minimum so that attendees can meet everyone, interact more directly and have those informal but important conversations that plant the seeds for collaboration – something that is not always achievable when conference attendance numbers in the hundreds.
The success of a conference often turns on its ability to secure prestigous and highly sought speakers. On that measure, the Coogee Conference 2025 could certainly be considered a success with its lineup of big names from Google, Amazon, PsiQuantum, Riverlane, and Quantinuum (the full program of speakers can be found here). What makes this conference’s program unique, however, is its commitment to ensuring gender diversity among its speaker ranks and to giving early career researchers – such as PhD students and postdoctorals – a platform to present their work.
With so many conferences vying for one’s attention, it can be hard to know which one will benefit you the most. But when you consider the Coogee Conference’s value proposition, it’s not hard to see why it’s such a popular choice. With no signs of slowing down, you can expect to see this unique offering in 2026. Collaboration and learning with a dash of sunshine and a side of ocean views? Yes, please! See you next year.