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On behalf of the Central Program and Local Organising Committees, it will be a pleasure to welcome all our delegates to the 2005 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand in Perth.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has put together what we hope you will find an enjoyable, stimulating meeting, which will cover the breadth of respiratory medicine. There are plenary sessions on environmental and genetic influences and their interactions in respiratory health and disease and on the great advances that are being made for our patients with advanced lung disease. As well as this, there are several mini-symposia throughout the meeting, focusing on a range of topics from challenges in aboriginal and rural infectious disease to aspects of central sleep apnoea and debate topics in TB chemoprophylaxis and community acquired pneumonia. There is also a mini-symposium in which an overview of interventional pulmonology will be provided. For those with a greater interest, this is complemented by a two-day workshop immediately before the main scientific sessions begin.

This year we are honoured that Philip Thompson has agreed to give the Wunderly Oration and I know that many members particularly look forward to the Young Investigator presentations. In all, we have twelve international speakers and several Australian and New Zealand delegates from outside the society who will be lending their expertise and who I am sure will enhance the scientific discussions throughout the conference.

The conference will be held in the new Perth Convention Exhibition Centre at the West End of the city overlooking the Swan River. Delegates can be assured that the LOC spent hours selecting and sampling the menus and wines that will be available. As they say, it was a tough job, but someone had to do it. The conference dinner will be a highlight with the popular Perth Jazz group Hip' Mo Toast providing the entertainment so bring your dancing shoes.

Perth is a vibrant city of 1.4 million people, with perfect March weather and numerous sights and activities on water and land so please stay for a little while to enjoy all it has to offer. If you have more time, take a trip to the Margaret River wine region or visit the Dolphins at Monkey Mia.

We promise that you will be made to feel most welcome at Perth TSANZ, 2005.

Paul Reynolds - Chair, Central Program Committee

Eli Gabbay & Weng Chin - Co-convenors, On behalf of Local Organising Committee