Welcome to the 32nd ICM Virtual Triennial Congress

The ICM Board has decided to transfer the 2021 32nd Triennial Congress to a virtual format instead of continuing with plans for a face-to-face Congress in Bali. The ICM Board reached this decision after consideration of all available information regarding the progression of the COVID19 pandemic from the WHO, the Indonesian government, the Indonesian Midwives Association, our members and our partners. The Board followed the same principles it used when deciding to postpone the Congress from 2020 to 2021. These are: first, to do no harm to our members, our partners and our organisation; second, to keep ICM moving forward; and third, to take advantage of all new opportunities.

“Fully Virtual” means that all plenary sessions, scientific sessions, questions and answers, e-posters, social activities and the industry exhibition will be featured online.

Delegates will have access to an online platform for the Virtual Congress and a scheduled programme will be provided.  Most plenary and concurrent sessions will be streamed ‘live’ but some will be pre-recorded. All sessions will be recorded and available for viewing ‘on demand’ for a further two months after the closure of the Congress. In this way delegates will have access to all sessions if they so wish.

There are many logistics to confirm but we are confident that the 32nd ICM Virtual Triennial Congress will be exciting and interesting and that we will provide innovative ways for Midwives to connect with each other and with our partners and exhibitors and enjoy the diversity, the inspiration and the positivity that are hallmarks of our face-to-face Congresses.

The 32nd ICM Virtual Triennial Congress will take place at scheduled times during the month of June 2021. We plan to stream ‘live’ sessions between two main time zones to enable equitable access to live sessions for delegates. There will be several concurrent sessions to choose from during each section of the programme, but recordings of all sessions will be available to delegates for two months after the Congress closes.

No, you do not need a special connection, tool, or software to view the Virtual Congress Platform. You can use your personal computer or mobile device. The virtual congress platform can be viewed in any browser, but we suggest using Chrome for a better user experience.

ICM is committed to its members, partners and global community and will provide an exciting programme in June 2021. The virtual format will increase access to many participants who would otherwise be unable to attend an ICM Triennial Congress because of the costs of travel and accommodation and because of restrictions some may have in taking leave. This Virtual Triennial Congress increases access for many and will be the biggest gathering of midwives that the world has ever seen!

By accessing the programme through the internet or mobile phone participants can attend the Congress from the comfort of home while accessing even more of the diverse programme than would have been the case if they had attended in person.  If they choose, participants will be able to view all concurrent sessions as well as plenary sessions and can plan their viewing for a further two months beyond the conclusion of the Congress. The platform for the Virtual Triennial Congress will include opportunities for social gatherings, live Q & A with presenters, live chats with experts, virtual and interactive exhibitions, and more!

ICM is retaining the current pattern of Triennial Congresses. The next Congress in 2023 will take place in Bali.  

The ICM’s Scientific Programme Planning Committee (SPPC) will be reviewing the programme for the Virtual Triennial Congress over the coming two months. We hope that, as much as possible, the existing programming can move ‘as is’ to the virtual format. We will be in touch with all confirmed presenters and session chairs and with partners who have agreed to provide partner sessions. Any changes that may be required will be discussed individually. As the programming decisions are worked through, presenters should be assured that they will not be penalised if they miss deadlines outlined below because of ICM’s timing.

All paid registrations from Bali will be carried forward to the Virtual Triennial Congress.

Our plans have changed because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and our Virtual Triennial Congress will not require some of the services of a face-to-face congress (eg. catering services, congress bag, merchandise). As a result, ICM has set registration fees for the Virtual Triennial Congress that are lower than those set for the Bali Congress. Special discounted Virtual Triennial Congress fees are applied for those participants who are already registered for the Bali congress.

EARLY BONUS DISCOUNT RATE – 415,00 USD
EARLY BONUS DISCOUNT RATE – 415,00 USD
BONUS DISCOUNT – MIDWIFE/DELEGATE – 495,00 USD
BONUS DISCOUNT – MIDWIFE/DELEGATE – LOW-INCOME ECONOMIES – 395,00 USD
BONUS DISCOUNT – NQM – 355,00 USD
BONUS DISCOUNT – NQM – LOW-INCOME ECONOMIES – 255,00 USD
BONUS DISCOUNT – STUDENT MIDWIFE – 250,00 USD
EARLY – MIDWIFE/DELEGATE – 495,00 USD
EARLY -MIDWIFE/DELEGATE – LOW-INCOME ECONOMIES – 395,00 USD
EARLY – NQM – 355,00 USD
EARLY – NQM – LOW-INCOME ECONOMIES – 255,00 USD
EARLY – STUDENT MIDWIFE – 250,00 USD

All delegates who have registered and paid for the Bali Congress will be offered the choice of four options for handling the fee difference:

1. The unique opportunity to become a member of ‘Friends of ICM’, that offers an attractive package of benefits such as:

• Guaranteed early bonus discount rate for the 33^rd Triennial Congress in Bali 2023 
• Meet and greet with a keynote speaker or special guest at the 33^rd Triennial Congress in Bali 2023
• A special session for ‘Friends of ICM’ at the Virtual Triennial Congress
• ICM webinars/lectures only accessible to friends of ICM
• A ‘Friends of ICM’ branded T-shirt – special edition Other membership benefits to be confirmed

2. A voucher for the fee difference to be applied against registration costs of the 2023 Congress in Bali.

    

3. Refund of the fee difference to those who decide not to take up options 1 or 2.
   Because ICM has not cancelled the Congress, only transferred it to a virtual format because of the Covid-19 pandemic, refunds of the difference are subject to a 50 USD administrative fee.
4. If none of the options above suit you, the option to transfer your 2021 Congress registration fee in full to the 33rd ICM Triennial Congress in Bali is also available. The transfer will result in full payment for the 33rd ICM Triennial Congress in Bali regardless of the 2023 fee.

If, because of extraordinary circumstances, you cannot attend the ICM Virtual Triennial Congress (noting that you will have access to recordings of all sessions for the period of the scheduled Congress and for two months afterwards) your registration fee will be partially refunded. A 50 % Cancellation fee will apply. 

The online refund administration process will begin on 9 December 2020 and the deadline for cancellations is 3 February 2021.

Requests for refunds made after 3 February 2021 will not be considered.

Purchased Gala Dinner Tickets will be fully refunded. The Accompanying Persons´ Fee will be fully refunded.

The online refund administration process is open between 9 December, 2020 and 27 January 2021. No refunds will be provided outside of this timeframe.

Yes, if you cannot attend the Virtual Triennial Congress, you may transfer your paid registration fee to a colleague. For any change of name, a fee of 20 USD will be charged. Please contact us at info@icmvirtualcongress.org.

Following registration fees apply for new registrations to the Virtual Triennial Congress:
DELEGATE/MIDWIFE – 515,00 USD
DELEGATE/MIDWIFE – LOW HUMAN DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES – 415,00 USD
NEWLY QUALIFIED MIDWIFE – 375,00 USD
NQM – LOW HUMAN DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES – 275,00 USD
STUDENT MIDWIFE – 270,00 USD

ICM is planning a virtual exhibit hall with opportunities for sponsors, partners, exhibitors and attendees to interact, and ways to encourage attendees to spend time with exhibitors. All sponsors and exhibitors will be contacted to confirm participation status.

• How can I get reimbursed for travel expenses?
  Unfortunately, the organising committee cannot reimburse travel expenses. Please contact the airline, train service, etc. directly to enquire about reimbursement. Many major airlines have updated their cancellation conditions so passengers can change their travel plans free of charge.
• What should I do with my hotel booking?
  If you managed your hotel arrangements personally, please get in touch with the hotel explaining the situation. They will help you reschedule your bookings.
• ICM made my travel and accommodation bookings. What do I need to do?
  ICM will be in touch with you individually to discuss the next steps – cancellation or rescheduling.
• The hotel, airline company or travel agency would not reschedule or reimburse my booking for free, will the Congress reimburse me?
  No. Neither ICM, nor the Congress Secretariat, C-IN, can be responsible for financial engagements undertaken by third parties.

The cancellation requests will be accepted from 9 December 2020.

The deadline for cancellation is 27 January 2021.

Requests for refunds made after 27 January 2021 will not be considered.

ICM Congress Secretariat apologizes for any inconveniences associated with the transfer of the Congress to a virtual format, and we are looking forward to sharing this exciting online experience with you next year.

Once you confirm your Virtual Registration or you fully transfer the Registration to the ICM 2023 congress – your Registration fee is non-refundable.

A refund will be proceeded within 30 days from receiving the refund request.

Plenary sessions and some other sessions will include interpretation into ICM’s three official languages of French, Spanish and English. Guidelines for how to access interpretation for these sessions will be provided.