My very first NAFEMS World Congress was less than a year after I joined the organisation. 2003, Orlando, Florida, and my first trip to the USA. I’ll always remember arriving late and marvelling at the size of the sandwich presented to me in the hotel (with a free pickle!) as well as the taste of full-fat, full-sugar Vanilla Coke. I’ve never quite recovered, or had the same sandwich again.

A “World Congress” was terminology I’d never quite encountered before, and it had me wondering exactly what to expect. Back in those days, it was a slightly smaller affair – around 140 delegates were part of it in 2003, a number which these days you can sometimes find within one parallel track at NWC. The growth in the event has mirrored NAFEMS own growth in the intervening period. We now routinely expect around 700 attendees at our flagship event, coming from all corners of the globe for three packed days talking about simulation. But you’ve heard all of those numbers before, so what does that really mean?

This article appeared in the October 2026 Issue of BENCHMARK.