The Global Botanic Gardens Congress is the premier international event for botanic gardens, held every three years. The congress is organised by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and hosted by a member garden. BGCI is proud to be working with the Dunedin Botanic Garden and the Dunedin City Council as the hosts of the 5th Congress. BGCI is a worldwide networking organisation linking botanic gardens in the world’s largest plant conservation network, providing vision and leadership for botanic gardens around the world. The congress provides a unique opportunity for the community to come together to share ideas and experiences and to develop priorities and strategies for the future. For more than 450 years, botanic gardens have been at the forefront of human understanding and knowledge of plants and the environment in which they live. In recent times, however, concerns have grown over the global effect of human activities and the degradation of our natural environment. Botanic gardens influence and appeal to us throughout our lives, from early childhood through to adulthood. This can be seen in the classroom, in community outreach and restoration programmes, and in neighbourhood recreational resources and green spaces. Information generated by botanic gardens contributes to environmental advocacy, and provides a source of knowledge and expertise in political debating chambers and the development of international agendas. The themes of this Congress are to celebrate our successes, and to discuss new challenges. Botanic gardens are increasingly looking ‘beyond the garden walls’ and engaging with new audiences. They are responding to and creating horticultural change and are at the forefront of botanical science and innovation. During the Congress, we will have the opportunity to reflect on these issues and develop a new agenda for botanic gardens, addressing conservation and sustainability in a time of global change.