The Society for Invertebrate Pathology annual meeting is the leading forum for the review of research and development of biopesticides and invertebrate pathology. Biopesticides based on baculoviruses such as Vivus and Gemstar have been of significant benefit to the cotton industry in management of Helicoverpa spp, but there remain very few researchers in Australia experienced in baculovirus biology. The conference encouraged new linkages between the attending researcher and international researchers in the field, increasing the flow of information into Australia. A showcase of current research findings through a presentation on the application of next generation sequencing and bioinformatics in the characterisation of diversity and evolution of the Australian baculoviruses in commercial production by AgBiTech Australia. This work has implications for the stability of virus isolates used in the Australian cotton industry and in the registration of this and other isolates as biopesticides.