This research looked at the annual UFBA conference with the following objectives:
- To provide a base-line measure of how effective the UFBA conference is in delivering a range of benefits to participants, the relevant brigades, and New Zealand Fire Service volunteers overall.
- To identify opportunities to improve the benefits delivered and increase overall appeal of conference.

The research found that the UFBA conference is important to the majority of both delegates and non-attending CFOs. The majority would recommend the conference to others, regardless of whether they had attended recently or not. Conference benefits are most strongly associated with networking and industry outcomes as opposed to individual or brigade benefits. To build further support the conference must better cater to operational aspects and the specific knowledge needs of individual brigades.