The Conference on Optics, Atoms, and Laser Applications (KOALA) is a week long, non-profit, student-only conference. It began in 2008 to give postgraduates and PhD students in optics, photonics, quantum, and laser applications a platform to present research and network with peers and industry leaders. With around 100 attendees in recent years, KOALA is the leading student conference in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Returning from Australia to Auckland for the first time in a decade, KOALA 2025 coincides with the UNESCO International Year of Quantum Science and Technology — making this year’s event especially significant.