PTA-C News

Program

OUR PROGRAM

Please view the table below for an overview of the program.
VIEW PROGRAM

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Check back regularly as speakers are announced

Speaker 1

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Speaker 2

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INVITED SPEAKERS

Justin Meredith

PTA: Co-Chair

Madeline O'Donoghue

PTA: Co-Chair

Chami Gunasinghe

PTA: Secretariat

Tony
Bhalla

Revvity: Committee Member

Nicola
Brown

QIAGEN: Committee Member

Richard Harrison

MGI: Committee Member

Paul
Maguire

Siemens: Committee Member

Annie Melkonian

Cepheid: Committee Member

Alex Stephenson-Brown

Stago: Committee Member

Brad
Walsh

Minomic: Committee Member
Check back regularly as speakers are announced

PTAC Unleashing Pathology Technology: Transforming Patient Care, Delivering Affordable Solutions

Introducing the Technology in Healthcare Congress: A Pathology Technology Showcase and Thought Leadership Forum

Delivery of healthcare equitably, economically, and at scale in all jurisdictions requires communication and collaboration across a breadth of stakeholders. PTA-C/24 is an important opportunity to bring these stakeholders together to address some of the big health system challenges we face:

Access & Equity – does your postcode dictate your healthcare outcome?

Multi-omics and technology evolution – how do we integrate rapidly evolving technology to benefit all?

Saving lives, the economy, and the planet – what role does technology play in addressing global challenges?

This congress will unite healthcare professionals across disciplines. It provides a platform for knowledge exchange, professional networking, and interdisciplinary discussions, helping healthcare professionals stay informed about industry trends and contribute to a more cohesive and patient-centric healthcare journey.

Adopting a drill down format - plenary lecture to set the scene, panel discussion to showcase component parts, and breakout workshops encouraging delegates to add their expertise – the congress will result in recommendations to drive the policy and infrastructure of our healthcare system towards much-needed evolution to improve healthcare delivery.

We invite you to participate in a discussion forum focused on meaningful change to drive Australia’s health system towards equality, sustainability, and a focus on improved patient outcomes at a lower total cost to the economy.

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

CONTRIBUTORS

Check back regularly as speakers and subject matter experts are added to the agenda.

Plenary Speakers

"The technology revolution - have Australians been left behind?"

Prof Patrick Tan

Executive Director, Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE)
Senior Vice-Dean (Research) Duke-NUS Medical School, Chief Scientific Officer, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Patrick is an internationally renowned cancer researcher and pioneer for the possibilities of genomics in healthcare.

Access & Equity:  “Healthcare and the Postcode Lottery - Bridging the Gap for All Australians”

Dr Robert Grenfell

Chief Strategy & Regions Grampians Health
Rob has specialist expertise in health system analysis, strategic planning, governance, health risk management, and equity-focused care. He is passionate about access to healthcare in rural communities and bringing innovative systems to improve equity in regional settings.

Technology-driven solutions: saving lives, saving the planet, and solving problem

Dr Amandeep Hansra

Digital Health Advisor Australian Digital Health Agency & Co-Founder Australian Medical Angels
Fellow of the RACGP, Australian Digital Health Institute and Co-founder of Australian Medical Angels. Amandeep is a leader in digital health and innovation. A GP with 18 years clinical experience she is known for her work as a digital health consultant, entrepreneur, and investor.

HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO
To invest or keep the status quo: why do we need diagnostics technology, sovereign capability and resilience?"

Co-ordinated by Sue MacLeman

 

TEAM A

Dean Whiting

Dr Gordon Reid MP

Prof Paul Griffin

Louise Talbot

Dr Amanda Cuss

Liz De Somer

Deidre Mackechnie

TEAM B

Justin Meredith

Jerome Laxale MP

Dr Robert Grenfell

Prof Rebecca Guy

Mary Warner

Dr Erin Evans

Krystal Barter

Panel Speakers

Access & Equity: "Tech-Centric Healthcare - A Cure for Our Health Crisis?"

Chair

Dr Andrew St John

Chair of IFCC Committee for Value Proposition in Laboratory Medicine
Andrew is a clinical biochemist with experience across Europe, Asia, and Australia including managing consumer information site Pathology Tests Explained. Andrew’s interests include point of care testing and how to determine economic value in medical testing.

Panellists:

Melissa McIntosh MP

Deputy Chair HoR Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care & Sport
A member of Federal Parliament since 2019, Melissa became the Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in May, 2022 and the Deputy Chair of the Hor Health Committee later the same year. She brings a voice of the Federal Opposition government and Health Committee to the panel discussion.

Prof Charlotte Hespe

Head of General Practice, Sydney School of Medicine UNDA
Specialist Clinical General Practitioner and Board Member for Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network, Charlotte is passionate about improving healthcare service delivery to all Australians, and brings the voice of a GP to the panel.

Dr Robert Grenfell

Chief Strategy & Regions Grampians Health
Specialist in health system analysis, strategic planning, governance, health risk management, and equity-focused care. Rob brings the voice of a clinician and general practitioner to the panel discussion.

A/Prof Philip Cunningham

OAM, COO Medical Research St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research
Philip has decades of experience working in the field of HIV with a passion for public health surveillance of at-risk populations. Philip brings the voice of a public pathology and specialist service provider to the panel discussion.

A/Prof Fei Sim

Curtin Medical Centre & National President and Chair Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
A practising pharmacist, pharmacist immuniser, and accredited Mental Health First Aid Instructor Fei is committed to advancing the health of Australians through excellence in pharmacist practice and medicine safety through a multidisciplinary team care approach. Fei brings the voice of a pharmacist to the panel discussion.

Megan Campbell

Medical Advisor NACHHO Australia
Megan works with Aboriginal people and organisations to strengthen the cultural capability and responsiveness of the health system. Committed to evidence-informed health policy, health equity and sustainable practices, she brings the voice of a Public Health Physician to the panel discussion.

Ray Kelly

Researcher and PhD candidate, University of Melbourne
Ray is a Kamilaroi man with over 32 years’ experience in the health and sports industries, and an MRFF recipient for research into type 2 diabetes in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Ray brings the voice of applied research to the panel discussion.

Multi-omics and the technology revolution: “From Bench to Bedside: the winding path of Adoption of multi-omic Technology”

Professor David Thomas

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Omico
David has extensive training and expertise in medical oncology. As a clinician-scientist, his focus is on the application of genomic technologies to the understanding and management of cancer, particularly sarcoma. David brings the voice of a clinician and researcher to the panel discussion.

Dr Jane Tiller

Ethical, Legal & Social Advisor Monash University
A lawyer, genetic counsellor, and public health researcher, Jane has a keen interest in the regulatory and ethical aspects of genomics. Currently championing for removal of insurance discrimination risk for recipients of genetic tests, Jane brings the voice of a lawyer and ethicist to the panel.

Dr Kym Mina

Director Genomics, Healius Pathology
Having worked in both public and private laboratory practice and in academia, across multiple jurisdictions in Australia and New Zealand, Kym is interested in the safe and clinically appropriate translation of genomic technologies to all fields of medical care and brings the voice of a genetic pathologist to the panel discussion.

Prof Stephen Fox

Director Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Stephen has developed and implemented novel molecular cancer testing from research to diagnostic laboratories, with experience and influence in health policy and testing guidelines in AU and the UK. Peter brings the voice of a genomic specialist to the panel discussion.

Neil Everest

Senior Medical Advisor, Office of Health Technology Assessment
After spending over 10 year in paediatric medicine Neil moved into the Department of Health – starting with the TGA in premarket medicines authorisation before moving into the office of health technology assessment. Neil brings his wealth of experience in HTA processes to the panel discussion.

Enzo Ranieri

GenSCAN Deputy Chair, Principle Scientist, Head of NSW Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program
Having worked in genetic and molecular pathology research at SA Pathology identifying new biomarkers in different pathologies, Enzo leads public health screening initiatives for pre-symptomatic detection of diseases to enable early clinical intervention and targeted treatment. Enzo brings the voice of newborn screening expert to the panel discussion.

Tackling global challenges: "Shifting the paradigm: 'Pathology a cost or a vital investment?' - overcoming the barriers of new technology adoption"

A/Prof Amith Shetty

Clinical Director System Sustainability & Performance, NSW Ministry of Health
A distinguished healthcare administrator, clinician and informatician, Amith manages health service delivery, healthcare quality and safety, models of care design, value creation and evaluation through innovative approaches to healthcare delivery. Amith brings the voice of clinician strategist to the panel.

Professor Louise Cullen

Pre-Eminent Staff Specialist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
A clinical trialist and outcomes researcher in acute diseases, Louise is involved in the translation of research by clinical redesign and innovation. She investigates methods to use medications and other resources in the ED wisely. Louise brings a voice of clinician and researcher to the panel discussion.

Dr Colman Taylor

Chief Vision Officer and Founder HTANALYSTS
Colman is a healthcare reimbursement and impact expert with a background working across government, industry and academia. Colman has over a decade of experience in healthcare innovation and brings the voice of a health economist to the panel discussion.

Professor Branwen Morgan

Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Lead, CSIRO
A career that bridges academic organisations, publicly listed companies, government, and NGOs in the UK and Australia, across communications, project management, and Director roles. Branwen holds broad biomedical knowledge, digital understanding, and has a strong focus on AMR. Branwen brings a voice of strategist to the panel.

Martin Canova

Executive Director Strategy & Transformation, NSW Health
Martin has more than 20 years’ health experience as a clinician, healthcare consultant and health manager in both government and private organisations in Australia. He leads strategic planning and capital infrastructure redevelopment as well Statewide Point of Care Testing and Genomics services. Martin brings a voice of local government to the panel discussion.

Jo Taranto

Managing Director, Good for the Hood
Jo leads sustainable education initiatives with community, local government, and industry to inspire behaviour change towards sustainability goals. Passionate about inspiring ordinary people to create extraordinary change, Jo brings a voice of circular economy expert to the panel.

 

WORKSHOP SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

Access & Equity:

Solutions for all, including indigenous, rural, and hard to reach communities

A/Prof Philip Cunningham

Megan Campbell

Expanding Access to Pathology Services: Embracing Innovations in Healthcare Delivery

Prof Charlotte Hespe

A/Prof Fei Sim

Dr Andrew St John

Keeping Patients Out of the Hospital: Arresting cascading health conditions

A/Prof Amith Shetty

Dr Robert Grenfell

Ray Kelly

Multi-omics and the technology revolution:

Evolving the System: Funding and Infrastructure for the technology revolution

Dr Jane Tiller

Kym Mina

Enzo Ranieri

Up Close & Personal: deep dive into personalised care models

Prof David Thomas

Diana Nielson

Krystal Barter

Learning from Our Neighbours: where in the world is best-practice integration of multi-omics into healthcare?

Franz Pichler

Prof Stephen Fox

Tackling global challenges:

Patient-centric Technology: Putting Patients at the Heart of Innovation

Prof Louise Cullen

A/Prof Coman Taylor

Deidre Mackechnie

Addressing Global Priorities: From Defence and Antibiotic Stewardship to Green Economies

Prof Branwen Morgan

Prof Paul Griffin

Jo Taranto

Driving Efficiency: Automation and Digital Enablers

Madhuri Hegde

Adam Zembrzuski

Prof Amith Shetty

MONDAY 11th MARCH
18:00-20:30 HERITAGE: Welcome Reception and Networking
TUESDAY 12th MARCH
7:50-8:45 TRIBECA: Revvity Sponsored Breakfast Session
8:50-9:25 TRIBUTE: Welcome to Country and Opening Ceremony
With remarks from Minister for Health – Hon Mark Butler
9:25-10:10 TRIBUTE: Opening Keynote (P1)
"Technology driven solutions - saving lives, saving the planet, and solving problems"
10:10-10:40 HERITAGE: Morning Tea & Industry Exhibition
10:40 – 11:55 TRIBUTE: Panel Discussion (D1)
Changing the perspective: "Cost or investment?" - overcoming the barriers of new technology adoption
12:00-12:45 TRIBUTE
Concurrent Workshop 1
Patient-centric technology innovation (self-collection, liquid vs tissue biopsies etc) 		SOHO
Concurrent Workshop 2
Addressing global priorities with technology-driven solutions (AMR, defense, biosecurity, green economies etc.) 		TRIBECA
Concurrent Workshop 3
Driving efficiency through automation, clinical/laboratory system support software & digital enablers
12:50-13:45 HERITAGE: Lunch & Industry Exhibition with VIP Lunchtime Speaker
13:45-14:45 TRIBECA: Future Lab Workshop - Bringing Healthcare into the Genome Era SOHO: Siemens Sponsored Session
14:45-15:15 TRIBUTE: Workshop Reports and Discussion
15:15-15:45 HERITAGE: Afternoon Tea & Industry Exhibition
15:45-17:00 TRIBUTE: Hypothetical: "To invest or keep the status quo: why do we need diagnostics technology, sovereign capability and resilience?"
WEDNESDAY 13th MARCH
7:50-8:45 TRIBECA: Becton Dickson Sponsored Breakfast Session
8:50-9:00 TRIBUTE: Opening Session
With remarks from Shadow Minister for Health – Hon Anne Ruston
9:00-9:30 TRIBUTE: Plenary (P2)
"The technology revolution - have Australians been left behind?”
9:30-9:50 HERITAGE: Morning Tea & Industry Exhibition
9:50-11:00 TRIBUTE: Panel Discussion (D2)
From bench to bedside - the path towards adoption of multi-omic technology
11:15-12:00 TRIBUTE
Concurrent Workshop 4
Evolving the system - funding & infrastructure for the technology revolution		 TRIBECA
Concurrent Workshop 5
Up close & personal - deep dive into targeted therapy		 SOHO
Concurrent Workshop 6
Learning from our neighbours - where in the world is best practice adoption of innovative technology?
12:00-12:50 HERITAGE: Lunch & Industry Exhibition with VIP Lunchtime Speaker
12:50-13:20 TRIBUTE: Workshop Reports and Discussion
13:20-14:05 TRIBUTE: Plenary (P3)
"Access & Equity - healthcare and the postcode lottery”
14:05-15:20 TRIBUTE: Panel Discussion (D3)
Does technology hold the answer to our healthcare crisis?
15:20-15:45 HERITAGE: Afternoon Tea & Industry Exhibition
15:45-16:30 TRIBUTE
Concurrent Workshop 7
Technology solutions for rural, remote, and indigenous communities		 TRIBECA
Concurrent Workshop 8
Expanding the definition of pathology services (emergency care clinics, pharmacies, GP-settings, bedside and more)		 SOHO
Keeping patients out of hospital - arresting development with screening, early diagnosis, and targeted treatment
16:35-17:15 Patient Panel Discussion and Closing Remarks

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

TUESDAY 12th MARCH
7:30-17:30 Registration Desk Open
7:45-8:45 Industry Sponsored Breakfast
8:45-9:15 Welcome to Country and Opening Ceremony
9:15-10:15 Opening Keynote
10:15 – 10:45 Morning Tea & Industry Exhibition
10:45 – 12:30 Concurrent Symposia 1 Concurrent Symposia 2
12:30 – 13:45 Lunch & Industry Exhibition Industry Sponsored Workshop
13:45 – 15:15 Concurrent Panel Discussion 1 Industry Sponsored Roundtable
15:15 – 15:45 Afternoon Tea & Industry Exhibition
15:45 – 17:00 Afternoon Symposium
17:00 – 19:00 Welcome Cocktail Networking & Industry Exhibition Sponsored By
WEDNESDAY 13th MARCH
7:30-15:45 Registration Desk Open
7:45-8:45 Industry Sponsored Breakfast
8:45-9:30 Day 2 Keynote
7:45-8:45 Industry Sponsored Breakfast
9:30-10:45 Concurrent Symposia 3 Concurrent Symposia 4
10:45 – 11:15 Morning Tea & Industry Exhibition
11:15 – 12:45 Concurrent Panel Discussion 3 Industry Sponsored Roundtable
12:45 – 13:45 Lunch & Industry Exhibition Industry Sponsored Workshop
13:45 – 15:15 Panel Discussion and Forum
15:15 – 15:45 Afternoon Tea & Industry Exhibition
15:45 – 16:45 Afternoon Symposium
16:45 – 17:15 Closing Remarks
18:30 – 22:00 Gala Dinner Sponsored By
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