Conference Program
7th National/ 1st Australasian HREC Conference
Annual Conference 2026
16–19 November 2026Human Research Ethics · Integrity · Excellence
Day 1
Monday, 16 November 2026
Pre-Conference Workshops
09:00 – 12:00
Workshop 1
Statistics for HRECs
Professor Adrian Barnett- Queensland University of Technology
12:00 – 14:00
Workshop 2
HREC Coordinators Session
Ms Sophie Gatenby- Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne
Ms Sara Hubbard- Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service
14:00 – 17:00
Workshop 3
Privacy Training in New Zealand and Australia
Emma Pond (Simply Privacy, NZ) · Andrea Calleia (Helios-Salinger)
Day 2
Tuesday, 17 November 2026
Main Conference — Opening & Plenary Sessions
09:00 – 09:30
Opening
Conference Opening
Welcome and Introductions, Adjunct Professor Gordon McGurk, Conference Organiser(
Acknowledgement of Country, A/Prof Greg Pratt, Central Queensland University(
Formal Conference Opening by Ms Lorraine Finlay, Australian Human Rights Commissioner
09:30 – 10:30
★ Keynote Address 1
Keynote Address 1
A/Prof Robyn Whittaker- University of Auckland/ Department of Health- AI Governance and Ethics in Health New Zealand
10:30 – 10:30
Morning Break
10:30 – 12:00
Session 1
AI in Research
Key Speaker-Professor Elif Eckmekci- European science Foundation- Use of AI in Vaccine Research
12:00 – 12:30
Lunch Break
12:30 – 14:00
Session 2
AI in Ethics Review
Key Speaker-Mr Joel Seah- National University of Singapore- Chat IRB for ethics committees-the ethical imperative
14:00 – 14:30
Afternoon Break
14:30 – 16:30
Session 3
Data, Biospecimens and Privacy in Research
Key Speaker-Dr Lara Harvey- Centre for Big Data Research, University of Sydney- From eMR to Research-ready Registries: Balancing Innovation, Privacy and Research Value
Ms Sonja Read- Minter Ellison- Updates to Commonwealth Privacy legislation, and how recent caselaw will change the role of HRECs
Day 3
Wednesday, 18 November 2026
Main Conference — Quality & HREC Leadership
08:00 – 09:00
Chairs Only
HREC Chairs Meeting
09:00 – 10:00
★ Keynote Address 2
Keynote Address 2
Ms Elizabeth Tydd — Australian Information Commissioner
10:00 – 10:30
Morning Break
10:30 – 12:00
Session 4
Maintaining Quality in Ethics Review
Key Speaker-A/Prof Emma Tumilty- Deakin University- What would it mean for HRECS to be Learning Institutions engaged in Continuous Quality Improvement
Adjunct Prof Gordon McGurk- Southern Cross University- Making the most of the ethics review process- from timeframes to AI
Round Table Discussion-Filling the Gap in a System under Strain
12:00 – 12:30
Lunch Break
12:30 – 14:00
Session 5
Participant-Focused Research and Review
Key speaker- TBC-NZ- How is research with Indigenous peoples reviewed in Aotearoa New Zealand; principles and practice across the sector’
A/Prof Sarah Wallace-University of Queensland- Accessible by Design: Consumer Co-Design and Person-Centred Information in Aphasia Research
Lisa Curry – Murrumbidgee Local Health District- Engagement of Aboriginal Communities in clinical trials and other research
14:00 – 14:30
Afternoon Break
14:30 – 16:00
Session 6
Consent, Evolution and Validity
Prof Michael Martin- Australian National University — Consent in an AI world
TBC — How the legal approach to consent is evolving in an automated paradigm
16:00 – 17:00
Round Table
HREC Chairs Round Table: Current Issues Facing HRECs
Day 4
Thursday, 19 November 2026
Final Day — Abstract Sessions & Conference Close
09:00 – 10:00
★ Keynote Address 3
Keynote Address 3
A/Prof Kalinda Griffiths, UNSW — Collecting Indigenous Data in Clinical Trials
10:00 – 10:30
Morning Break
10:30 – 12:00
Session 7
Concurrent Abstract Session 1
Priya Duggal- Children’s Medical Research Institute-Establishing a customised ethics and governance platform for an independent medical research institute
A/Prof Amy Nisselle- University of Queensland- Empowering HRECs to review genomics applications
12:00 – 13:30
Session 8
Legislation, Regulation and External Factors Affecting HRECs
A/Prof Stephen Adelstein, Chair, Australian Health Ethics Committee— How AHEC is supporting HRECs
Dr Michael Swarbrick, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing — Quality Standards for HRECs
13:30 – 14:00
Afternoon Break
14:00 – 15:30
Session 9
Concurrent Abstract Session 2
16:00 – 17:00
🏆 Awards & Close
Rob Loblay Award Presentation & Conference Close
