CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Explore the program by day. Select a program session to view its speakers and further details.
* Program subject to change. Correct as of 18 August 2026.
Program Session
Joint Sessions / Social
Break / Networking
Workshop
Pre-Conference
Conference
Monday 31 August 2026
Pre-Conference
Pre-Conference Workshop (Optional)
Day 1: Tuesday 1 September 2026
9:00 AM
to
9:25 AM
Conference Opening
View session details
to
9:25 AM
Opening Remarks
Welcome to Country
Message from the Minister
9:25 AM
to
9:45 AM
Setting the Scene: What Has Changed Since AVVCC24?
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to
9:45 AM
Introduction
Jennifer Herz
Co-founder and Director, Biointelect
Co-founder and Director, Biointelect
9:45 AM
to
10:15 AM
Keynote Opening
View session details
to
10:15 AM
Keynote Speaker
Professor Zoe Wainer
Director-General, Australian Centre for Disease Control
Director-General, Australian Centre for Disease Control
10:15 AM
to
10:35 AM
to
10:35 AM
Morning Tea and Networking
10:35 AM
to
10:45 AM
Recorded Presentation
Update from the Health & Medical Research Office
View session details
to
10:45 AM
Recorded Presentation
Nicole Beard
Principal Research Scientist, Department of Health & Aged Care
Principal Research Scientist, Department of Health & Aged Care
10:45 AM
to
12:30 PM
Keynote and Panel Discussion
Funding Discovery Research and Product Development to Be Investment Ready
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to
12:30 PM
Chair
Professor Paul Young
Professor of Virology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland
Professor of Virology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland
Keynote Speaker
Dr Jean-François Toussaint
Global Head of Vaccine Research and Development, Sanofi
Global Head of Vaccine Research and Development, Sanofi
Panellists
Professor Robyn Langham AM
Chief Medical Adviser, Therapeutic Goods Administration
Chief Medical Adviser, Therapeutic Goods Administration
Professor Jamie Triccas
Professor of Medical Microbiology, University of Sydney
Closing the gap between research and manufacturing: building an mRNA vaccine pipeline in Australia
Professor of Medical Microbiology, University of Sydney
Closing the gap between research and manufacturing: building an mRNA vaccine pipeline in Australia
Dr Trent Munro
Venture Partner, Brandon Capital
Venture Partner, Brandon Capital
Dr Craig Rayner AM
Chief Executive Officer, Oktopi
Chief Executive Officer, Oktopi
12:30 PM
to
2:00 PM
Lunch and Networking
View poster presentations
to
2:00 PM
1
Angus Forster
From Investigational to Industrial: Sovereign Manufacturing Capacity Is Built - Activation Is a Policy Choice
2
Janelle Bryce
From RNA Innovation to Clinical-Ready Manufacture: Delivering Scalable Vaccine Platforms Through Industry-Academic Collaboration
3
Jake Baum
Disruptive Needle-Free Vaccinology: Oral distributable vaccines for global health
4
Fatema Kalyar
Mapping Vaccine Misinformation Across Six Social Media Platforms: A Cross-Sector Infodemiology Analysis of Themes and Sentiment.
5
Jessica Kaufman
Declining vaccine confidence among Australian parents: insights from annual national surveys about routine and influenza vaccines
6
Jamie Pillaye
De-risking Early-Stage Bacterial Vaccine Innovation: BactiVac's Approach to Supporting Investment-Ready Development
2:00 PM
to
3:30 PM
Keynote and Panel Discussion
Aligning Needs for Regional Health Security and Sovereign Capability in Manufacturing
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to
3:30 PM
Chair
Professor Andrew Robertson CSC PSM
School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia and former WA Chief Health Officer
School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia and former WA Chief Health Officer
Keynote Speaker
Rear Admiral Sonya Bennett
Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General Australian Defence Force
Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General Australian Defence Force
Recorded Presentation
Luigi Bonfatti
Executive Advisor to Managing Director, RVMC (Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative)
Executive Advisor to Managing Director, RVMC (Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative)
Panellists
Dr Felicia Pradera
Director, Regional Research Centre and Strategic Alliances, Moderna
Director, Regional Research Centre and Strategic Alliances, Moderna
Emma Prato
Program Leader, Medical Countermeasures, Health Security Systems Australia
Vaccine platform diversity as a strategic driver for ensuring regional health resilience
Program Leader, Medical Countermeasures, Health Security Systems Australia
Vaccine platform diversity as a strategic driver for ensuring regional health resilience
Dr Samira Hassan
Assistant Secretary, Health Security and Medical Countermeasures
Assistant Secretary, Health Security and Medical Countermeasures
3:30 PM
to
4:00 PM
to
4:00 PM
Afternoon Tea and Networking
4:00 PM
to
5:30 PM
Oral Abstract Presentations
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5:30 PM
Chair
Dr Megan Astle
Science and Deputy Director of Biosecurity, CSIRO
Science and Deputy Director of Biosecurity, CSIRO
Speaker
Catherine Osborne
From Vial to Vaccine: Sterile Manufacturing for Trial Readiness
From Vial to Vaccine: Sterile Manufacturing for Trial Readiness
Speaker
Antonio Hellebuyck
Accelerating Protection: Lessons Learned from Designing and Delivering Vaccine Clinical Trials
Accelerating Protection: Lessons Learned from Designing and Delivering Vaccine Clinical Trials
Speaker
Jerneen Williams
Strengthening Australia’s Role in Global Vaccine Trial Delivery
Strengthening Australia’s Role in Global Vaccine Trial Delivery
Speaker
Andrew Brockway
From Discovery to Investment Readiness: Leveraging Human Challenge Models and Integrated Infrastructure to Accelerate Vaccine Development
From Discovery to Investment Readiness: Leveraging Human Challenge Models and Integrated Infrastructure to Accelerate Vaccine Development
Speaker
Kylie Hewson
Accelerating Veterinary Vaccines: Progress Since the First AVVC
Accelerating Veterinary Vaccines: Progress Since the First AVVC
Speaker
Katie Asplin
Vaccine Value Chain: Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Animal Health Sector
Vaccine Value Chain: Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Animal Health Sector
Panel Discussion
Vaccine Value Chains for One Health
6:00 PM
to
11:00 PM
Conference Dinner
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to
11:00 PM
Venue
Strangers’ Room, Parliament House Sydney - 6 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000
Commences
6:00 PM
Concludes
11:00 PM
Dress
Smart casual attire
Included
Included with all Full Conference registrations.
Day 2: Wednesday 2 September 2026
8:30 AM
to
10:00 AM
Keynote and Panel Discussion
Data and Capacity Building
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to
10:00 AM
Chair
Professor Jodie McVernon
Professor and Director of Doherty Epidemiology; Head, VIDRL Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases
Professor and Director of Doherty Epidemiology; Head, VIDRL Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases
Keynote Speaker
Dr Arminder Deol
Head of Data Science and Advanced Analysis, CEPI
Head of Data Science and Advanced Analysis, CEPI
Panellists
Professor Miles Davenport
Program Head, Infection Analytics Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney
Program Head, Infection Analytics Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney
Professor Bette Liu
Associate Director, Population Health and Senior Medical Officer, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia
Associate Director, Population Health and Senior Medical Officer, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia
Allan Burr
AI Lead for EPIWATCH
AI Lead for EPIWATCH
Associate Professor Helen Petousis-Harris
Co-Director, Global Vaccine Data Network, University of Auckland
Building Real-Time Vaccine Intelligence Systems: From Safety Signals to Policy Decisions and Public Confidence
Co-Director, Global Vaccine Data Network, University of Auckland
Building Real-Time Vaccine Intelligence Systems: From Safety Signals to Policy Decisions and Public Confidence
10:00 AM
to
10:30 AM
to
10:30 AM
Morning Tea and Networking
10:30 AM
to
12:00 PM
Keynote and Panel Discussion
Tackling Vaccine Access Challenges and Uptake Resistance
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to
12:00 PM
Chair
Professor Helen Marshall
Director, Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Group and NHMRC Leadership Fellow, University of Adelaide
Director, Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Group and NHMRC Leadership Fellow, University of Adelaide
Keynote Speaker
Professor Lotte Steuten
Deputy Chief Executive, Office of Health Economics
Deputy Chief Executive, Office of Health Economics
Panellists
Bianca Devsam
Researcher and PhD Candidate, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Vaccine Exemptions in Australia: Where Policy Falls Short of Practice
Researcher and PhD Candidate, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Vaccine Exemptions in Australia: Where Policy Falls Short of Practice
Professor James Ward
Director, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health
Director, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health
Klara Henderson
New Products and Access Senior Adviser, Global Health Funds, Multilateral Health Branch, Global Health and Education Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
New Products and Access Senior Adviser, Global Health Funds, Multilateral Health Branch, Global Health and Education Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Milena Dalton
Deputy Head, International Development; Head, Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening
Training Vaccine Champions in Eastern Highlands and Morobe, Papua New Guinea
Deputy Head, International Development; Head, Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening
Training Vaccine Champions in Eastern Highlands and Morobe, Papua New Guinea
12:00 PM
to
1:00 PM
Lunch and Networking
View poster presentations
to
1:00 PM
7
Anne Collins
From Product to Platform: Re-thinking Vaccine Capability, Readiness and Investment
8
Megan Steain
Cross-Protective Immunity Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccination: Implications for Developing Pandemic Vaccines
9
Craig Rayner
Closing the Governance Gap: Co-creating Vaccine Decision Infrastructure
1:00 PM
to
2:30 PM
Keynote and Panel Discussion
Sponsored by
Pandemic Preparedness Session
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to
2:30 PM
Keynote and Panel Discussion
Sponsored by
Pandemic Preparedness Session
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Chair
Dr Kerry Chant
Chief Health Officer, NSW Health
Chief Health Officer, NSW Health
Keynote Speaker
Hon Professor Jane Halton
Chair, CEPI
Chair, CEPI
Panellists
Emily Harper
Deputy Director-General, Australian Centre for Disease Control
Deputy Director-General, Australian Centre for Disease Control
Sue MacLeman
Chair, Medicines Australia
Chair, Medicines Australia
Professor Sharon Lewin
Director, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Director, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Professor Robyn Langham AM
Chief Medical Adviser, Therapeutic Goods Administration
Chief Medical Adviser, Therapeutic Goods Administration
2:30 PM
to
3:00 PM
to
3:00 PM
Afternoon Tea and Networking
3:00 PM
to
4:30 PM
Keynote and Panel Discussion
Sponsored by
International and Regional Collaboration
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to
4:30 PM
Keynote and Panel Discussion
Sponsored by
International and Regional Collaboration
View session details
Chair
Dr Stephanie Williams
Assistant Director-General, Communicable Diseases Branch, Australian Centre for Disease Control
Assistant Director-General, Communicable Diseases Branch, Australian Centre for Disease Control
Keynote Speaker
Jerome H. Kim, M.D.
Director General, International Vaccine Institute
Director General, International Vaccine Institute
Panellists
Professor Denise Doolan
Director of Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience
From Discovery to Community: An International Collaboration for Next-Generation Malaria Vaccine Development
Director of Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience
From Discovery to Community: An International Collaboration for Next-Generation Malaria Vaccine Development
Professor Adam Cunningham
Professor of Functional Immunity, University of Birmingham
The BactiVac Model as a Blueprint to Strengthen Global and Regional Collaboration and Accelerate Bacterial Vaccine Development
Professor of Functional Immunity, University of Birmingham
The BactiVac Model as a Blueprint to Strengthen Global and Regional Collaboration and Accelerate Bacterial Vaccine Development
Angus Forster
Chief Technology Officer, Vaxxas
The International Engine Behind Australian R&D: Why Global Partnerships Are the Pathway to Sovereign Capability
Chief Technology Officer, Vaxxas
The International Engine Behind Australian R&D: Why Global Partnerships Are the Pathway to Sovereign Capability
4:30 PM
to
5:00 PM
to
5:00 PM
Closing Session