Pre-Conference Activities
Tuesday, 8 September 2026
There’s no better way to kick‑start the Conference than by joining a Pre‑Conference Activity on 8 September 2026!
Delivered in small, interactive groups, these workshops and modules give you the opportunity to dive deeper into a topic, ask questions, and learn alongside peers who share your interests.
With registrations limited, these sessions create a welcoming and engaging environment, perfect for meaningful conversations, early networking, and forming connections before the Conference officially begins.
Register early so you don't miss out!
How to register for the pre-conference workshops and ARMS modules?
Already registered for the Conference or submitted an abstract? Please log in to the account that was created for the Conference and select your desired activity.
Do not have an account yet? Create one and simply select your desired workshop, masterclass, module, or tour through the registration portal.
Pre-Conference Workshop
Co-Designing Stage-Appropriate Support for Research Translation and Impact
Jonathan Lacey
Cruxes Innovation
Research management professionals are increasingly expected to help researchers design, secure funding, and deliver research that creates tangible societal, economic, environmental, and/or cultural impact. Yet this work is becoming more complex as expectations for engagement, translation, partnership development, and impact evidence continue to grow within a constrained research development and innovation ecosystem. While many universities offer researcher development programs, industry engagement initiatives, impact frameworks, and translation support, researchers pursuing non-academic impact often do not yet know what support they need. As a result, guidance can be misaligned with the maturity of the researcher, project, partnership, or impact pathway. This interactive workshop introduces an evidence-informed Research Translation to Impact framework and repeatable methodology for clarifying translation readiness and co-designing stage-appropriate support. Participants will apply a human-centred and systems lens to better understand researcher capability, impact identity, partnership readiness, and pathways to adoption. Through practical application of tools including the Adoptic Research Translation to Impact Framework, Researcher Impact and Innovation Persona measure, and Researcher Translation Readiness framework, participants will explore how to better align researcher development, partnership support, and impact planning with individual, project, and institutional priorities. The workshop will support participants to strengthen engagement, enable more effective collaborative partnerships, and optimise evidence-based research impact support programs.
09:30AM - 12:30PM
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Room 8
Member: $280 / Non-Member: $380
ARMS Elective Module
Module 2.4: Navigating Agreements: A Guide for Research Management Professionals
Dr Dora Horvath Swinburne University
The Navigating Agreements module is intended to provide the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to understand the role of, and effectively manage, agreements in research administration across the research project lifecycle. The module aims to provide participants with an understanding of the different types of agreements used in research, the key components of an agreement, and the legal and financial implications of each component. Participants will learn how to identify potential risks and liabilities associated with agreements and develop strategies to mitigate those risks. They will also gain an understanding of the negotiation process and strategies to ensure favorable terms for their institution. Additionally, the module will cover skills related to agreement drafting and review, compliance and regulatory issues, and monitoring and tracking agreement compliance through to completion. The module is designed to provide all research management professionals with the tools and knowledge to understand and manage agreements throughout the lifecycle of a research project, from planning and proposals, to project setup, project management and closeout. Participants will be able to see how successful project outcomes can be achieved through good planning and the careful management of the agreement, while delivering value to the researcher and their organisation and protecting them both from potential legal and financial risks. Key learning objectives By the end of this module research management professionals will be able to: - Understand the purpose and importance of agreements across the research project lifecycle. - Understand the purpose of different types of agreements commonly used in research. - Understand the key components of an agreement and the legal implications of each. - Identify potential risks and liabilities associated with agreements in research management. - Understand the process of agreement review and execution. - Understand the role of compliance and regulatory issues in agreement management. - Develop skills in monitoring and tracking agreement compliance. - Understand the role and responsibilities of research management professionals in the management and monitoring of research agreements. - Understand the role of research management professionals in managing agreements during the closeout stage of the research project lifecycle, including closeout activities and managing remaining contractual obligations.
09:30AM - 12:30PM
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Room 7
Member: $450 / Non-Member: $550
Pre-Conference Workshop
The Research Strategy Toolkit:
Navigating Design of Major Initiatives
Vesna Stefanovski
La Trobe University
Lucy Donaldson
Monash University
Liz Visher
The University of Sydney
Major research initiatives rarely succeed because of process alone. They succeed when people bring others together, build trust, influence decisions, and create momentum around building national capability. This workshop challenges participants to think beyond operational delivery and consider how they can become strategic enablers of collaboration, institutional priorities, and research success. As funding landscapes shift and opportunities emerge across programs such as ARC, NHMRC, MRFF and Horizon Europe, research managers are increasingly being asked to navigate uncertainty, work across teams, influence without formal authority, identify opportunities, and support researchers through success, setbacks, and changing priorities. These skills are becoming just as important as understanding funding schemes and institutional processes. Using a combination of strategic frameworks, interactive exercises, facilitated problem-solving, and institutional scenarios, participants will examine how to move from coordinating activity to shaping outcomes. The workshop will challenge participants to think critically about influence, partnership development, stakeholder engagement, and the role research managers play in building organisational capability. Participants will explore approaches to working across complex institutional environments and supporting major research initiatives from concept through to delivery. Whether supporting major funding initiatives, building collaborations, or expanding strategic influence, participants will leave with practical approaches, peer insights, and perspectives that can be adapted to their own institutional context.
1:30PM - 05:00PM
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Room 8
Member: $280 / Non-Member: $380
ARMS Elective Module
Module 2.2 Post Award Processes
Sharon York
Edith Cowan University
The purpose of this module is to provide research management professionals with an insight into the process of effective post-award administration, from contract negotiation through to the close of a project. This module provides an understanding of the key role a research management professional plays in in the relationship between a funding agency, the organisation and the researcher including understanding the hierarchy of compliance associated with post-award administration in the Australasian research environment. Participants will become familiar with the common terms used in research agreements and the required steps in the initiation of a contract to ensure that the interests of the organisation, researcher, and funding agency are all met. The module also covers the usual course of contract management and the deviations acceptable to funding agencies; common funding types and the key principles that underpin these; and the common types of agreements used in research management and when these agreements are required. Key learning outcomes By the end of this modules, participants will have mastered the basics of the following: - Understanding the key role and administrator plays in the relationship between a funding agency, the organisation and the researcher; - The hierarchy of compliance associated with post award administration in the Australasian research environment; - Familiarisation with the common terms used in research agreements; - The required steps in the initiation of a contract to ensure that the interests of the organisation, researcher and foundation agency are all met; - The usual course of contract management and the deviations acceptable to funding agencies; - Common funding types and the key principles that underpin these; and - The common types of agreements used in research management and when these agreements are required.
1:30PM - 5:00PM
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Room 7
Member: $450 / Non-Member: $550
09:30am - 11:30AM or 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre - Plaza Entry Level 1
$60
Oh Hey WA Discover Perth Walking Tours
This 2‑hour Discover Perth Walking Tour provides an engaging overview of the city, covering its history, architecture, contemporary culture and public artwork.
Led by a friendly, passionate Oh Hey WA guide, the tour shares fascinating local stories, insider insights and personalised recommendations to help you experience the best of Perth. Highlights include Yagan Square / ECU City, Forrest Place, London Court, Elizabeth Quay, and Barrack Square / The Bell Tower.
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Easy‑paced walking tour (maximum approx. 2km)
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Toilet breaks provided
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Coffee included
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Suitable for most fitness levels