SPEAKERS
Are you ready to get inspired?
This year, we welcome a line‑up of speakers who bring energy, experience, and fresh thinking from across the research management community. They’ll share practical insights, real stories, and ideas you can put into practice and apply across your projects and teams.
Scroll down or click the button below to explore this year’s speakers and discover who you’ll be hearing from.
Professor Sarath Sriram FIEAust
Chef Scientist of Western Australia
Professor Sharath Sriram is the current Chief Scientist of Western Australia, a Professor with RMIT University, and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. Professor Sriram is a distinguished science and research leader, renowned for creating and delivering breakthrough technologies in the fields of nanoelectronics, sensors, and medical technologies. His work is primarily focused on translating advanced technology for healthcare applications, effectively bringing science fiction to reality. As the Chief Scientist of Western Australia, Professor Sriram provides independent, expert advice to the WA Government on topics important to the future of science and technology in the State.
Professor Sriram has led and coordinated a $60 million multi-user, interdisciplinary research facility and has led medical device prototyping and scale-up manufacturing initiatives, driving innovation and practical implementation in the medical technology sector. In addition to his technical and research contributions, Professor Sriram is an active contributor to science policy, with a particular focus on fostering innovation and developing long-term strategies. He is dedicated to supporting early- and mid-career researchers and is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion within the scientific community. Professor Sriram contributes extensively to science policy and advocacy. He was the President of the national peak body Science & Technology Australia, and served on the Board of Science & Technology Australia from 2018 to 2025. He delivered a National Press Club address on research translation, a connected innovation ecosystem, and mechanisms to maximise Australian R&D investment.
Keynote Session:
09 September 2026
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Dr Amohia Boulton
Director of Whakauae Research Services
Keynote Session:
10 September 2026
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Winthrop Professor Fiona M Wood FRACS AO
Director of the Burns Service of WA & the Burn Injury Research Unit
Founder, Fiona Wood Foundation
Prof. Dr. Fiona M. Wood has been a burns surgeon and researcher for over 30 years and is Director of the Burns Service of Western Australia. She is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Perth Children’s Hospital; Winthrop Professor in the School of Surgery at The University of Western Australia; and co-founder of the Fiona Wood Foundation (formerly The McComb Foundation). Professor Wood leads the Paediatric Burn Care team at Telethon Kids Institute and is Co-Head of the Perioperative Care Research Program.
Professor Wood’s has made a significant contribution with her work with co-inventor Marie Stoner, inventing the innovative ‘spray-on skin’ technique (Recell), awarded the Clunies Ross award by the ATSE.
Fiona was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2003 in recognition of the response to the Bai bombing. In 2004 she was awarded the Western Australia Citizen of the Year award for her contribution to Medicine in the field of burns research. Fiona was then named Australian of the Year for 2005. She is an Australian Living Treasure. She is a founding Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science and the 2022 Australian Society of Medical Research medallist. Her continued work has led to the being awarded an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and being inducted into the WA science hall of fame in 2024.
Learn more about Professor Fiona Wood by exploring this Q&A about her life and work.
The videos are hosted on and credited to the Fiona Wood Foundation.
Keynote Session:
11 September 2026
9:30am - 10:30am
We are living in a time where science and technology are advancing at an ever-increasing rate. The exponential growth in science and technology is awe inspiring. However, we need to engage in change with ethics and governance in place to ensure safety. Research requires partnerships with each idea being nurtured along a pipeline structured to provide support with an environment where the idea is tested with rigour.
Translation of innovation from research into practice is a long and complex journey. The journey of the “spray on skin cells” will be presented, exploring the partnerships along the journey, the platforms that were utilised, and how people are essential in powering research.
There is no substitute for focused flexible leadership driving engagement with stakeholders and collaborators in designing solutions. In this increasingly complex world, we must develop the capacity to harness the opportunities of advancing technologies in a safe, effective, and sustainable environment.
The concepts presented in a health context are mirrored across the research sectors as seen in the ‘Strategic Examination of Research and Development’ (SERD) in Australia. As we look to the future, the SERD will also be discussed.