Agenda
REGIONAL & EMERGING PRECINCTS BREAKFAST SHOWCASE 8AM-9AM
A series of short, dynamic presentations by executives representing emerging precincts from across the country. The showcase will provide a top-level summary of the key focus of each emerging precinct, where they are in their journey and what they are looking for.
This is a great way to get a snapshot of some lesser known precincts and highlight their unique offerings.
Precinct case study 1: The Arden Precinct
Hayden Welsh, Senior Investment Manager – Precincts, Department of Transport and Planning – Victorian Government
Precinct case study 2: Murrumbidgee Health & Knowledge Precinct
Maya De Mattia, Project Lead, Murrumbidgee Health and Knowledge Precinct
Precinct case study 3: Sydney North HealthCARE Innovation Precinct
Simon Radmore, Executive Director, Strategy & Office of the Chief Executive, Northern Sydney Local Health District
PLENARY KEYNOTE SESSION
9:00
Welcome to Country
9:05
Welcome to Melbourne Connect
9:10
Ministerial keynote address
The Hon. Danny Pearson MP, Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Minister for Finance
CHAIR: Councillor Andrew Rowse, Portfolio head for Innovation and Education and portfolio deputy for City Economy and Business, City of Melbourne
9:20
PANEL | Melbourne’s collaborative precincts: Driving innovation ecosystems
- Strategic Investment Attraction: Securing transformative funding partnerships
- Ecosystem Activation: Fostering vibrant innovation communities
- Measuring Impact: Quantifying translation and commercialization outcomes
- Industry Development: Strengthening Australia’s sovereign capabilities
- Infrastructure to Impact: Connecting physical assets to human capital\
Tom Bentley, Vice President, Strategy and Community Impact, RMIT University
Ben Vivekanandan, Senior Director, Government Relations, Precincts and Policy, Monash University
Prof Alastair Sloan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Collaborations), University of Melbourne
10:05
International Keynote | Inclusive Growth in Action: Building Talent Pipelines and Collaborative Governance
Jodie Eastwood, CEO, The Knowledge Quarter, London
10:35
Networking Break
11:05
PANEL | Bridging research to market: Commercialisation, investment & industry partnerships
Navigating Australia’s VC landscape and funding pathways
- Navigating the complete development pipeline and building strategic innovation platforms
- Precinct roles in catalyzing partnerships and supporting scale-ups
- Building resilient supply chains through strategic hub networks
- Positioning Australia competitively in the global life-science ecosystem
Moderator: Dr Alastair Hick, Chief Commercialisation Officer, Monash University
Rod Bristow, Chief Executive Officer, Breakthrough Victoria
Bronwyn Le Grice, CEO & Managing Director, ANDHealth
Paul Kelly, Founding Partner, OneVentures & Advisory Board Member, Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA)
Dr Heather St John, Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Partnerships and Translation, RMIT University
11:50
FIRESIDE CHAT | Investing in Innovation: The Capital Strategy Behind World-Class Health Precincts
- Beyond buildings: What is the true purpose of health innovation precincts?
- How are funding models evolving to support the next generation of health innovation precincts, and what approaches ensure Australia attracts optimal capital?
- How do infrastructure models de-risk investments while maximizing innovation outcomes?
- What creates the underlying value in successful health precinct ecosystems, and what is the optimal balance between public and private ownership?
Damien Augustinus, Group Head of Infrastructure, Plenary
Moderator: Hediyeh Vahdat, CEO and Co-Founder, Linéaire Projects
12:20
Networking Lunch
TRACK 1: INNOVATION, ENGAGEMENT & ECOSYSTEM ACTIVATION
1:20pm-3:15pm
TRACK 2: PLACE, PLANNING & PARTNERSHIPS
1:20pm-3:15pm
1:20 The SA Innovation Places Framework Journey
- Building cohesive partnerships: A strategic approach to fostering cross-sector collaboration
- Implementation progress & key milestones: Current status, achievements, and impact metrics
- Critical learnings & adaptation strategies: Insights gained and framework refinements
Diane Dixon, State Project Lead, Lot Fourteen, State Innovation Places Lead Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Government of SA
1:20 PANEL | REIT perspectives on precincts and current market realities
- Where are REITs positioning their portfolios in today’s market?
- Current headwinds and market realities
- Impact of government policy shifts on investment strategies
- Factors driving capital allocation to high-quality precincts
- Creating value through connected spaces beyond traditional buildings
Alex Belcastro, Senior Vice President, Development and Precincts, NorthWest
Chris Smith, General Manager – Healthcare Property, Australian Unity
1:45 PANEL | Innovation pipelines & navigating the commercialization journey
- How can precincts support the development of emerging ventures via incubators, accelerators and pitch competitions?
- Bridging the gap: How can we help ventures survive the “valley of death”?
- What non-traditional funding sources can emerging ventures access?
- Accelerating Translation: What drives successful research-to-market transitions?
- Sustainable Innovation: How can support programs thrive when government funding ends?
Professor Sharath Sriram, Chief Scientist of Western Australia, Professor, RMIT University, Co-Founder, lubdub.ai and Fragment BioTech
Professor Kevin Pfleger, Director, Biomedical and Health Innovation, The University of Western Australia and WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, Chair, Biodesign Australia and Perth Biodesign
Anne O’Neil, Director, Commercialisation and Strategic Partnerships, Office for Health & Medical Research, NSW Health
2:05 CASE STUDY | New Footscray Hospital: Precinct development through effective PPP Leadership
- PPP advantages for precinct outcomes and operational efficiency
- Strategic investment perspective and Victoria University collaboration
- Design principles: functional flows, community integration and the village green concept
- How will the $1.5 billion New Footscray Hospital transform healthcare delivery in Melbourne’s west
Clare Shiell, Executive Director, Portfolio Delivery, Plenary
John Ferraro, Chief Operating Officer, Western Health
2:30 PANEL | Building strength in spin-outs and scale-ups: The Australian innovation journey
- Scale-up Success Stories: Insights from Australian scale-ups on critical growth enablers and precinct support needs
- Key inflection points including patents, funding, accelerators, and regulatory approval
- The Missing Middle: Addressing Australia’s shortage of R&D-engaged medium-sized businesses
- Scale-up Strategies: Transforming startups into multinational companies
- Balanced Growth: Attracting international companies without cannibalizing homegrown innovation
- Precinct Ecosystems: Curating communities
Ingrid Marsh, Group Executive – Commercial, Cicada innovations
Tim O’Meara, Director Government and Research Strategy, 4DMedical
David Kneen, CEO & Head of Commercial, Celleo
3:15 Networking Break
2:30 PANEL | Future proofing health precincts – Effective master planning
- How will evolving care models (home/community-based) reshape facility requirements?
- How do we create adaptable, specialized facilities and develop environments that encourage partnership and community?
- What research advances should inform precinct design?
- Which facilities and capabilities will future-ready precincts require?
- How can outdated infrastructure be effectively repurposed?
- Human-centered design approaches that improve patient outcomes and staff experiences
Prof Trent Munro, General Manager, Boggo Road Innovation Precinct & Industry Professor University of Queensland
Eleni Naude, Lead Heath Advisory and Infrastructure, Lineaire Projects
Tam Nguyen, Director Research and Innovation, Monash Health
3:15 Networking Break
INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES | 4pm-5pm
SUPERFLOOR BREAKOUT | Creating impact at the coal face
Industry Roundtable 1: Strategic investment attraction
- How do we measure success in precincts and use that to attract funding, better programming etc?
- How can we attract government funding to precincts when governments seek alignment and niche capabilities?
- What are the trade-offs between organic market-driven growth versus dedicated investment attraction strategies?
- Why is land tax so cost prohibitive and how can we identify and remove these barriers?
- How can federal, state and local government approaches be coordinated for effective place-based investment?
Craig Rowsell, Director, Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct
Simone Laity, Director of Innovation Partnerships, Investment Management, Lendlease, GM, Melbourne Connect Innovation Precinct
Industry Roundtable 2: Value networks, not just land parcels – building integrated asset precincts for tomorrow
- How do we move from a land subdivision/investment exercise, to a networked asset precinct?
- Getting the programming piece right – what pathways and support programs do we put around the companies and partners in our precinct?
- What does it mean to build places/facilities which are based on partner capability, not just the physical aspects of the precinct?
- How can we measure and enhance the experience quality for all precinct stakeholders?
- When government capital is unavailable, what alternative approaches can maintain momentum?
- How do we shift the narrative from “buildings and infrastructure” to “collaborations and services” with precincts as enablers?
Vanessa Campbell, Director Innovation Precincts, The University of Melbourne
Melanie Schmidke, Director, Northern Adelaide Health & Wellbeing Partnership
Industry Roundtable 3: Leveraging precincts to build world-class, future-proof talent pipelines
- How do we balance immediate workforce needs with long-term capability building?
- How can precincts help develop and attract talent for Australia’s sovereign capabilities?
- What strategies can address the critical GMP talent shortfall?
- How can facilities serve dual purposes as operational centers and training hubs?
- What industry-education-government partnerships would build sustainable talent ecosystems?
Tim O’Meara, Director Government and Research Strategy, 4DMedical
Marita Walmsley, Acting Executive Director for Innovation & Enterprise, University of Melbourne
Claire Borg, Associate Director, R&D Partnerships, Moderna Australia
Discover how targeted precinct-based initiatives are delivering tangible results for health services and local communities through streamlined, high-impact projects. These focused innovations demonstrate how strategic local implementation can create meaningful change where it matters most.
Case Study 1: Embedding early-stage talent into precincts
Vanessa Rebgetz, Principal, Queensland Academy for Health Sciences
Dion Obst, Head of Department Global Connect, Queensland Academy for Health Sciences
Case Study 2: Equity and Indigenous Health
Case Study 3: The rise of SportsTech
Case Study 4: Specialist hubs
5:00
Networking drinks
6:30
Networking dinner
PLENARY SESSION
9.30
Welcome to Day 2!
CHAIR: Hediyeh Vahdat, CEO and Co-Founder, Linéaire Projects
9.50
PANEL | The regenerative medicine & cell and gene therapy opportunity in Australia: Building a national ecosystem
- What are the opportunities for research and biomedical companies in Australia?
- How can we create a clear “front door” that connects partners, places, and people in Australia’s regenerative medicine sector?
- Which investment approaches—capital, talent acquisition, or tenant attraction—yield the greatest ecosystem benefits?
- Strategies to attract specialized talent from competitive global markets
- What role can innovation precincts play in cultivating Australia’s regenerative medicine ecosystem?
Dr Felicia Pradera, Director, Regional Research Centre and Strategic Alliances, Moderna, Australia
JiaYee Lee, Director Strategy & Alliance, BioNTech Australia
10:35
Networking Break & Morning Tea
11.05
PANEL | Enabling convergence: Emerging technologies in innovation precincts
- How can precincts strategically integrate enabling technologies like AI, quantum technology, and semiconductors to accelerate cross-disciplinary breakthroughs?
- What infrastructure and ecosystem designs best support the convergence of traditionally separate fields like data science, engineering, and life sciences?
- How are talent needs evolving with these emerging technologies, and what strategies can precincts implement to attract, develop, and retain this specialized workforce?
- Which Australian precincts are successfully implementing interdisciplinary models, and what can we learn from examples?
Professor Shonali Krishnaswamy, Associate Dean (Innovation) and Director, Monash AI Institute, Monash University
Dr Jane Leong, Director Development, Australian Centre for AI in Medical Innovation (ACAMI), La Trobe University
Petra Andren, Chief Executive Officer, Quantum Australia
11.50
PANEL | Health impact in action: Improving patient outcomes and bringing healthcare innovations to Australians
- What can we learn from successful health translation initiatives within precincts?
- What specific partnership models between researchers and industry are successfully accelerating translation?
- How can precincts better support researchers to think about translation from day one?
- How can we better measure and enhance community benefits from innovation precincts?
- Accelerating breakthrough treatments: What barriers remain between research and clinical application?
- How can precinct ecosystems be optimized to maximize community health benefits?
Grant McArthur AO, Chief Executive Officer, VCCC Alliance
Carmela Sergi, CEO, Care Economy CRC
Simone Proft, CEO, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research
12:35
Networking Lunch
TRACK 1: KEY OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUSTRALIA’S PRECINCTS
TRACK 2: CONNECT, CREATE, COLLABORATE
1:35 IN CONVERSATION CASE STUDY | Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct: Transforming Vision into Impact
- Evolution of a Health Innovation Ecosystem: RHIP’s journey from concept to thriving precinct
- Governance Architecture: Partnership frameworks enabling effective multi-sector collaboration
- Implementation: Critical decisions and pivots that shaped RHIP’s development
- Strategic Horizons: Preview of RHIP’s future direction under new leadership
Stephen Palmer, Acting Executive Director, Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct
A/Prof Elizabeth Koff, Managing Director, Telstra Health, Chair, Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct Council
CHAIR: Hediyeh Vahdat, CEO and Co-Founder, Linéaire Projects
1:35 Australia’s private healthcare sector: Current landscape and future growth trajectories
- What is the current state of Australia’s private healthcare market?
- How are health funds adapting to the changing macro environment?
- Which areas are experiencing expansion and growth in the private healthcare sector?
- Are providers investing in new facilities or optimizing existing assets?
- What implications do these trends have for healthcare innovation and investment?
Dean Breckenridge, Chief Policy Officer, Ramsay
2:00 Building Australia’s advanced therapy manufacturing ecosystem
- How can we create authentic innovation ecosystems in manufacturing?
- How can strategic cross-sector partnerships create collaborative manufacturing ecosystems for cell and gene therapies?
- What strategies will keep innovative therapies onshore through research-industry-government collaboration?
- How can we accelerate commercialization pathways within innovation precincts?
Dr Bev Menner, CEO, Cell Therapies
2:00 CASE STUDY | Getting mixed use precincts right
- Learnings from successes and failures
- Perspective of a retailer in a precinct
- How does it generate business for other local businesses?
- How can hospitals commercialise their retail offerings?
Sam Shepherd, Founder & Director, BellRinger
Tara Veldman, Managing Director, Billard Leece Partnership
2:25 CASE STUDY: The VVED Journey and Australia’s Digital Health Potential
- The VVED journey: From concept to Australia’s first statewide Virtual Emergency Department
- Critical insights and unexpected learnings from implementation
- Strategic partnerships: How research institutions, industry, and healthcare providers collaborated for success
- Leveraging precinct ecosystems: Creating specialized infrastructure for virtual care solutions
- Scaling nationwide: Strategic opportunities at the intersection of digital health and emerging technologies
Dr Loren Sher, Director of Victorian Virtual ED, Paediatric Emergency Physician, The Northern Hospital
2:25 IN CONVERSATION | Curating communities and co-locating industry
- Learnings from a non-health precinct- Defence and security
- Facilitating better partnerships between academic and industry
- Effective industry co-location and innovation ecosystem activation
Luke Garner, COO, UNSW Canberra City Precinct
Zoe Terpenning, Pro Vice-Chancellor Precincts, UNSW
2:50 Networking Break
2:50 Networking Break
INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES | 3:20pm-4:15pm
Roundtable 1: How can Australia build interconnected innovation precincts for national competitive advantage?
- When will precincts be meaningfully integrated into national productivity conversations?
- How are emerging precinct constellations driving Australia’s competitive edge in the global innovation landscape?
- What strategies ensure alignment between spatial planning, economic development, and innovation priorities?
- Why is comprehensive stakeholder mapping essential for successful precinct development?
- How can we ensure infrastructure assets within precincts are effectively networked?
A/Prof Shona Blair, Director, St Vincent’s Sydney Health Innovation Precinct
Michelle Irving, Principal Policy Officer – Precincts, Office for Health and Medical Research, NSW Health
Roundtable 2: How can we create vibrant public spaces that enhance innovation district success?
- How do we design precincts that actively support staff health, wellbeing, and productivity?
- What key elements drive attraction, retention, and liveability in innovation districts?
- How can we address unique challenges across different precincts (congestion, connectivity, etc.)?
- What transportation solutions work best for sprawling innovation districts?
- How can thoughtful public space design foster collaboration and community within precincts?
Roundtable 3: Philanthropy and precincts
- How do you establish collaborative relationships with philanthropists that deliver on a shared vision?
- What strategies help navigate compromise when philanthropic and precinct priorities differ?
- How can precincts develop diverse investment models that deliver meaningful returns for philanthropic partners?
- What role should philanthropy play in the long-term sustainability of innovation precincts?
- How can we measure and communicate the impact of philanthropic investments in precinct development?
Peta Magee, Executive Director Development (Health & Medical Sciences), The University of Sydney
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