Day One: Tuesday 24th July, 2018
8:30 am - 9:00 am Coffee and Registration
9:00 am - 9:10 am Opening Remarks from Conference Chairperson
Tom Olma - Acting Pathology West and Rural Microbiology Discipline Scientist, In–charge of Core Microbiology, ICPMR Westmead, NSW Health Pathology
Tom Olma
Acting Pathology West and Rural Microbiology Discipline Scientist, In–charge of Core Microbiology, ICPMRWestmead, NSW Health Pathology
9:10 am - 9:50 am INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Implementing the “One Lab” Model: Enhancing Efficiency, Access and Collaboration Across a Large Research Organisation
Justin Mynar - Associate Vice President for Research and Executive Director Core LabsAt CORE labs in King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Justin manages 10 laboratories which include over half USD $1 billion worth of equipment. He recognized the need to put a system in place which accounted for frequency of equipment usage. The result has been an increase in ROI of equipment and the ability to attract larger contracts through pooling of resources. In this session, Justin will share the process of successfully implementing data management at scale:
·Restructuring the organization to facilitate good governance
·Putting policy, processes and systems in place to allow alignment, efficiency, transparency, fair assessment and collaboration
·Using data management to drive decisions and make an impact
3:40 pm - 4:20 pm Embracing Change: Effective Leadership for Enhanced Uptake of Technology
Sheena Emslie - Quality and Technical Manager Aspen PharmaChange in the Laboratory, just as in all workplaces, has the potential to be very disruptive to employees on a personal and professional level. Change is inevitable for laboratories to stay abreast of the latest technology and employees must learn to be flexible and adjust to the ever- changing lab environment. It is the responsibility of the workplace and institution to lead employees through this change in a way that strengthens their capabilities and prepares them for changes to come. In this session Sheena will explain use change as an opportunity for employee growth and cultural improvement:
- Balancing change with consistency: making employees comfortable and confident throughout changing times
- What needs to be communicated, how and when: the art of effective communication around change
- Taking advantage of change: using the opportunity to create a shared vision and improve rapport with employees moving forwards
10:30 am - 11:00 am Speed Networking
11:00 am - 11:30 am Morning Tea
11:30 am - 12:10 pm Successfully Scaling Up Production Through the Integration of Automation
Steven Kennedy - Leader- Product Industrialisation Group CochlearAs the market for medical devices and technology continues to expand, the ability to deliver maximum product output in minimum time is imperative. Increasing the inclusion of well designed automated processes has the capacity to improve operational efficiency and upscale production. In this session Steven will run you through the process of increasing automation at a Cochlear’s manufacturing facility:
- Determining points in the process where largest ROI will be gained from automation
- Integrating the ‘old’ with the ‘new’: successfully combining automated and non-automated processes
- Preparing the system to be responsive, flexible and capable of integrating other technologies in future
12:10 pm - 12:50 pm Identifying Key Criteria and Future Skills Required to Build a High Performance Lab Team
Mahtab Minai - Strategy and Operations Manager- Laboratory Services The Royal Children's HospitalAs the life sciences sector becomes increasingly
competitive; attracting, retaining and developing a
high quality workforce who will drive innovation and
growth within the business remains a top priority. At
the Royal Children’s Hospital Mahtab works to ensure
workforce capabilities will respond to a competitive
and increasingly technology driven future. In this
session Mahtab will outline:
Predicting the nature of peak and off-peak season
and competencies needed for the lab during those
times
Defining the structure of the team that aligns with
the direction the lab is moving towards.
Establishing skills and traits that compliments the
rest of your lab team
Aligning with human resource department
to optimise recruitment strategy by making
recommendations for improvements
Mahtab Minai
Strategy and Operations Manager- Laboratory ServicesThe Royal Children's Hospital
12:50 pm - 1:50 pm Lunch
1:50 pm - 2:30 pm Introducing Steroids to Microbiology – Creating an Addiction!
Tom Olma - Acting Pathology West and Rural Microbiology Discipline Scientist, In–charge of Core Microbiology, ICPMR Westmead, NSW Health PathologyMost concepts of a future lab are saddled with spatial and physical mindsets which impact on the interpretation and subsequent use of technology. Often technology is seen as the driver to the ‘Super Lab of the Future’ and precipitating changes within our industry. These changes involve how industry works and then how we integrate into that framework to maintain relevance and not be the rate limiting step. Medical practice is certainly changing and the concepts of hospitals and who and how they treat has changed. The demands for rapid timely results pressure diagnostic services, especially traditionally based services such as bacteriology. The Westmead journey has evolved from the extension of services to a 24/7 platform to mirror our operational service context and commitment to relevant rapid service.
The adoption of emerging technologies has enabled the use of molecular techniques in a routine diagnostic microbiology laboratory, without contamination; the automation of bacterial culture processing via tracks and reading of cultures by way of digital imaging to evolve from a rapid service into an on-demand continuous service changes the way microbiology has been done. Digital imaging has created the opportunity for web based bacteriology and pushed the limits of the laboratory into the virtual zone with remote 24/7 plate reading and internet access to the laboratory with “no boundaries”. This session will cover the realized benefits of the Westmead journey:
· How the technology has further been integrated to simultaneously process shared samples, driving efficiencies to new levels and challenging processing concepts
· Harmonisation has never been more real with the ability to centralise processing while diversifying plate reading; creating an inclusive rather than exclusive environment
· Safety and Quality have moved to new levels with improvements in service delivery
· Flexible work practices and professional development opportunities have been given tangible boosts creating a better work place
Tom Olma
Acting Pathology West and Rural Microbiology Discipline Scientist, In–charge of Core Microbiology, ICPMRWestmead, NSW Health Pathology
2:30 pm - 3:10 pm Case Study: Moving into an Open Plan Work Environment- Opportunities and Challenges
Gwen Pfleger - Laboratory Manager Harry Perkins Institute of Medical ResearchFive years ago, The Harry Perkins Institute moved from a siloed facility to a new, open plan facility. The design of the new facility was deliberately collaborative, but a jarring change for staff from the previous working environment. In this session Gwen will share the journey undergone by staff with you:
- Realising the potential of the new facility: how the open plan environment has benefitted productivity and the staff culture
- The biggest challenges faced by staff in adapting to the new environment and how these were overcome
- Reflections of the experience: potential strategies to manage change and improve the staff experience
3:10 pm - 3:40 pm Afternoon Tea
4:20 pm - 5:00 pm Implementing Change Management and Cultivating Ownership to Drive Accountability among the Lab Team in Improving Quality and Productivity
Lloyd Gainey - National Quality and Innovation Manager BrickworksAt Brickworks Lloyd is working to drive continuous
improvements in quality and productivity through
change management. In this session Lloyd will share:
Communicating the initiatives to align the lab
team with your expectation on productivity and
quality
Developing practical stages of learning and
implementation to ensure smooth transition
Appraising those that have demonstrated
ownership and accountability
Leveraging on leadership to inspire and motivate
staff who are not motivated
Documenting ongoing status of change to identify
areas for more attention and error avoidance
5:00 pm - 5:10 pm Closing Remarks from Conference Chairperson
Tom Olma - Acting Pathology West and Rural Microbiology Discipline Scientist, In–charge of Core Microbiology, ICPMR Westmead, NSW Health Pathology
Tom Olma
Acting Pathology West and Rural Microbiology Discipline Scientist, In–charge of Core Microbiology, ICPMRWestmead, NSW Health Pathology