HGSA Annual Scientific Meeting 2026
Nothing beats coming together in person, and the Human Genetics Society of Australasia – HGSA Annual Scientific Meeting in Christchurch was a powerful reminder of the strength, expertise and energy across our genomics community.
Community perspectives anchored the program. Māori leaders highlighted the deep connections between whakapapa, genomics and lineage, while patient advocate Kama Papa shared her family’s deeply personal genomic journey.
In his inspiring opening address, Dr Hamish Campbell MP offered a compelling measure of progress: can a family receive an answer sooner than they would have the year before? That is a measure of relevance that strongly resonates with InGeNA and our members.
The calibre of presentations was exceptional. Industry was strongly represented throughout the conference, showcasing the expertise and capabilities needed to scale genomics, demonstrate impact and translate innovation into clinical care. Sessions from Illumina, Oxford Nanopore Technologies and MGI brought to life the breadth of capability required to turn genomic science into better care, spanning sequencing, diagnostics, data, clinical implementation and patient access. Professor Joanne Ngeow brought this to life through Singapore’s experience in translating population genomics into cancer prevention, clinical services and national reimbursement.
We were delighted to share the InGeNA booth with innovators Genomical, GenoCare, 23Strands and Rhythm Biosciences Limited. The booth was constantly buzzing with conversations, new connections and opportunities for collaboration. It was equally wonderful to see InGeNA Consumer Advisory Group members Robyn Smith from Inherited Cancers Australia and Emma Bonser from Genetic Alliance Australia presenting.
A consistent message we heard was that industry is often engaged too late, despite the expertise it can contribute to system design, implementation and scale. InGeNA is committed to fostering closer relationships across the sector and ensuring industry expertise is brought into the conversation early. We also enjoyed sharing some of the work ahead, including the October visit of Dame Professor Sue Hill, which will create further opportunities to learn from international experience and strengthen collaboration across government, healthcare, research, industry and the community.
Thank you to everyone who joined our InGeNA networking evening. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and we hope it will become a regular part of the HGSA program.
And with snow falling on the final day, Christchurch gave us one last reminder that we were definitely in New Zealand!Congratulations to the organisers on an great meeting – we look forward to your 50th in Adelaide in 2027!
