BioForum – Strength in synergy: The critical role of industry, academia, and government in combating biothreats
April 1 @ 7:20 am - 9:30 am AEDT
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In an era of evolving global political and social landscapes, effective collaboration between industry, academia, and government is critical than ever in addressing biothreats. This panel will explore how these sectors can forge stronger partnerships to enhance biosecurity, drive innovation in detection and response, and navigate complex regulatory and geopolitical challenges.
Discussions will focus on lessons learned from recent global crises, strategies for fostering trust and transparency, and the role of public-private initiatives in strengthening preparedness and resilience against emerging biological threats.
Event details:
Date: Tuesday 1 April 2025
Time (AEDT):
7:20 am: Guest arrival and registration
7:30 am: Networking breakfast
8:00 am: Welcome and panel session
9:00 am: Networking
9:30 am: Close
Format: In-person
Venue: Level 16/333 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Chair: Dr Felicia Pradera, Director Regional Research Centre and Strategic Alliances, Moderna
Panellists:
Associate Professor David Heslop, University of New South Wales
Hamilton Bennet, Executive Director, Global Health Security, R&D and Partnerships, Moderna
Dr Samira Hassan, Assistant Secretary, Interim Centre of Disease Control
Host: Karen Parr, CEO, BioMelbourne Network
BioForum registration
Registration:
In-person: Members $95; Non Members $195
Unsure if your organisation is a member? Check our member directory.
Cancellation policy:
In person registration:
Full refund given up to 7 days prior to the event
No refunds within 7 days of the event
Online registration:
Full refund given up to 3 days prior to the event
No refunds within 3 days of the event
Kindly supported by Moderna
Hosted by Phillips Ormond Fitzpatrick
Hamilton Bennett, Executive Director, Global Health Security, R&D and Partnerships, Moderna
Hamilton Bennett (she/her) is the Executive Director of Health Security R&D and Partnerships at Moderna. In this role, Hamilton is responsible for the Global Public Health and Medical Countermeasures portfolio, driving collaborative research and development with a broad range of government and academic collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of groundbreaking science to drive public health. Hamilton led the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine to the authorized use and approval of one of the earliest and most effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic. Hamilton’s effort was essential to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, advacing mRNA technology and opening new frontiers in vaccinology and public health. In recognition of her impact on public health, Hamilton was named to Fortune’s 40 under 40 list in 2021. In 2025, she received the US National Medical of Technology and Innovation on behalf of Moderna. She received her B.Sc from McGill University, M.Sc from The University of Washington and MBA from MIT Sloan.
Dr Samira Hassan, Assistant Secretary, Interim Centre of Disease Control
Dr Samira Hassan heads up the Health Security and Medical Countermeasures Branch responsible for managing the National Medical Stockpile (NMS), including providing a coordination point for health security intelligence for the Department of Health and Aged Care. Working in collaboration across all relevant areas in the Department, the Branch provides the levers to respond to emergencies including for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) incidents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the NMS further surged in capacity to support the health system including through delivery of Personal Protective Equipment, Rapid Antigen Test kits, Antiviral drugs, and other products to vulnerable and priority population across Australia.
Prior to this, Dr Hassan was a Senior Adviser at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet where she led the policy and legislation development to reform and unlock the potential of public sector data and establish the Office of the National Data Commissioner.
Dr Hassan has a doctorate in Molecular Biology, Master of Biotechnology and Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering.
Prior to this, Dr Hassan was a Senior Adviser at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet where she led the policy and legislation development to reform and unlock the potential of public sector data and establish the Office of the National Data Commissioner.
Dr Hassan has a doctorate in Molecular Biology, Master of Biotechnology and Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering.
Associate Professor David Heslop, University of New South Wales
Dr David Heslop is an Associate Professor at the School of Population Health at UNSW Sydney and is a clinically active GP and Occupational and Environmental Physician. He has deployed as a medical officer to a wide variety of military and humanitarian assistance environments, is a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Medicine expert, and specialist in the risks and health systems requirements for deploying to austere and high-risk work environments. He continues to provide clinical and technical specialist advice and support to Australian and international military, industrial and large organisational partners in his specialist medical advisory role. His research focuses on developing collaborative research opportunities between military and industry, using models of health system and human behavior under emergency and crisis conditions and changing conditions such as climate change and resource scarcity, and health system optimization using diverse methods including qualitative and mixed methods approaches, Digital Twins, AI integrated modeling and traditional Agent Based Modelling and Simulation.
Dr Felicia Pradera, Director Regional Research Centre and Strategic Alliances, Moderna
Felicia Pradera is the Director of the Regional Research Centre at Moderna, currently leading collaborations in mRNA technology, vaccine development, and infectious disease preparedness. With over 20 years of experience in cutting-edge research, collaboration, policy and product development, she has advised national and international governments in medical countermeasure development and pandemic response. Previously, she was Head of Health Security Systems Australia a division of DMTC Limited, whilst on secondment from the Defence Science and Technology Group. During this time she was also Australia’s National Lead and Science and Technology Lead for the international Medical Countermeasures Consortium and a member of the Prime Minister’s Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group (SITAG) during the COVID-19 pandemic. She holds postgraduate qualifications from the Technical University of Berlin and Monash University and is a non-executive director of M:MBio Pty Ltd.
