2026 Conference Presenters

Brett Cole | Biosafety International

Brett has been working in environmental contamination control, public health and occupational hygiene for over 20 years. His formal qualifications are in Environmental Microbiology & Chemistry, Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology. His experience has been in Academic microbiological research, Medical devices for High Level Disinfection, Engineering controls for contamination abatement, materials handling, infectious and contaminated waste and facility microbial testing, decontamination, and remediation.

Sandy Ellis | Pond and Co

Mr. Ellis is Director of Architecture Life Sciences for Pond and Company.  He has over 30 years of diversified experience in complex life science, health and technology driven facilities and has extensive depth of expertise in laboratory functional programming, planning, design, construction, and management of technically complex laboratory projects world-wide.  In addition to his project commitments, he is a regular contributor of journal articles and public presentations to learn and contribute to the understanding of laboratory design and biocontainment principles.

Mr. Ellis’ experience includes high containment facilities, biomedical facilities, pharmaceutical, medical device manufacturing laboratories, insectaries, large and small animal facilities.

JT Paulley | Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness; CSIRO

JT Paulley leads the Biorisk Management Group at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP). He earned his Ph.D. in 2007, specializing in bacterial pathogenesis. In 2010, he joined the U.S. Federal Select Agent Program, progressing to Deputy Operations Branch Chief before moving to ACDP in 2021. He now provides strategic advice on biorisk management across the Asia–Pacific region and training both within Australia and internationally. His expertise includes biosafety, containment laboratory design and decontamination. In addition, Dr. Paulley serves as a subject matter expert for a FAO Reference Centre on Biorisk Management and chairs ACDP’s Gain‑of‑Function Review Panel.

Simon Young |AES Environmental

Simon Young is a director specialising in the growth of engineering led manufacturing businesses. Representing AES Environmental, he works across product development, commercial strategy and international market expansion for filtration and life sciences equipment. His role spans operational oversight of manufacturing, leadership of sales and marketing activities, export development and close collaboration with engineering on new and bespoke containment solutions. Simon is an active contributor to the ME 080 Standards Committee, supporting industry dialogue on air filtration and containment compliance. His work centres on aligning engineering capability with market demand to support sustainable growth.

Colin Sakinofsky | L2D

Colin is a laboratory planner and architect with 31 years’ experience and leads a design firm called L2D.  He hails from the School of S2F – like many of you here.

Colin’s career is focused on delivering complex engineered buildings across a broad range of research, manufacturing and R&D typologies – including human, animal and plant models, along with chemical and biological and pivotal to teaching and learning.  This also includes nuclear, pharma and Data Centre design.

Robert Danko | ADP Consulting

Robert is a Mechanical Engineer and Associate Director with more than 25 years of experience in the building services industry, working across the life sciences, pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors. His work combines strategic planning with practical project delivery, supporting teams and clients through complex technical and operational requirements.

He focuses on clarifying project objectives, aligning multidisciplinary inputs, and guiding teams toward outcomes that meet project needs. His approach is grounded in clear communication, structured problem‑solving, and an understanding of the broader context in which building services operate.

Manon Sora Koestoer | HKS Asia Pacific Design Consulting

Manon Sora Koestoer is an IFBA-certified biosafety professional and architect with over two decades of experience in the design and planning of laboratories and research facilities across the United States and Singapore. His background spans founding and leading an architectural design practice to shaping high-performance, safe, and sustainable environments for science and innovation.

He has also contributed to the architectural profession through leadership roles within the American Institute of Architects (AIA), including serving as President of the AIA Southeast Asia Section, Country Representative for Singapore, and Adjunct Director for AIA International.

Bettina Bartos | BLP & Kiri Collins | Children’s Cancer Institute Australia

Kiri Collins is the Head of Built Environment & Infrastructure at the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia. Her portfolio covers a diverse range of environments and services such as laboratory & facilities management, business continuity and operational strategy. She is also the President of the Australia and New Zealand Laboratory Animals Association.

Bettina Bartos, Principal at Billard Leece Partnership is a specialist laboratory designer. She has delivered complex research buildings for major Government organizations and Universities and leads the design of the new research facilities for the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia. She’s also a founding member of the Australian Chapter of I2SL (International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories).

Damian Alexander Honeyman| Kirby Institute

Damian Honeyman is a public health researcher, lecturer, and PhD candidate specialising in infectious disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and epidemic response. His research focuses on biosecurity and CBRNE threat detection using open-source intelligence, artificial intelligence, and machine learning methods. He has extensive experience in public health nursing, critical care, and clinical trials coordination, including leadership roles during the COVID-19 response. Damian holds Master’s degrees in Health Leadership and Management, Global Health, and Infectious Diseases Intelligence from the University of New South Wales, all awarded with excellence, and is a recipient of the David Cooper Scholarship from the Kirby Institute.

Julianne L. Baron | Science and Safety Consulting, LLC

Julianne L. Baron, PhD, CPH, RBP, CC is the President and Owner of Science and Safety Consulting, a woman-owned small business with specialized expertise in biosafety, biorisk management, public health, emergency preparedness, lab design, and training development. She obtained her PhD in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health. Dr. Baron completed the prestigious National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. She is Certified in Public Health, is a Registered Biosafety Professional, has professional certifications in both Biorisk Management and Cyberbiosecurity, and is Certified in Cybersecurity.

Lynda Boldt | The University of Melbourne

Lynda is the Gene Technology and Biosafety Officer at The University of Melbourne and a member of the University’s Biorisk Management (BRM) Team.  The BRM team provides centralised oversight and supports a university-wide Biorisk Management Program that covers biosafety, biosecurity and gene technology, providing specialised advice and assistance to both the University and several partner organisations.  Lynda is the primary contact for external regulatory bodies and acts as the University’s Biological Safety Officer and Responsible Officer (SSBA Scheme). Lynda earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at James Cook University and has a background in marine science and education

Belinda Lees | Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Belinda’s career has centred on laboratory management, including management of laboratory and animal facilities for research. She has carried this expertise to biocontainment facilities for imported animals and plants. Her roles have coincided with the development of new facilities at a number of her employers’ locations and direct involvement with the project management process from the perspective of a facility user and a laboratory manager. Detecting, investigating and resolving an exciting array of issues has been a feature of her recent roles.

David Newell | Suncombe

Trained as a Controls Engineer at Rolls-Royce Aero Engines UK before moving to Australia 38 years ago. Has spent the majority of that time in Business Development and Management roles covering Australasia. Based in Sydney, Singapore and the Sunshine Coast. Industries involved with were predominantly Pharmaceutical, Food and Beverage. The last 2 years have been with Suncombe in a similar role.  I am a very keen Sydney Roosters and Coventry City fan

Emma Ludwig | Hassell

Emma Ludwig is an Architect and approaches all her projects with a level of intrigue and optimism about what can be created. With over 15 years of industry experience, and as a trained Scientist, Emma has delivered a number of large scale laboratory buildings, and is experienced in planning through to delivery, with a particular focus on early stage engagement.

Having spent the early years of her career on site, Emma now has a deeper appreciation for the time-cost-quality relationship, consciously working towards producing the very best solution for her clients, while skilfully working alongside users to understand the way people experience buildings.

She remarks that she has met and worked with some of the most remarkable clients, and when their passion comes together, the results can change our world and theirs.

Sam Tung | Wood

Sam is the Principal Architect at Wood Life Sciences and has 20+ years of experience as a laboratory designer with a broad portfolio in the university, government and private sectors. The range of projects he has completed is extensive and includes projects in the R&D, healthcare and the pharmaceutical & biotechnology sectors. Sam has extensive knowledge in laboratory and containment facility (PC2/PC3) design and has a thorough understanding of user and regulatory requirements to translate the science into design solutions.

Richard Spence | MPI

Dr Richard Spence currently works as Assurance, Biosafety and Containment Team Manager at the Animal Health Laboratory , Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand. Richard has responsibility for managing laboratory systems including biosafety, containment, engineering, QA, health and safety and procurement.Richard has a broad range of experience in diagnostic microbiology laboratories.

Carlton Bidois | Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital

Carlton Bidois has been a key driver of engaging with iwi on environmental matters in Tauranga Moana, acknowledging their role as kaitiaki. He has worked with numerous organisations and government agencies to ensure engagement with iwi occurs across private and public sector interests, including partnering with local councils, the Department of Conservation, Maritime New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries. He is the environmental representative to several iwi including Ngāti Ranginui and Pirirākau hapū. During the Rena disaster in 2011, he ensured the iwi were involved with the marine emergency response, establishing and leading Manaaki Te Awanui, a Māori environmental research group. Manaaki Te Awanui continues to support Tauranga Moana marine environments in partnership with Matauranga Māori research. He has been Co-Chair since inception of Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital, a community-led initiative promoting biosecurity best practice in New Zealand.

Rachel Gamble | Pond and Co

Rachel Gamble is the Director of Science & Technology at Pond and Company. She holds a Doctor of Public Health in Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences (concentration in epidemiology and disease control). She has over 20 years of experience and has held leadership roles as an Associate Director of Biosafety and Biosecurity at Merrick, and as the Director of Environmental Safety and the high containment/select agent research facility at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). Additionally, she held concurrent academic appointments as Assistant Professor in BCM's Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology and Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences at UTSPH.

Rachel holds multiple leadership roles within ABSA International, including ABSA Council Member, Editorial Board Member for Applied Biosafety Journal, Credentialing Evaluation Board Member, Scientific Planning Committee Member, and has been an instructor for ABSA's Risk Assessment course along with other pre-conference courses. Rachel is a founding member and past president of the Southern Biosafety Association and currently co-chairs FRaBSA's Outreach Committee.