ABSANZ Newsletter July 2021
15th July 2021
By Julie Harvey
ABSANZ eNewsletter July 2021
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Contents It is a new financial year and remarkably, 18 months on, whether any of us like it or not COVID and COVID disruptions continue to be part of everyday life for the foreseeable future. NSW, and in particular, Sydney who escaped relatively unscathed last year, is the latest to be deeply impacted. As we sit and watch, none of us can discount the devastating financial and emotional effect on businesses and individuals. While it is extremely disruptive, the truth remains that the situation continues to provide ABSANZ with more and more opportunities to share our specialist knowledge and resources with the general public. We have so many incredibly talented and knowledgeable people in our membership and broader network, so I am pleased to report that we are finally gaining some traction with the key decision and policy makers who are last beginning to realise that they need the specialist support that ABSANZ can offer. As each month passes, more and more people are being vaccinated and it is our intention that by late November our 10th Annual (covid belated) face-to-face Conference combining a celebration of over a decade of ABSANZ, will be held without impediment, largely unimpacted by further restrictions. It promises to be our best event yet as we welcome not just biosafety professionals, but also affiliates, and anyone with a role, or interest in managing biological risks. Finally, renewals are rolling out this month and I am very excited to report that thanks to the constitution changes passed by the membership at the last AGM, we introduced several new categories of membership including corporate and group membership that assists us to provide an incredible array of training material and membership benefits that go beyond the historical webinar and conference discounts. Stay safe! Stephen |
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The Conference website is now open for registrations. ‘Biosafety Crossroads – Where To From Here’ promises to be an exceptional event with workshops, a diverse range of speakers, sponsors showcasing the latest in innovation, interesting technical tours, and an event couldn’t possibly be held in South Australia without a social tour incorporating wine! Little did we realise 18 months ago that our community of interest would be so topical. Now the word BIOSAFETY is in the common parlance, and we are back with a vengeance with the 2021 Conference in Adelaide. The Abstract deadline has been extended to July 26, 2021. We welcome you to participate by submitting an Abstract reflecting a broad range of topics to represent the past, present and future of biosafety. We have been overwhelmed with support from sponsors and would like to thank all of the businesses who have already purchased booths and sponsorship packages. We look like we may sell out, so if you are interested in participating, please contact the ABSANZ office for a copy of the Sponsorship Prospectus. We recently thanked Brett Cole and Biosafety International for generously becoming our first ever Platinum Sponsor. Brett has been an incredible support and constant participant in all things ABSANZ almost from our inception, so it is appropriate that Biosafety International is playing such a key sponsorship role in our 10th Annual Face-To-Face Conference. Over coming months we will feature the key sponsors to reciprocate the exceptional support that they provide ABSANZ with. Things to know about: Keep an eye out for latest news throughout the month which is published on the website SURVEY: National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy and National Plant Biosecurity Preparedness Strategy Survey You are invited to complete two online surveys to inform the development of:
The strategies provide a framework to further strengthen the plant biosecurity system and will support the implementation of the National Plant Biosecurity Strategy. The draft strategies (attached) have been developed based on initial engagement with plant biosecurity stakeholders across Australia. A ten-year implementation plan has been developed for each strategy (also attached) which prioritises investments and sets out ongoing arrangements for collaboration and coordination. Click here to start the surveillance survey and here to start the preparedness survey. Each survey will take around 15 minutes to complete. All responses will be kept strictly confidential. The survey will close at 12 noon (AEST) on Monday 19 July 2021. PARTICIPATE IN STANDARDS AUSTRALIA’S NEXTGEN PROGRAM This program focuses on providing emerging industry and technical experts with the exciting opportunity to become involved in national and international standardisation processes supporting Australian industry, community, and government. Click HERE to view The goal of the program is to support the future of standards development by investing in the next generation of standards leaders and experts. Published by: ABSANZ REPRESENTATIVE TO STANDARDS AUSTRALIA COMMITTEE ME-060 ABSANZ have been asked to provide a representative to Standards Australia Committee ME-060 so if you can answer 'YES' to the following questions, then please contact the ABSANZ office on +61 3 9087 9988 to express your interest. (https://www.standards.org.au/standards-catalogue/sa-snz/health/me-060)
This committee reviews and provides technical input and guidance into standards associated with controlled environments including clean workstations, biosafety cabinets (Class I, II, III), cytotoxic drug safety cabinets and other separable devices. Standards Australia has advised that they currently have sufficient members with experience and competencies related to the design and manufacturing of the equipment, so it is essential that the ABSANZ representative is a frequent user of biosafety equipment.
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As we look toward the 10th Annual Conference, Barry Wards, an integral member of ABSANZ, reflects: There is a well-known Maori metaphor:
Haraheke is the Maori name for the flax bush, an important and significant plant in Aotearoa/New Zealand because of its traditional use in weaving, clothing and basket-making. The haraheke plant is likened to whanau (family) – within the plant, the leaves grow such that the babies in the centre are protected in order for the plant to survive and flourish. You must only harvest from the outside leaves to ensure the survival of the entire plant for future generations. From its inception, ABSANZ has also focused on protecting our future generations, through education and the passing down and sharing of knowledge. What was once a small harakeke seedling has flourished to become a strong, healthy and nurturing entity. Having recently stepped down from the Board of Directors and been a member of ABSANZ throughout its existence, it’s rewarding to look back and reflect on how the harakeke has grown over the past decade. Through the inspiration of Tony Della-Porta, a burgeoning need in the Australasian space was established and has now grown rapidly towards achieving its purpose of protecting people, the community and the environment through advancing knowledge in biosafety and biorisk management. Tony should be rightfully proud of what he initiated, especially in the light of the global challenges of COVID-19 and his knowledge and experiences with SARS and MERS. The COVID ‘story’ has multiple elements, and ABSANZ quickly felt a need to share knowledge and encourage discussions that would enable researchers, health and biosafety professionals, regulators and the general public to have the relevant knowledge and tools to better protect people and communities. We would have struggled to do this in the early days of the organisation. Now, with the maturing of standing committees focused on membership, regulatory liaison, education and training, and the information and training platforms now established, key objectives are being met as the influence of the organisation expand. As an aside, a recent COVID story about questioning our underlying biorisk assumptions demonstrates the importance of the ABSANZ community in being able to disseminate knowledge and inform discussions (https://www.wired.com/story/the-teeny-tiny-scientific-screwup-that-helped-covid-kill/). But it wasn’t easy getting to where we are now. ABSANZ started small by operating a management board rather than one focussed on governance. The transition to governance has not been without its challenges and tensions and, having been there in a number of capacities with other organisations, there have been some stressful moments. Where was the money coming from? How do we sustain membership? How do we develop the tools to meet our objectives? Do we actually know what we’re doing or what exactly we’re here for? Days spent strategic planning and rewriting constitutions over several years have helped to grow and strengthen the harakeke for the future. Such challenges and tensions, and the winding road they follow, are not unusual, of course, but it has been a pleasure to see where that has taken us; a Board of Directors strong in its mission, expertise and knowledge and an organisation strong in structure, support and tools to achieve its purpose and objectives. A strong membership and community of practice keen to share knowledge and contribute to its advancement. While I think ABSANZ still has a way to go to achieve the recognition that it warrants, especially in the regulatory community and the public space, it is well on its way to getting there. To answer the question, ‘How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time’. Like others before me, it has been fulfilling to be part of that journey and to have been able to contribute to the growth and maturing of the harakeke. ABSANZ should take comfort in the knowledge that it is firmly on the track of protecting people and communities, of achieving a position of being able to knowledgably inform and educate those communities and being able address the interminable biorisk challenges that COVID has shown us we will continually face. Tena koutou (Thank you) Membership - renewals now due We recently introduced the corporate membership, promoting large-scale membershup renewals ABSANZ have been delighted that so many organisations have taken up this option. In addition to their existing members, they have introduced a significant number of new members. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to renew your membership, please do so as soon as possible. As a last word on memberships, do you know someone who could benefit from being an ABSANZ member? There are many exciting and innovative changes coming to the Association over the next few months as we head towards our annual conference, so now more so than ever before we know that the benefits of being part of the ‘peak body and leading voice for biosafety and biosecurity’. Member Discussion Forum We encourage ABSANZ members to support and share your knowledge, ideas and resources. The Member Only discussion forum is to facilitate the connection and interaction of Australasia’s Biosafety and Biosecurity community. If you have something to say, to add, toshare, then please start a discussion and support other members to stay informed. Alternatively, email julie@absanz.org.au to contribute to this newsletter. eNewsletter Member Contributions
Please email us to find out more. |
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