The Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF) is pleased to present the annual WIRF Scientific Dialogue From Eminence to Evidence: The importance of generating and using robust data to ensure the health of women, mothers and babies.
All WIRF Scientific Dialogue presentations are available to watch on our YouTube channel here.
Date: Friday, 5 September 2025, 12noon to 7pm.
Venue: Auditorium, UWA Club
Cost: $149 (Students $99) including presentations and refreshments.
View the WIRF Scientific Dialogue flyer here.
Featuring keynote speakers:
- Professor Ben (Willem) Mol – Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University (pictured left) – Presentation: Scientific Integrity of Randomised Trials: Now we have the data, but are they true?
- Professor Brett Manley – Neonatologist/ Professor/Director of Newborn Research at The Mercy Hospital for Women in Melbourne, and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Newborn Health at The University of Melbourne (pictured right) – Presentation: Puggles and Premmies: The PLATIPUS perinatal adaptive platform trial
Professors Brett Manley and Ben Mol are key to advancing the theme From Eminence to Evidence using robust data to improve maternal and neonatal health. Prof Manley leads innovative trials like PLATIPUS for preterm infants, while Prof Mol focuses on evidence through large-scale clinical trials for safer, more effective interventions. Both will share their latest findings, shaping the future of women’s and newborn health.
Other speakers:
- Professor Mary Steen, Professor of Midwifery at Curtin University and King Edward Memorial Hospital and Dr Vincent Mancini, Senior Research Fellow in the Human Development and Community Wellbeing team at The Kids Research Institute Australia – Striving for perinatal mental health and wellbeing
- Dr Kate Buchanan, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Midwifery at the Edith Cowan University School of Nursing and Midwifery – Birth Debrief – the effectiveness of a post-birth midwife-led, woman-centred conversation with women
- Dr Erin Fee, Early Career Researcher, Women and Infants Research Foundation / The University of Western Australia – Towards Precision Antenatal Steroid Therapy: Fetal Response Variability and Placental Effects at Sub-Therapeutic Exposures
- Dr Bradley MacDonald, Paediatrician at Perth Children’s Hospital – Rare Diseases, Clinical Trials and Critical Enablers for Success in Western Australia
- Dr Brennen Mills, Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Paramedical Science and Public Health at the Edith Cowan University School of Medical and Health Science – Immersive & digital simulation for women and newborn’s health professional education and practice: Present opportunities and what the future holds
Other event highlights:
- The announcement of the 2025 Research Acceleration Award winners
- Presentations from our student and early career researcher competition
- An interactive moderated Q&A session
- A consumer panel hosted by Joanne Beedie, Chief Executive Officer at Helping Little Hands
ACM, RANZCOG and ACRRM accreditation:
This event is approved for 4.5 CPD hours by The Australian College of Midwives (ACM), The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), and The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
Thank you to the WIRF Scientific Dialogue Sponsors
Thank you to the WIRF Scientific Dialogue exhibitors and sponsors for their support of this premier scientific event.
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Student / Early Career Researcher Competition
Are you a student or early-career researcher passionate about improving the health of women, mothers and babies?
WIRF is offering a unique opportunity for students and early career researchers to showcase their research at the WIRF Scientific Dialogue. The top scoring presentation on the day will be awarded a certificate and a prize of $1,000. Submissions should be in research relating to women’s, newborn or maternal health.
How to enter:
Submit a brief structured abstract (introduction, aims and methods, results and conclusions; maximum 250 words) before 31 July.
Three abstracts will be selected for an eight-minute oral presentation at the WIRF Scientific Dialogue event on 5 September.
Presentations will be judged by the 2025 WIRF visiting professors.
For more information, or to submit your entry, contact us at: grants@wirf.com.au
View the WIRF Student Competition flyer here
