| Tuesday 21 October 2025 -
Pre conference forums
|
| Time |
Agenda |
| 09:00 – 10:30 |
Chief Medical Officer Roundtable meeting
Attendees by invitation only.
|
MIPS Boardroom,
Level 37, 55 Collins
Street, Melbourne |
| International Section Meeting | Board of Directors Meeting |
| Meetings & International Section Meeting |
| 10:30 – 12:00 |
MPL Association Board of Directors
Attendees by invitation only
MPL Association Chair, Dr J. Michael Conerly
|
QT Hotel, Barclay
Room, 133 Russell
Street, Melbourne |
| 12:00 – 13:00 |
MPL Association Directors, CEOs and Chairs lunch
Attendees by invitation only
|
QT Hotel, Barclay
Room Foyer |
| 13:00 – 15:00 |
Joint Meeting of MPL Association Board of Directors and
International Section Meeting
Attendees by invitation only
MPL Association Chair, Dr J. Michael Conerly
Section Chair, Dr Matt Lee
|
QT Hotel, Barclay
Room |
| 10:00 – 17:30 |
Registration Desk Open |
| 10:30 – 11:00 |
Morning Refreshments
|
| 11:00 – 17:00 |
Inaugural Joint International CMO and Legal Forum:
Diversity, Innovation and Developments in Law and Medicine
|
| 11:00 - 11:10 |
Forum opening remarks
Justine Beirne, Avant
Welcome to country
Tony Garvey, Wurundjeri Elder |
| 11:10 – 12:00 |
Diversity in Medicine
Chair: Selina Hunt, Avant
Speaker:
Dr Dinesh Palipana, OAM
The Japanese poet Mizuta Masahide wrote, “My barn having burned down, I can now
see the moon.” To find happiness, sometimes, we have to let go of what we have.
This is the story of a journey of discovering happiness through a career between law,
medicine, depression, and a spinal cord injury. Through that journey, the story shares
some ideas on how we can think differently in our professions to drive resilience,
innovation and strength through diversity and culture.
|
| 12:10 – 13:00 |
Artificial intelligence developments in medical law
Chair: Maddalena Del Vecchio, Moray & Agnew Lawyers
Speakers:
Professor Clair Sullivan, UQ Digital Health Centre
The Honorable Justice David Boddice, Supreme Court of Queensland – Court of Appeal
An exploration of AI's current applications and future trajectory in the healthcare sector, followed by an examination of AI implementation in the legal industry. The discussion will cover practical applications and real-world examples of existing AI technologies, analysing their advantages, current constraints, and potential risks. The presentation will conclude with insights into anticipated developments and emerging trends in both sectors.
|
| 13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch Break |
| 14:00 – 15:00 |
Innovation in the Management of Claims
Chair: The Honourable Justice David Boddice, Supreme Court of Queensland, Court of Appeal
Speakers:
Pre-Litigation Pilot - Christopher Malla, Kennedys London
Data Driven Insights in Claims Management - Claire Petts, Clyde and Co
Costs of Care/ Models of Care - Professor Natasha Lannin, Monash University
Claims Management Initiatives in Canada - Domenic Crolla, Partner Gowling WLG, Canada
|
| 15:00 – 15:30 |
Afternoon Refreshments |
| Room Meeting Place 1
|
Meeting Place 2&3 |
Meeting Place 1 |
| 15:30 – 16:10 |
CS1.1
Genetics, Reproduction and the Law
Chair: Anjali Woodford, Kennedys
Speaker:
Assoc Professor Karinne Ludlow, Monash University
The interplay between developments in genetics/IVF/medically assisted reproduction and the law, both here and overseas with an emphasis on whether the law is keeping up with the advances in the medicine and the expectations of the community who wish to access these developments.
|
CS1.2
Law’s growing role in regulating non-communicable diseases and their risk factors
Chair: Brit Mainhoff, HWLE
Speaker: Professor Roger Magnusson, Sydney Law School, University of Sydney
Can we regulate our way to longer and healthier lives? The past couple of decades has seen an explosion of law regulating non-communicable diseases and their risk factors, including tobacco use and vaping, alcohol use, obesity, unhealthy foods and sugary drinks, and sedentary lifestyles. Presentation will briefly review global governance structures and examples of domestic regulation from Australia, the USA and other countries to illustrate this new frontier for public health law.
|
| 16:15 – 16:55 |
CS2.1
Voluntary Assisted Dying
Chair: Heidi Norville, Avant
Speaker:
Professor Ben White, Faculty of Business & Law, Queensland University of Technology
Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws now exist in seven of eight Australian jurisdictions after just under a decade of reform. Although there is some variation across state and territory laws, they are similar and there is a broad Australian model of VAD. There is also now a body of evidence about how these systems are working in practice. But Australia is just one of more than a dozen countries with active VAD laws and there are different approaches to how these laws are framed internationally. This presentation reflects on the Australian experience and lessons that can be learnt from these other jurisdictions. It also considers likely future issues for VAD in Australia and globally.
|
CS2.2
Health Law Case Review
Chair: Caroline Tuohey, Avant
Speaker:
Neill Murdoch SC, Barrister at Law, Victoria
A review of notable and emerging medical negligence trends including in the assessment of claims, contribution and the UK Supreme Court’s consideration of nervous shock claims in a medical treatment setting.
|
| 17:00 – 17:10 |
Closing remarks
Justine Beirne, Avant |
Meeting Place 2&3 |
| 17:30 – 21:30 |
Welcome Reception
With thanks to our Sponsor |
Rydges, Terrace Rooftop |
| Wednesday 22 October 2025 -
Conference Day 1
|
| Time |
Agenda |
| 07:30 – 17:00 |
Registration desk open
With thanks to our Sponsor |
| 7:30 - 15:30 |
Grab a Barista Coffee
With thanks to Our Sponsor |
| 08:30 - 08:45 |
Conference opening & Welcome to Country
Jon Faine, Master of Ceremonies |
| 08:45 - 08:55 |
Welcome & Introduction
Natasha Anning, MIPS, Conference Chair
MPL Association Thrive25, Australia |
| 08:55 - 09:55 |
Keynote Address: AI in healthcare - evolution and revolution
Chair: Rashi Bansal, Avant
Speaker: Professor Enrico Coiera, Australian Institute of Health Innovation
Centre for Health Informatics, Macquarie University
|
| 09:55 - 10:55 |
Keynote Address: How to lead and thrive in a time of uncertainty and change
Introduction: Justine Beirne, Avant
Speaker: Dr Dan Pronk, Ex-Special Ops Doctor, Author Speaker |
| 10:55 - 11:25 |
Morning Refreshments
With thanks to our Sponsor
 |
| 11:30 - 12:30 |
What are the current and future emerging risks?
Chair: Tim Plant, CEO, MDA National
Dr Caroline Fryar, GP, Professional Services Director, The MDU, UK
Dr Eric Zacharias, CMO, Copic, USA
Dr Robert Sheahan, Partner, Gowling WLG
Assoc Prof Antonio Di Dio, Director, Australian Professional Services Review Agency
Dr Owen Bradfield, CMO, MIPS
Are medical practitioners and the healthcare system set up for success amid profound changes in workforce dynamics and consumer expectations? Expert panellists from regional, legal, medical, and medical defence backgrounds will explore how generational shifts in the medical workforce, evolving patient demands, and emerging technologies are creating new risks that challenge traditional practice models and indemnity frameworks.
|
| 12:30– 13:30 |
Lunch Break
With thanks to our Sponsor
|
| Room |
Centre Stage |
Meeting Place 1&2 |
| 13:30 - 14:30 |
CS3.1
Lived experience of AI - Implications for claims management, healthcare and insurance
Chair: Georgie Haysom, Avant
Speakers:
Marcello Negro BComm (Hons) DipSci, FIAA, CERA, Finity Consulting
Professor Paul Parizel, University of Western Australia
Dr Graham Billingham, MedPro, USA
Trevor Hall, HIROC, Canada
Chelsea Gordon, Legal Lead – AI Advisory, MinterEllison
In this session, a panel of international experts will explore lived experience of AI from a range of perspectives. Starting with an outline of how AI is currently being used in clinical practice, the panel will discuss the ethical, legal, insurance and pricing implications of this rapidly evolving area now and into the future.
|
CS3.2
Managing practitioner distress in regulatory processes
Chair: Dr Mark Woodrow, Deputy CMO and Head of Medical Advisory Services, Avant
Speakers:
Susan Biggar, AHPRA
Emma Parfitt, Deputy CEO and General Counsel, MDDUS
Dr Roger Sexton, founder of Doctors for Doctors
Assoc. Prof. Helen Wilcox, Medical Director, DHASWA
This interactive session uses a detailed hypothetical case to explore the psychological impact of regulatory complaints on medical practitioners. An expert panel comprising representatives from regulators, medical defence organisations, and doctors' health services will discuss identifying and managing practitioner distress throughout the regulatory process, exploring who bears responsibility for preventing maladaptive responses and supporting resilience in doctors facing complaints.
|
| 14:35 - 15:35 |
CS4.1
The Dutch restorative justice approach to gaining trust
Chair: Joel Tuccia, Miga
Speakers:
Caroline Heijckmann, MD, PhD, Bernhoven, Netherlands
Miriam Kroeze MSc, Medirisk, Netherlands
This session explores how hospitals in the Netherlands, in partnership with Medirisk, have successfully implemented a restorative justice culture approach that builds trust with patients following adverse events, while managing medical liability risks. The Internationally renowned speakers will present practical examples demonstrating how this methodology reduces unmeritorious claims, alleviates the emotional distress of "double victimisation" for patients and "second victim" syndrome for providers, and transforms post-incident communication in ways that support healing for all parties involved.
|
CS4.2
The importance of cultural diversity and cultural safety in healthcare
Chair: Rashi Bansal, Avant
Speakers:
Dr Hashim Abdeen, Rheumatologist, Gold Coast Hospital
Dr Michael Wright, RACGP
Dr Carrie McKenzie, Medicolegal Advisor, MIPS
Dr Paula Cashin, Canadian Medical
Protection Association
This session will examine the evolving composition of the healthcare workforce and explore both the challenges and opportunities that arise from increasing diversity. It will also highlight the importance of delivering culturally safe medical care in today’s healthcare landscape, and the impact on health equity and patient outcomes.
|
| 15:35– 16:00 |
Afternoon Refreshments
With thanks to our Sponsor
|
| 16:00 - 17:00 |
Learning from experience: international perspectives on healthcare corporatisation
Chair: Adjunct Associate Professor Julie Brooke-Cowden, General Manager, Professional Conduct Claims, Avant
Speakers:
Anthony Mennillo, MIGA
Dr Lucy Gibberd, Medico-legal Consultant, Medical Protection Society
Dr J Michael Connerly, President and CEO, LAMMICO
Private equity and corporate ownership has rapidly transformed healthcare delivery across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, with profound implications for patient safety, professional autonomy, and medico-legal risk. This session examines international evidence on corporatisation's impact—from increased hospital-acquired adverse events to market consolidation—and explores practical strategies for medical practitioners and insurers navigating this evolving landscape.
|
| 17:00 |
Closing remarks |
| 18:30 - 23:00 |
Conference Dinner
Keynote Speaker:
Professor Kelvin Kong AM, Hunter ENT
With thanks to our Sponsor
|
Zinc at Federation Square |
| Thursday 23 October 2025 -
Conference Day 2
|
| Time |
Agenda |
| 08:00 – 17:00 |
Registration desk open
With thanks to our Sponsor |
| 07:30 – 15:20 |
Grab a Barista Coffee
With thanks to Our Sponsor
|
| 08:30 - 08:40 |
Welcome
Chair: Dr Matt Lee, International Section, MPL Association |
| 08:40 - 09:00 |
MPL Association Awards Presentation: International Defender of the Year
Chair: Dr J. Michael Conerly, MPL Association |
| 09:00 - 09:50 |
Adaptive leadership in medicine/law
Chair: Anna Hinder, Searl Street
Speakers:
Professor Helena Teede, Monash University
Dr Sarah Whitelaw, Emergency Physician, Royal Melbourne Hospital, AMA
Sarah McPherson, Willis Tower Watson
Justine Beirne, Avant
This session will explore the different perspectives on how adaptive leadership has been interpreted or understood by different groups. What it means to the corporate leaders, hospital administrators, medical practitioners and lawyers in the audience. It will explore what can be seen from a balcony, communication for building followship and leading change.
|
| 09:50 - 10:20 |
Cyber resilience - a whole of system approach to mitigate cyber risks
Chair: Dr Steve Hambleton, The Australian Digital Health Agency
Speakers:
Win-Li Toh, Taylor Fry
Shannon Sedgwick, Minter Ellison
Megan Lane, CyberCX
This session will explore what cyber risks health care is facing at present and how it is evolving. We will then look at ways in which the healthcare industry needs to adapt and develop strategies to protect itself from the evolving cyber risks.
|
| 10:20 - 10:50 |
Morning Refreshments
With thanks to our Sponsor
|
| Room |
Centre Stage |
Meeting Place 1&2 |
| 10:55 - 11:55 |
CS5.1
Claims inflation: a global perspective
Chair: Dr Michael Gannon, MDA National Mutual Board
Speakers:
Bill Burns, VP Research & Analytics, MPL Association, USA
Jane Fiske, Partner, Lander & Rogers
John Carroll, CEO Australia & New Zealand, Reinsurance Solutions, Aon
Jillian Chung, SwissRe
The session is designed to share global insights as to the drivers of claims inflation, impact of inflation on claims environment in relation to medical negligence matters and any other trends which are being identified as emerging or future risks.
|
CS5.2
Beyond burnout : understanding and addressing moral distress in healthcare
Chair: Dr Jo Braid FAFRM (RACP), Rehabilitation Physician and Professional Coach
Speakers:
Dr Pam Eisner-Parche, Executive Director, Member Experience, CMPA
Dr Colm Harney, DentoLegal Consultant, Dental Protection
Adjunct Associate Professor Julie Brooke-Cowden, General Manager, Professional Conduct Claims, Avant
Dr Jack Marjot, Emergency Medicine Specialist, Avant
When healthcare providers know what care their patients need but can't deliver it, the result is moral distress—a crisis driving practitioners from the profession worldwide. In this session, the international panel will explore how moral distress manifests across healthcare systems, its connection to professional conduct issues, and practical strategies for prevention and recovery.
|
| 12:00 - 13:00 |
CS6.1
The unexpected plaintiff - Nervous shock claims
Chair: Heather Hibberd, Head of Member Benefits and Risk Education, MIGA
Speakers:
Philippa Nash, Executive General Manager, Claims and Advisory Services, MDA National
Domenic Crolla, Gowling WLG
Claire Petts, Partner and Head of Healthcare, Clyde & Co
Kellie Dell'Oro, Principal, Meridian Lawyers
This session will explore the implications and trends in nervous shock claims being made in medical professional liability claims in various jurisdictions around the world particularly in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. We will discuss the impact of nervous shock claims on MPL insurance, the conduct of litigation and what steps have been taken or are being considered in these jurisdictions to manage that impact.
|
CS6.2
Legal liability issues arising from the use of AI
Chair: Paul Halley, Victorian Bar
Speakers:
Peter Harris, Victorian Bar
Marion Isobel, Victorian Bar
Karen Miller, CEO, MPS
This session will explore a hypothetical case where a 30-week pregnant patient presenting with reduced fetal movement encounters a cascade of AI-related failures—from misinterpreted consultation notes and missed CTG abnormalities to biased monitoring algorithms trained on non-diverse populations—ultimately resulting in an emergency caesarean and complex litigation that exposes how AI errors can compound through both clinical care and the legal system.
|
| 13:00 - 14:00 |
Lunch Break
With thanks to our Sponsor |
| 14:05 - 14:55 |
Keynote Address: Future of healthcare
Chair: Luke Thomson, MDA National
Speaker: Amanda Johnstone, AI technologist
This session introduces the audience to the next iteration of technology in medicine and medical indemnity insurance. Exploring how technological advancements enable us to anticipate changes, understand behaviours, and predict human factors, creating safer, more efficient systems. This multimodal approach leverages technology to analyse and record behaviours while supporting informed decision-making.
Attendees will get a comprehensive perspective on the practical applications of Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Behaviour (IoB), AI, and robotics in redefining healthcare delivery and risk management. The audience will gain actionable insights on integrating these tools into their organisations to enhance safety, reduce liability, and improve operational efficiency while addressing ethical and data security considerations.
|
| 15:00 - 15:50 |
Leading into the future: adapt, adopt and evolve
Chair: Dr Matt Lee, CEO, The MDU
Speakers:
Tim Plant, CEO, MDA National
Adrian Urquhart, Group CEO, Avant
Natasha Anning, CEO, MIPS
Tom Griffiths, CEO, MIGA
Dr Lisa Calder, Canadian Medical Protective Association
This session will explore how the medical professional liability sector is adapting to healthcare transformation, adopting innovation, and evolving to meet future challenges. Global leaders will discuss trust, technology, cultural change, AI, and the insurer’s role in shaping policy and supporting providers. Expect insights, real-world examples, and an optimistic look at what a thriving future could hold.
|
| 15:50 - 16:00 |
Close of MPL Association Thrive25 Conference
Natasha Anning, MIPS
Introduction to the next MPL Association International Conference
Karen Miller, MPS
Emma Parfitt, MDDUS |
| 16:00 |
Please join us for refreshments to farewell
MPL Association Thrive25 Conference
With thanks to our sponsor |
