Welcome
Welcome to ABNAs 19th Annual Conference
19-21 October 2022
Biobanking - Blue Sky Horizons
Rendezvous Hotel, Scarborough, Perth Western Australia
Third time really is the charm!
After two false starts I think we were all incredibly excited to finally be on our way to stunning Perth. For anyone who has been involved in the planning and delivery of an annual conference, you know that it takes an army. ABNA is extremely fortunate to have several committees of dedicated and driven individuals who have been planning and developing this meeting (as well as the ‘small’ matter of a wildly successful mid-pandemic hybrid meeting) since 2019. I honestly can’t thank them enough for their continued enthusiasm, innovation, and sheer hard work during incredibly challenging times. I'd also like to say a huge thank you to to our sponsors and exhibitors who have provided unwavering support to the ABNA community. Many of you have been with us for a number of years and we feel extremely fortunate to continue our partnership - without you, these events would simply not be possible so thank you!
I am now beyond excited to say that on behalf of the ABNA Management and Conference Organising committees – welcome to ABNA’s 19th Annual Meeting ‘Biobanking: Blue Sky Horizons!’
As we recognised last year, the pandemic and rapid transition to online and hybrid models of working have resulted in a change to the way we network and develop relationships. We’ve also had time to reflect on our daily operations, strategic models and what it means to be biobankers and biospecimen scientists.
Today, we have a unique opportunity; a blue sky from which to explore the role that our profession will play in an ever-expanding research ecosystem. It’s an exciting time where we can plan for new pathways and for new horizons in biospecimen science and support infrastructure. As we reconnect in person or finally meet face-to-face with new members of our community, we’re reminded of the diversity and heterogeneity within the ABNA member base. This is an inherent strength of our community and as research moves towards collaborative and multi-disciplinary models of working, we now have an opportunity to lead by collaborative example and to learn from each other.
Be it cancer or coral, whales or wheat, forensic samples or biological data registries, the core principles of biospecimen science and biobanking remain consistent. As we move into a post-pandemic world, we’re reminded of the importance of integrated working and as a fundamental stakeholder in the research sector, it’s imperative that we form partnerships and deconstruct historic silos. I’m incredibly excited that this meeting affords us the space to continue to do that as a community.
A celebration of diversity and focus on collaborative optimism is what we hope you’ll experience at Biobanking: Blue Sky Horizons. From a personal standpoint, ABNA has provided this relatively new biobanker (new when compared with some of the stalwarts of our community) with an opportunity to learn, network and expand my appreciation for collaborative opportunities. I’m incredibly excited that here, at our 19th Annual Meeting, among colleagues and friends we are able to continue providing these opportunities to the biobanking and biospecimen scientist community.
We trust you’ll enjoy the next few days and look forward to continuing to build and advance the ABNA with you.
Cassandra Griffin
ABNA President