Join us for a dynamic AHDC event in Sydney, with a live outreach connection to Newcastle/Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) and Canberra, bringing together leading voices from health infrastructure, planning, design, innovation and service delivery.

The session will explore how connected thinking across health systems, services and infrastructure can deliver better outcomes for patients, staff and communities, drawing on the following presentations:

The John Hunter Health + Innovation Precinct Case Study

A case study of one of Australia's most significant recent hospital redevelopments, examining how the John Hunter Health + Innovation Precinct has combined evidence-based design, co-design, Designing with Country, sustainability and stakeholder collaboration to create a major healthcare facility that supports clinical excellence, community connection and long-term civic value.

Innovation in Action: Embedding Innovation and Research into Healthcare Infrastructure

An exploration of Health Infrastructure NSW's Innovation and Research Framework and how structured innovation governance can support evidence-based infrastructure investment. Through a case study of AI-enabled thermal imaging technology, presenters will demonstrate how research partnerships, stakeholder engagement and innovation evaluation can improve decision-making and deliver measurable benefits for patients, staff and health services.

Panel Discussion: From Systems to Services to Infrastructure

Leaders from across the NSW health ecosystem will discuss how policy, models of care and the built environment intersect, and how stronger alignment between system planning, service delivery and infrastructure development can create more responsive, efficient and patient-centred health services.

In-person spaces in Sydney, Canberra and HNELHD are limited, so book your spot quickly.

Many thanks to our partners for this event:

• Health Infrastructure NSW for hosting the event in their offices in Sydney.
• Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) for providing a venue at John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton NSW.
• Infrastructure Canberra for providing a venue in Canberra.

Please note there will be no option to dial in. If you cannot attend in person, please do not register. The sessions will be recorded (subject to speaker consent) and made available to AHDC members following the event.

You’ll Hear from:

Partner Representatives present in-person at the venues:

• In Sydney: Emma Skulander, Deputy Secretary, Infrastructure and Asset Management and Chief Executive, Health Infrastructure NSW

• In HNELHD: John Barnard-Richardson, Executive Director, Infrastructure, Planning and Sustainability, Hunter New England Local Health District

• In Canberra: Infrastructure Canberra representative (to be confirmed)

Presentation 1: John Hunter Health + Innovation Precinct Case Study

• Kirstie Irwin, Principal, BVN

• Karen Height, Senior Facility Planner, Infrastructure, Planning and Sustainability, HNELHD

• Nicholas Rayner, Senior Project Director, Health Infrastructure NSW

Presentation 2: Innovation in Action - Embedding Innovation and Research into Healthcare Infrastructure

• Dr Anita Vandyke, Program Manager, Change and Innovation, Health Infrastructure NSW

• Tiffany Chiew, Executive Director, Core Connect Group

Panel Discussion: From Systems to Services to Infrastructure

• Gerard Duck, Executive Director, Strategic Planning, Economics and Experience Branch, Ministry of Health

• Nicky Seaby, Acting Executive Director, Capital and Commercial Advisory, Health Infrastructure NSW

• Anthony M. Schembri, Chief Executive Director, Northern Sydney Local Health District 

When:

Thursday, August 13, 2026, 4 PM - 7 PM (AEST)

Where:

• Sydney: Level 1, 1 Reserve Road St Leonards, NSW
• Newcastle: John Hunter Hospital, Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton NSW 2305
• Canberra: ACT Government, 220 London Circuit. Canberra

CPD Information

Registered Architects may be able to claim 3 formal CPD points by attending this event. The following NSCA competencies apply:

• PC03 - Apply principles of project planning, considering implications for Country, environmental sustainability, communities, stakeholders and project costs.
• PC08 - Be able to implement culturally responsive and meaningful engagement processes that respect the importance of Country and reciprocal relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples across architectural services
• PC13 - Be able to identify and apply strategies, programming and processes for documentation through all project stages to facilitate project delivery, as appropriate to selected procurement processes.
• PC17 - Have an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander People’s aspirations to care for Country and how these inform architectural design
• PC27 - Understand how to embed the knowledge, worldviews and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, shared through engagement processes, into the conceptual design in a meaningful, respectful and appropriate way
• PC28 - Be able to draw on knowledge from building services and technology, environmental sciences and behavioural and social sciences as part of preliminary design research and when developing the conceptual design to optimize the performance of the project
• PC50 - Be able to continue engagement with relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples throughout all stages of the project and its delivery in a meaningful, respectful and appropriate way
• PC28 - Be able to draw on knowledge from building sciences and technology, environmental sciences and behavioural and social sciences as part of preliminary design research and when developing the conceptual design to optimise the performance of the project.
• PC33 - Be able to investigate, coordinate and integrate sustainable environmental systems – including water, thermal, lighting and acoustics – in response to consultants’ advice.