The National Biosecurity Response Team (NBRT) met in Adelaide from 18–22 May for its annual Professional Development Week (PD Week). The highly successful event brought together current members, alumni and industry representatives to build capability, deepen connections and further strengthen national biosecurity preparedness.
Over 3.5 engaging days, participants developed the technical and non‑technical skills needed to lead Incident Management Teams (IMTs) and functional areas during a biosecurity response. Importantly, the week also strengthened cross-jurisdictional collaboration and reinforced partnerships across government and industry. These connections help ensure NBRT members are highly skilled, connected and ready to operate as a cohesive national workforce when it matters most.
The 2026 PD Week was opened by Dr Skye Fruean, South Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, who invited the cohort to learn, engage widely and have fun.
The event was facilitated by Sarah Britton (One Biosecurity Solutions), who returned following strong feedback from the 2025 workshop. Sarah brought her extensive experience in biosecurity and emergency management, along with strong connections across the sector. She linked key themes across the week and supported practical, outcomes-focused learning.
Participants praised Sarah’s engaging and structured approach. One attendee noted she ‘did a great job linking outcomes to each session’ and created valuable opportunities to share ideas, tools and experiences.
Highlights
- Keynote presentations from Christine Owen (The Learning Organisation) and Joe Buffone (Strategic Crisis Solutions), who shared valuable insights on leadership in high-pressure environments, crisis management, crisis appreciation and the strategic planning process.
- Panel discussions exploring national response arrangements, preparedness for H5N1, and the critical role of collaboration with industry during a response.
- Alumni presentations highlighting real-world experiences in IMT functional management, reinforcing practical lessons and shared approaches across the network.
- “Future of biosecurity” mini sessions, covering innovative approaches such as using climate data to inform decision-making, setting prospective end dates, and managing evolving hazards.
Participant feedback highlighted the value of the week:
- ‘Very well organised and delivered – it ran exceptionally smoothly.’
- ‘Awesome year again … I have a lot of takeaways that I can implement.’
- ‘This is a very important team and a great opportunity to meet and learn from others.’
A full workshop report will be released in June 2026.
About the NBRT
The NBRT is a national program that strengthens Australia’s preparedness and response to biosecurity emergencies by building a skilled, connected and nationally consistent workforce. It brings together professionals from across jurisdictions to develop capability, support responses, and ensure strong, coordinated collaboration across government and industry, enabling Australia to respond more effectively to biosecurity threats.