23/07/2026
As co-convenor for this year’s NZSMIRT Conference 10-13th September in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, I am incredibly proud of the world-class wealth of national and international clinical mastery, breakthrough research, and cutting-edge industry insights our committee has brought together. Incredible mahi has gone into assembling a lineup that truly represents every corner of medical imaging and radiation therapy.
This year, we are welcoming practitioners, researchers, students, engineers, innovators, and industry partners to explore a pivotal moment in our field. Our theme is “Human Intelligence (HI) and AI: The confluence that defines medical imaging and radiation therapy practice”-or simply, “Hybrid Intelligence.”
Beyond the incredible presentations, what I am most looking forward to is the sense of whanaungatanga—connecting with peers across the sector - and our extended Panel Discussions on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th September. As the Auckland/Northland Branch Regional Director, our conference convenor Dr Sibusiso Mdletshe brings a deep passion and expertise for driving engaging, meaningful discussions. He masterfully facilitated a highly successful, packed-house panel on Advanced Practice at a regional study day at Whenua Pupuke a few years ago, and we are thrilled to bring that exact same high-impact, engaging energy to the Grand Millennium this year to tackle the most critical, fast-moving issues in our field.
We have intentionally dedicated longer time slots to these sessions. True AI literacy isn't built by just listening to a presentation; it is forged when ideas are actively challenged, debated, and formulated in real-time. These panels will bring our morning Aotearoa-based and international speakers back to the stage to generate robust, unfiltered discussions.
Here is what we will be tackling head-on:
• Practitioners as Decision-Makers: Moving beyond just being "users" of AI. We want to position our workforce as critical evaluators who can champion patient safety and trust.
• The Real Barriers to AI Adoption: Acknowledging that the biggest hurdles rarely lie in the technology itself, but in the infrastructure, governance, and workforce readiness required to support it.
• Ethical & Regulatory Responsibilities: Diving into safety considerations specific to our region—most importantly, our collective responsibility regarding Māori Data Sovereignty.
We aren't just discussing the future; we are actively building a network of changemakers who will shape responsible AI across our industry.
I can’t wait to see the energy, insights, and connection these sessions will bring to Tāmaki Makaurau!
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