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Event
13/11/2025

3rd National Eye and Tissue Banking Conference

The 3rd National Eye and Tissue Banking Conference will be held on the 3-4 March 2026 at Meers Hall, Art Gallery of NSW.

The two-day program will include keynote presentations, research papers and panel discussions, followed by drinks and canapes at a networking event on Tuesday 3rd March.

Call for Abstracts

Invitations for abstract submissions from anyone working in the eye and tissue banking sectors. Please email your abstracts (maximum 300 words) to
SESLHD-OTDS-TBMT@health.nsw.gov.au

Abstract submissions will be open until the end of January 2026.

Registration

You can register for the Eye & Tissue Banking conference at the ANZ Corneal Society conference shared website. Start your registration: Registration Link

Program

To be confirmed.

Guest Speakers

Professor Wei Chen is Vice-Chair and Professor of Ophthalmology in the affiliated eye hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and Director of Eye Clinic in Boao Super Hospital in China.

Professor Hong Zhang is the Dean of the School of Ophthalmology and Optometry at Harbin Medical University.

Richard Lomas – Head of Development for the UK’s NHS Blood and Transplant, Tissue and Eye Services – is a clinical scientist with more than 30 years’ experience in tissue banking.

Martin Börgel – Managing Director of the German Society of Tissue Transplantation – is an experienced health economist with over 20 years of experience.

By Katrina Elliott0 Comments
STDANZCS
Event
24/06/2025

41st Annual Cornea Society Meeting

Join us in Sydney at the 41st Annual ANZ Cornea Society Meeting on the 5-6 March 2026!


It is our great pleasure to invite you to the 41st Australian and New Zealand Cornea Society (ANZCS) meeting, to be held 5-6 March 2026 in Sydney. This year’s theme, The Art of Cornea, reflects our vision for a conference that not only advances clinical knowledge but also celebrates creativity, collaboration, and the beauty of discovery in ophthalmology.

We are delighted to welcome eye bank professionals, scientists, optometrists, fellows, registrars, ophthalmologists, and all with a passion for corneal diseases to come together in this open clinical forum. The ANZCS meeting is an opportunity to enhance expertise and explore the latest innovations in an open and friendly forum, while reconnecting with colleagues and friends in person.

For further information including registration and accommodation bookings, please see the meeting flyer. 

Register by 31 December 2025 to take advantage of the Early Bird rate.

We look forward to your involvement and to welcoming you to what promises to be a scientifically rich and socially engaging event.

Tickets

Secure your tickets now by booking through TryBooking here.

 Presentations

Please submit your proposed presentation or session e.g oral, rapid fire (less than 3 mins), video, as well as short abstract to: kath@kathpoonevents.com.au

The closing date for abstracts is 7th December 2025.

 
Location for ANZCS meeting

Swissotel Hotel
68 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000                  

 Get directions
Gala Dinner

This year’s gala dinner promises to be truly special as it will take place in the recently renovated Art Gallery of New South Wales. Imagine networking and celebrating among art, light, and ambiance; a perfect blend of culture and collegiality. 

Date:          Thursday, 5th March
Time:          Starting from 6:00pm
Location:   Art Gallery of New South Wales, Kaldor Hall, South Building, Art Gallery Road, The Domain.

Get directions

 
Guest Speakers

We are honoured to introduce Dr Alain Saad, who will deliver the keynote address. Those with a special interest in complex corneal surgery (including DMEK/DSAEK techniques) and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in biometry and keratoconus screening will already be familiar with his name.

Dr Saad is co-author of the SCORE (Screening Corneal Objective Risk of Ectasia) Analyzer, an algorithm for early detection of subclinical keratoconus and post-LASIK ectasia risk. He is also a contributor to the open-source, machine-learning-based PEARL-DGS Formula (Prediction Enhanced by Artificial intelligence & Linear output/Debellemanière-Gatinel-Saad) for intraocular lens power calculation.

His research spans anterior segment and refractive surgery, corneal transplantation, biometry, and ectasia risk assessment, making him ideally placed to discuss the convergence of advanced surgery and AI-driven diagnostics.

Though early in his career, Dr Saad’s impact has been substantial through diagnostic innovation, scholarly publication, and translation of research into clinical tools. His keynote will offer valuable insight into the future of corneal surgery, screening, and diagnostic innovation.

 

Mr Adam Spencer, an icon of Australian media will give the John Blandford Lecture. Adam is a leading voice in artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and the Chat GPT revolution. He’s all about growing knowledge and getting conversations started for some of the world’s biggest brands and iconic Aussie institutions.

By Katrina Elliott0 Comments
ANZCS cover
Event
29/10/2024

ANZCS 40th Annual Cornea Society and Eye Bank Meeting

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the 40th ANZCS Meeting, to be held in Brisbane, Australia on March 6-7th, 2025. 

Following the success of the 39th meeting in Melbourne in 2024, we look forward to welcoming eye bank staff, scientists, and ophthalmologists from across Australia and New Zealand to the  Sunshine State. This event is an opportunity to share expertise, explore novel discoveries, and most importantly, to forge and renew professional and personal connections.

The 40th ANZCS meeting will be held at the Emporium Hotel Brisbane, a luxury destination located in the heart of the vibrant South Bank precinct. This venue offers guests the chance to experience Brisbane’s renowned arts, cultural, and dining scene, all within walking distance of the city’s beautiful riverfront.

The Scientific Program Committee is crafting a dynamic program, which will cover the latest developments in our subspecialty. Among the highlights, we are excited to welcome Dr. Sheraz Daya. Dr. Daya is a highly regarded UK-based ophthalmologist and medical director of the Centre for Sight, known for his expertise in corneal and refractive surgery. He has pioneered several techniques in eye surgery, including stem cell transplantation and complex corneal reconstruction. ANZCS 2025 will be a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge and foster connections across the corneal medical and research community.

We look forward to welcoming you to Brisbane.

Click here to access the registration form and follow this link to secure your ticket. 

Program 

Please click here for the full program. 

Call for abstracts

Submissions closed 20th December 2024.

By Katrina Elliott0 Comments
Save the date
Event
29/10/2024

2nd Annual Eye & Tissue Banking Conference


Join us for the 2nd Annual Eye & Tissue Banking Conference, being held at the Emporium Hotel. Brisbane, 4-5th March 2025!

 The program will feature keynote presentations, research presentations, and panel discussions. Topics will include advances in the sector, production, research and product development, quality and GMP systems, training, and general operations.

Our social event will be held at the Rose & Crown pub next door to the Emporium Hotel, on the evening of Tuesday 4th March. Enjoy drinks and canapes in this British-themed gastropub, housed in a traditional Queenslander building.

 


Registration

Registration for both days, inclusive of all food, and the social event, is $280.

Registration deadline is Monday 24th Feb.

You can register for the Eye & Tissue Banking conference at the ANZ Corneal Society conference shared website. Just click on the 4th March date in the calendar to start your registration: Registration Link


Abstract Submission

We welcome abstract submissions from anyone working in the eye and tissue banking sector. Abstracts should include a title, your name, your organisation, your email, and the category your talk would fit under. Abstracts should be maximum 200 words.

Abstract submission deadline is Friday 24th Jan.

You can submit your abstract here: Abstract Submission Link


Keynote Speakers

We are delighted to welcome our invited speakers listed below. More speakers and invited guests will be added as confirmed.

Shannon Schweitzer MBA CEBT

Executive Director, Donatesight.org

Shannon Schweitzer, is the Executive Director for Lions Eye Bank of West Central Ohio. She was previously the Technical Director and has over 20 years of experience in Eye Banking. Shannon has a BS in Biology and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration.  Shannon is a Medical Advisory Board Member for Lifeline of Ohio and has previously served in other capacities on nonprofit boards.  Shannon has taken on roles in several committees for the Eye Bank Association of America over the years and is currently serving as Speaker of the House.  She has been in this role on the Board of Directors for the last 3 years. Shannon enjoys serving the members and the association to help propel the profession forward. Shannon is a collaborator and a huge proponent of the notion that together, we are better.

 

Jonathan Boyd MS LSSBB CTBS

Jonathan Boyd MS LSSBB CTBS

Associate Director of Tissue Acquisition, Lonza Inc.

Jonathan has worked in the tissue banking and donation field for 16 years holding roles in tissue recovery and leadership. Jonathan is currently the Associate Director of Tissue Acquisition at Lonza where he supports divisions of Lonza engaged in research and clinical applications utilizing human organs, tissues, and cells. Prior to joining Lonza, Jonathan served as the Director of Education at AATB where he led the development of educational programming.

Jonathan is an active member of the AATB Recovery and Donor Eligibility Council, International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners Board of Directors. the International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners Advocacy Committee, and the National Association of Medical Examiners Ad-Hoc Organ and Tissue Procurement Committee.

Jonathan earned his undergraduate degree in communications and a master’s degree of science in management. Jonathan is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

 

Program

Download the conference program here.

We are looking forward to welcoming old friends and connecting with colleagues new and old!

 
Sponsors

We thank the generosity of our conference sponsors:

By Katrina Elliott0 Comments
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NEWS
13/02/2024

COVID-19 Donor Screening Recommendation 2024

The EBAANZ Medical Advisory Committee has assessed the risk of COVID-19 transmission through corneal transplants and makes the below recommendations:

  1. Revoke current COVID-19 specific deferral periods
  2. Treat as per influenza, pre-covid criteria
  3. Refer to TGO 108 – where clinical judgement should be used to determine the relevance of the infection, fever or illness

Please nee the EBAANZ Medical Advisory Committee Notification here.

By Katrina Elliott0 Comments
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NEWS
12/01/2024

COVID-19 Donor Screening Recommendations

The EBAANZ Medical Advisory Committee will continue to update its guidance and screening recommendations as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves based on the latest guidelines from the TGA as well as available scientific evidence.

These recommendations are designed for recipient and recovery technician safety and specify criteria for donor eligibility.

The EBAANZ Medical Advisory Committee has assessed the risk of COVID-19 in eye only donors and makes the below recommendations.

Donor Deferrals
  1. Donors should be determined ineligible who in the 10 days prior to death:
    • were diagnosed with COVID-19; OR
    • tested positive for COVID-19 by direct viral testing methods (e.g., NAAT and/or antigen); OR
    • had close contact with a person diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19 AND developed signs and symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of a plausible alternative etiology or vaccination history
  2. Donors should be evaluated for eligibility by a Medical Director who:
    • in the 10 days prior to death, without a known close contact with a person diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19, experienced signs and/or symptoms consistent with COVID-19 not explained by a plausible alternative etiology; OR
    • in the 10 days prior to death, had a known close contact with a person diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19 prior to death AND was asymptomatic; OR
    • in the 11 to 20 days prior to death had a positive or reactive test for SARSCoV-2* AND had ongoing
      signs and/or symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of a plausible alternative etiology.
  3. Vaccines and immunoglobulins
    • For COVID-19 vaccines approved by the TGA no deferral required.

Please view the EBAANZ Medical Advisory Committee Notification here.

By Katrina Elliott0 Comments
ANZCS cover
Event
10/10/2023

ANZCS 39th Annual Cornea Society and Eye Bank Meeting

The 39th Annual Cornea Society and Eye Bank Meeting will be held on the 7-8 March, 2024 in Melbourne. Please click here to register. 

Please see the Registration Form and the Abstract Guidelines for more information.

 

By Katrina Elliott0 Comments
STD – EBAANZ BAA conference 2024
Event
08/09/2023

EBAANZ-BAA Inaugural Conference

EBAANZ and the Biotherapeutics Association of Australasia (BAA) welcome delegates to their inaugural combined meeting, at Martin Auditorium, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, on the 5-6th March 2024.

Registration

Registration is now open via a shared event page (shared with the Corneal Society who will be hosting an event on the 7th-8th March). Please click here to register. Registration to the EBAANZ-BAA event includes 1 ticket to the event drinks session on the 5th of March. Extra guest tickets for the drinks session on the 5th of March are available for $60. To arrange, please contact conference2024@ebaanz.org.

Registration closes on the 26th February 2024 at midnight.


Abstracts

We are no longer accepting abstracts.

 

Speakers

Keynote Speaker:

    • Brian Philippy, Lions Gift of Sight, USA

Brian Philippy has served as an eye banker since he was 18 years old. Finding endless fulfillment in this profession by helping others, Brian has achieved the goal of doing what he loves for a living. His service started with decontaminating instruments for sterilization and assembling recovery kits back in 1997. Since then, he’s held positions in recovery, evaluation, eligibility determination, quality, allocation, and logistics. For seven years while holding a role of Director of Quality and Technical Operations in Norfolk, Virginia, Brian held a concurrent series of roles, including Consultant and Director of Operations for Vision Share, a cooperative allocation agency in the US. Collecting and analyzing data for continual process improvement also brings him joy. For the Eye Bank Association of America, Brian serves on the Medical Advisory Board, Accreditation Board, Statistical Reporting Committee, and an ever-evolving array of subcommittees. For the Global Alliance of Eye Bank Associations, Brian is a Data Champion and is currently involved in a large eye bank mapping project. These commitments and efforts earned Brian the EBAA’s Leonard B. Heise Award in 2021. Brian currently serves as Director of Business Development at Lions Gift of Sight in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His wife is the Director of Distribution, Quality, and Donor Services at the Lions Medical Eye Bank of Eastern Virginia. His daughter, Kendra, is a Donor Coordinator for Lions Gift of Sight and his other daughter, Hailey, is pursuing a degree from the University of Minnesota (his alma mater).

 

Brian Philippy

Invited Speakers:

    • Lucinda Barry – CEO, Organ and Tissue Authority, ACT
    • Martin Börgel – Director, DGFG, Germany (Chair of the World Union of Tissue Bank Associations)
    • Peter Davis – Director, Blood Bikers Australia, QLD
    • Matt Ellis – Donatelife VIC, VIC
    • Dr Marisa Herson – Tissue Advisor to the WHO and Chair of the Australian Eye and Tissue Advisory Committee, Melbourne
    • Samantha Higgins – Quality Manager, Victoria Cancer Biobank, Melbourne
    • Dr Dominique Martin – Bioethicist, Deakin University, Geelong
    • Sean Poppoff – Director, Lions Gift of Sight, USA
    • Gary Rockl, Héma-Québec, Canada
    • Diletta Trojan – Director, Fondazione Banca dei Tessuti del Veneto ETS, Italy
    • Larna Woodyatt – Nurse Donation Specialist, Donatelife VIC and Grampians Health Ballarat, VIC

Further speaker details to follow.


Program:

This year’s program includes a range of topics and discussions across eye and tissue banking and biobanking, covering donor criteria, the ethics of consent, the role of banks in research allocation, international development and collaboration, the changing landscape of the field, future therapies and up-dates from partners and collaborators around Australia and the World.

Click here to view the program. Prelim Program (as at 16/02/2024) subject to change.


Touring Melbourne CBD Banks:

Registered delegates will be invited to tour Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria and Lions Eye Donation Service. These tours will be arranged closer to the event.


Special thanks to our organisers

Convenors: Dr Heather Machin and Chris van Diemen

Committee: Chantel Bartolo, Bronwyn Cohen, Kellie Hamilton, Amila Peiris, Brendon Sullivan, Andrew Tracy, and Gavin Van Der Meer.

Host Banks: Lions Eye Donation Service at the Centre for Eye Research Australia, the Bone Bank at Barwon Health, Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria, and Lifeblood VIC.

By Katrina Elliott0 Comments
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