A record number of early and mid-career researchers enthusiastically joined the fifth annual Health in Preconception, Pregnancy and Postpartum EMR-C (HiPPP EMR-C) Conference last week, held in Sydney.

Coming together both in-person and online, the energy and passion for their chosen field was evident in the rigorous discussions held between presentations and in the engaging comments and questions for those presenting their work.

The theme for this year was “Prevention across the reproductive lifespan: collaborating with stakeholders to optimise health in preconception, pregnancy and postpartum”.

Conference co-chair Megan Gow said, “the 2024 HiPPP conference lived up to expectations. What impressed me the most was the diversity of research presented, from both a maternal health and research methods perspective. It was also great to see so many in person this year. I hope new connections and collaborations were made that facilitate great HiPPP research in the future.”

This year’s keynote was Jess Moran, Director Maternity Policy and Strategy at NSW Health. She challenged all in attendance to consider the priorities of women and families when planning research projects, and to consider how research will inform and be translated into strategic policy and clinical guidance.

Ms Moran’s presentation was an insightful look at how NSW Health had conducted consumer and patient engagement and feedback to inform how it shaped its first 2000 days framework, and the role she and NSW Health had in the inquiry into birth trauma.

Every session of the day, from rapid-fire rounds to the oral presentations was so well executed with the depth of work on show, and the Building Stakeholder Relationships panel discussion brought fascinating discussion from both the researcher and stakeholder representatives in how to best work together.

Panel members included Professor Tim Gill, executive director of the Obesity Collective, and Rachel Hicks, a consumer and early career researcher, as well as Professor Amanda Henry for her clinical academic insight, chaired by HiPPP EMR-C Building Stakeholder Engagement leads Dr Edwina Dorney and Dr Kaylee Slater.

There was applause all round for the 2024 HiPPP EMR-C Conference Award winners, with accolades going to:

• Best EMCR Oral Presentation Award: Dr Siew Lim
• Best Student Oral Presentation Award: Jennifer Green
• Best EMCR Rapid-fire Award: Dr Sasha Fenton
• Best Student Rapid-fire Award: Chloe Tran
• People’s Choice Award: Dr Anna Roesler

Congratulations to all the winners! More detail on each winner and their research will feature on our website in coming months.

Find out more about HiPPP EMR-C on our website. Interested in joining HiPPP EMR-C Australia? Please fill in our expression of interest page. 

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