Let’s Reconnect
On behalf of the welcoming committee, I would like to extend our thoughts to all of you during what has been an extremely trying year for everyone due to COVID-19. There is still a way to go through this pandemic, so we wish you all the best for the road ahead.
Even though we are living in strange times, we on the organising committee are very excited about the upcoming 25th International ANZFSS Symposium which will be held between the 11th – 15th September 2022 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. We are confident that a vaccine will be available, and Queensland will be open for business by the time of the 2022 symposium.
Along with various freedoms and changes in how we live due to the pandemic, we also acknowledge that for the first time in the history of our society the biannual symposium co-branded with IAFS scheduled for Sydney this year was cancelled, thus preventing us as ANZFSS members coming together as a collective to share case studies, research and ideas.
But for all you diehard ANZFSS members who love attending the symposia, be assured that the Queensland organising committee are looking forward to the opportunity to host the next ANZFSS symposium in Brisbane. Planning is well underway. We are looking forward to giving the membership a chance to reconnect face to face in what will be a very traditional ANZFSS format (yes with social events and theme night included) in a great central location. So start thinking about your presentations and find your dancing shoes.
Come join us for ANZFSS in Brisbane, 11-15 September 2022. Mark your diary!
Regards
Donna MacGregor
ANZFSS 2022 Symposium Chair
Photos courtesy: Tourism & Events Queensland
ANZFSS 2022 Committee
Alex Forrest
Alex is Director of Forensic Odontology at Health Support Queensland Forensic and Scientific Services. He has performed forensic odontology casework since 1985 and is also acknowledged as an educator in dentistry and human head and neck anatomy.
Andrew Stanley
Senior Sergeant Andrew Stanley is the forensic coordinator for the QPS Southern Region and manages an area almost three times the size of Victoria. He has been with the QPS for 23 years and a forensic officer in various roles for 20 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours), Master of Science and Master of Professional Studies.
Annu Nangia
Annu Nangia began her career as a dentist with Queensland Health in 1996, working in Hervey Bay and Indooroopilly. She then obtained her Masters of Dental Science in Orthodontics from the University of Sydney in 2001 and immediately started working in private orthodontic practice.
A sideways track down the forensic dentistry rabbit hole has opened her eyes to a whole new perspective on life, death and everything in between. Away from working at her private practice and as a forensic dentist at Queensland health, she spends her time serving on various committees including ASOFRE, ADAQ CPD Committee and she is currently the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society Queensland Branch President.
Cathie Allen
Cathie is the Managing Scientist – Police Services Stream at Forensic and Scientific Services. She was a forensic DNA scientist, commencing as a Laboratory Technician in 1999, and now manages both Forensic Chemistry and Forensic DNA Analysis. She oversees forensic research in both forensic fields, and has attended all but one ANZFSS Symposium since 2000.
Carney Matheson
Carney is the Director of the forensic science programs at Griffith University. He has been teaching at universities for 25 years. He is a forensic biologist and archaeologist. His experience includes forensic casework from all over the world including Israel, USA, Canada and Australia.
Donna MacGregor
Donna is a forensic anthropologist with experience in policing, mostly as a major crime scene examiner in Queensland, and across academia, previously at QUT but currently lecturing forensics and human anatomy as part of the Discipline of Forensics and Archaeology at Griffth University. She has been a lifelong ANZFSS member, attending her first ANZFSS symposium in 1996 when it the was held at the University of Sydney. She has maintained her membership throughout her professional career and cannot wait to share the best of Brisbane, and Queensland, with the wider ANZFSS membership.
Duncan McCarthy
Duncan is the Forensic Manager for South Eastern Region of the Queensland Police Service. He is a fingerprint expert, commencing duties in forensics in 1998, has performed operations in disaster victim identification and is an active forensic research collaborator.