Welcome
Warm Pacific greetings from the Australasian Epidemiological Association (AEA) and its Moana Pasifika Chapter.
In partnership and with a shared commitment to advancing epidemiology across the Pacific and beyond, we are honoured to invite you to the 2026 Australasian Epidemiological Association Annual Scientific Meeting, to be held from 13–15 October 2026 at the Sofitel Hotel in Nadi, Fiji.
Expanding epidemiological capacity throughout our region is a core strategy for the AEA. Our 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting theme “One Ocean, One Health: Epidemiology for a Healthier Tomorrow, the Pacific and Beyond,” reflects our collective commitment to strengthening epidemiological capacity and collaboration across the Pacific region and accelerating skill development and advancing the practice of epidemiology to improve health outcomes.
This meeting will highlight the importance of partnerships between Pacific Islands and international stakeholders to achieve effective and sustainable health development.
The Scientific Meeting centred on four key areas of focus:
1. Skill Development in Epidemiology – Addressing the urgent need for training and upskilling in epidemiology and biostatistics in response to the Pacific’s rapid epidemiological transition and unique vulnerabilities to climate change and emerging and re-emerging diseases.
2. Ensuring Quality Data – Focusing on strengthening data collection, management, and use, including ethical Indigenous data ownership, and innovations in AI, data visualization, and cybersecurity to ensure timely and high-quality evidence for policy and practice.
4. The Health Issues – Exploring major contributors to the health burden in the Pacific and globally through an epidemiological lens, including non-communicable diseases, ageing, palliative care, substance misuse, mental health, and the impacts of climate change.
The meeting featured keynote presentations, concurrent sessions, workshops, and poster presentations, bringing together leading researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from Australasia, the Pacific, and around the world.
Cheers from the Organising Committee
Partners
We thank our sponsors, partners and exhibitors for their support.
AEA 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting Convenors
Professor Sunia Foliaki
Professor, Public Health Massey University and Convenor Moana-Pasifika Chapter
Professor Donald Wilson
Pro Vice-Chancellor Research & Innovation, Fiji National University
Dr Michaela Riddell
Senior Research Fellow Kirby Institute, UNSW and Secretary Moana-Pasifika Chapter
Bronze sponsors
