Health leaders, researchers, clinicians, allied health, lived experience advocates, carers and members of the community gathered for the inaugural Australasian Neurological Conference and Expo (ANCE) at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Neurological Council of WA (NCWA) organised the well-attended event, and Perron Institute was a proud sponsor. The theme was ‘Reimagining brain and nervous system health and disability’, aiming to promote understanding through cross-sector collaboration. 

NCWA Chair Emeritus Professor Charles Watson opened the conference, which included over 40 guest speakers, and common themes were hope, multidisciplinary care and collaboration. 

Georgina Carr, CEO of the Neurological Alliance UK, presented the first keynote address (pre-recorded) titled ‘Neurological Alliance UK advocacy, IGAP and EU Brain Health Plans’ and shared how My Neuro Survey and awareness help shift the dial on global health challenges. 

Rohan Greenland, Chair of the Neurological Alliance Australia and CEO of MS Australia presented the second keynote, ‘Neurological disease in Australia: Under-counted, under-valued and under-funded’, highlighting a need for a national (and state) strategy and united voice to create change. 

Mhairi Cowden (Deputy Director General – Disability, WA Department of Communities) provided an update and highlighted areas of opportunity. 

Clinical Professor David Blacker, Perron Institute’s Medical Director, delivered an insightful talk. As a consultant neurologist living with Parkinson’s, he shared how the early diagnosis clinic at the Perron Institute he started recently with Parkinson’s WA, a high-impact boxing program and yoga all contribute to community-focused treatment and care options that improve quality of life. 

Dr Bruce Powell (Monash University Honorary Research Fellow and brain injury survivor) entertained the audience with his talk on ‘What do patients want?’ “Keep giving us hope, and where we can, let us help you,” he said. 

Melanie Clark (WA Department of Health and Perron Institute) and Monica Cazzolli (Huntington’s WA) shared the years of work they and their team have done in the Kimberley in their talk ‘Facilitators and barriers to providing neurological care on country. Lessons from the Far North Huntington’s Clinic’. 

Professor Jennifer Rodger (Perron Institute and The University of Western Australia) led a panel discussion on ‘Innovative pathways to personalised mental health treatments for neurological disorders’. Dr Aleksandra Miljevic talked about current research using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and PhD candidate Bradley Roberts shared developments using pharmacogenetics (PGx), both used at the Perron Institute to help treat the mental health of those living with neurological conditions. Epilepsy WA CEO Emma Buitendag spoke from a lived-experience community perspective and the ‘invisible battle’. 

On the second day, Dr Shirley Bowen (Director General WA Health) presented the keynote address, ‘Neurological disability and the impact of NDIS reforms’, highlighting person-centred care and working towards a united strategy. 

Professor Merrilee Needham (Neurologist and Head of Myositis Research at the Perron Institute) gave an informative talk on ‘Exploring the impact and needs of patients with neuromuscular disorders’. She emphasised hope, empowering patients and focusing on what you can do. 

Curtin Distinguished Professor John Mamo (Perron Institute) shared insights in his talk on ‘Headache and migraine: How do we manage the world’s leading cause of disability?’ 

Dr Min-Yin Yap, Care Manager at FightMND, provided an inspiring update on ‘FightMND – 10 years of impact and still fighting’ and how over $115 million has been raised for motor neurone disease (MND) research and care. 

Dr Alex Tang (Perron Institute and UWA) presented on ‘Promoting healthy brain aging with non-invasive brain stimulation’, and neuroscientist and musician Emeritus Professor Alan Harvey talked about ‘Music in health and in therapy’. 

An informative panel discussion closed the final breakout session titled ‘Neuroscience Research Translation – Multisector Partnerships’, moderated by Melanie Kiely, CEO of MSWA, and also included lived experience advocates Gavin Harper and Ellen-May Eaton, Perron Institute Consultant Neurologist Dr Dev Nathani, Professor Rodger, Rohan Greenland, speech pathologist and researcher Charlotte Huynh. Collaborating to disseminate research findings more broadly was a key takeaway. 

Read the conference program here: https://www.cnsc.org.au/assets/uploads/images/ANCE-2025-Program-FINAL.pdf 

Find out more here: https://www.cnsc.org.au/ 

Congratulations to NCWA CEO Etta Palumbo and the conference organisers, speakers and participants. 

Image caption: Translation panel L-R Rohan Greenland, Gavin Harper, Ellen-May Eaton, Dr Dev Nathani, Prof Jenny Rodger, Charlotte Huynh, Melanie Kiely