Bold Ideas Better Solutions 2026

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The Hopkins Centre is excited to announce the 10th annual Bold Ideas Better Solutions Symposium (#BIBS26) will be held on Thursday 29th October 2026. BIBS26 is a free hybrid symposium, giving you the option and flexibility to choose your attendance.

Please join us for a dynamic day bringing together researchers, clinicians, industry and people with lived experience to explore New Frontiers in Rehabilitation and Inclusion. Discover innovative, close-to-practice research that is shaping real-world outcomes in disability and rehabilitation. Be inspired by keynote speakers, collaborative discussions and impactful research shaping better futures. 

📅 Thursday, 29 October 2026
📍 Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH)
🕘 9.00am to 5.00pm

What to expect at BIBS26:
🧠 A stimulating program from across Hopkins research focused on translating bold ideas into better solutions for the future.
📣 Exploring the theme 'New Frontiers in Rehabilitation and Inclusion' as it plays a vital role in enhancing engagement, well-
      being & quality of life.
📄 Nationally renowned keynote speaker Prof. Belinda Gabbe talking about building co-designed and patient-centred
       interventions to improve trauma survivorship.
💡 Spotlight panel discussion hosted by Prof. Louise Gustaffson with Assoc Prof. Jacki Liddle, Manesha Andradi and Maria Hoogstrate, sharing different perspectives on innovating together and new frontiers in co-design research.
👉 Engaging workshops exploring the future of rehabilitation through hands-on VR demonstrations and discovering creative
      ways to bring research findings to life through clear language, compelling visuals and practical communication strategies.
⚙️ Showcasing research sessions from discovery and innovation to co-design, translation and service improvement.
🎧 Hear from over 20 speakers presenting on collaborative research from mental health, AI and virtual reality to vocational
      rehabilitation, fatigue management, accessibility, psychosocial wellbeing and service improvement - highlighting the wide-
      ranging research driving innovation and meaningful change.

The program brings together keynote insights, oral presentations, lightning talks, panel discussions and interactive workshops, showcasing research that is advancing rehabilitation, enhancing care and delivering meaningful outcomes for people living with disability. View the program here.

Impact and purpose

The Bold Ideas Better Solutions (BIBS) Symposiums, hosted by The Hopkins Centre, are annual, day-long events that bring together clinicians, researchers, people with lived experience, and industry partners They are designed to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary exchange and focus on translating research “close to practice” into real-world outcomes in disability and rehabilitation. Each symposium features keynote speakers, research presentations, and panels that share emerging ideas and innovative solutions.

Past highlights and what to expect at BIBS26

Past symposiums have attracted over 200 participants and featured up to 40 different speakers, covering topics such as personalised rehabilitation, inclusive technologies, transport equity, and social participation. Key elements include keynote presentations, interdisciplinary research talks, lived-experience panels, poster sessions, and networking opportunities. Attendees can expect an accessible hybrid format, diverse perspectives, and a strong emphasis on innovation, co-design, and real-world impact, with themes evolving each year to address current challenges in rehabilitation and disability research.

Panel discussion - Innovating Together: New Frontiers in Co-Design Research

What if we reimagined how co-design research is done?

Join us at The Hopkins Centre’s Bold Ideas Better Solutions Symposium (BIBS26) for an engaging panel discussion exploring fresh perspectives, innovative approaches and the power of working together to shape research and real-world solutions.

Hosted by Professor Louise Gustafsson, the panel will bring together researchers and lived experience experts who are challenging traditional approaches, creating more inclusive opportunities for participation and building meaningful partnerships.

Meet our panellists:

	Associate Professor Jacki Liddle	An occupational therapist and researcher at the University of Queensland and Princess Alexandra Hospital, Jacki specialises in inclusive research and co-design, including developing technologies to support communication and participation for people living with dementia.
	Manesha Andradi	A final-year PhD candidate at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Manesha is an electrical engineer turned inclusive co-design researcher, passionate about developing accessible technologies and recognising non-verbal contributions from people with intellectual disabilities.
	Maria Hoogstrate	Bringing lived experience of disability and extensive community engagement expertise, Maria works with QUT’s Inclusive Technology team to support accessible research, community participation and collaborative technology co-design.

Discover how innovative thinking, inclusive partnerships and lived experience are shaping the next frontier of co-design research.

Thursday 29 October 2026 | 1:00pm | Translational Research Institute, Brisbane