2025 Audiology Annual Conversation

Join us for an enlightening evening of conversation and networking!

Audiology at The University of Melbourne invites you to join in our annual conversation event, followed by social networking opportunities.

This event offers an opportunity to engage with experienced users of auditory brainstem implants, cochlear implants, and hearing aids. Through panel discussions and Q&A, we will explore valuable insights into the patient journey, from initial diagnosis to long-term management and daily life with hearing technology.

Attendees can expect the following outcomes:

• identify diverse challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss
• understand personal journeys of adapting to new hearing technology
• gain valuable insights to optimise hearing care outcomes via connection with lived experience

This event is endorsed by Audiology Australia
CPD2526 006 - Category 1.1 - 1 CPD point

Featured speakers

Hannah McPierzie - Disability advocate with two auditory brainstem implants

Professor Louise Purton - Internationally recognised researcher and cochlear implant recipient

Professor David Huang - Cancer researcher and long-term hearing aid user

Detailed speaker bios available below.

Speaker bios

Hannah McPierzie

Hannah is a disability advocate with two auditory brainstem implants who sees the barriers faced by others navigating the health system; particularly as it relates to communication. Hannah has Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and shares her perspective on living with a degenerative, rare disease.

Hannah was a teacher of students with disabilities and now runs her own disability consulting business. She regularly works with both Health Sciences, and School of Medicine at University of Melbourne.  Her work extends to Birmingham City University, assisting with their Deafblind Studies course.

Hannah is Chairperson of Deafblind West Australians, and a Non-Executive Director with Deafness Forum Australia.

Professor Louise Purton

Professor Louise Purton is internationally recognised for her research delineating the intrinsic and extrinsic regulation of blood cell production in healthy and cancer states. She has received continual funding to support her research throughout her career, including NHMRC Fellowships, Project and Ideas Grants. She received the 2022 International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH) McCulloch and Till Award for her exceptional research contributions to the field of haematology and stem cells, being the first Australian woman to receive this award. In 2024 she was the Metcalf Orator, awarded in honour of her outstanding career in the field of leukaemia research, at the biannual Australian New Directions in Leukaemia Research conference. She currently holds leadership positions in both ISEH and the American Society of Hematology, the largest international society in haematology.

Louise is also passionate about fostering the career development of the younger researchers and is an advocate for supporting all underserved groups in the workplace. Her advocacy with other like-minded researchers significantly contributed to the recent changes in the NHMRC Investigator Grant funding scheme to improve funding outcomes for women and non-binary applicants.

Louise has had a profound bilateral hearing impairment since she was a child and recently became a recipient of two cochlear implants (2018 and 2021). In recent years she has been using her voice to advocate for improvements in accessibility of presentations for disabled academics, giving numerous lectures on this topic which has led to people changing their presentation styles. She received the 2023 ISEH Award for Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity.

Professor David Huang

Professor David Huang is a cancer researcher at WEHI.

David is a long-term user of hearing aids.