ANZFSS

2023-11-09 18:00 - 19:30 (Australia/Sydney) | 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, 4108, Australia
Dr Christopher Day is a Consultant Forensic Pathologist and has an undergraduate Bachelor of Applied Science and postgraduate Medicine (MBBS), both attained here in Queensland. His specialist pathology training has been in southeast Queensland and includes forensic pathology training at FSS. He attained a fellowship with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia in 2016 and has been at FSS in a registrar and consultant position since 2014.
Dr Day has kindly agreed to give an updated case study presentation, following from his presentation earlier this year. Please note, the nature of this presentation may lend itself to graphic and potentially disturbing images.
For bookings, please visit: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=31

Qld Branch Presentation - Dr. Christopher Day - Case Studies in Forensic Pathology
2023-11-09 18:00 - 19:30 (Australia/Sydney) | 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, 4108, Australia
Dr Christopher Day is a Consultant Forensic Pathologist and has an undergraduate Bachelor of Applied Science and postgraduate Medicine (MBBS), both attained here in Queensland. His specialist pathology training has been in southeast Queensland and includes forensic pathology training at FSS. He attained a fellowship with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia in 2016 and has been at FSS in a registrar and consultant position since 2014.

WA Branch Seminar Series: Frugal Forensics: Sustainable Methods for Limited-Resource Jurisdictions
2023-11-02 18:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Perth) | Exhibition Space, Curtin University Building 500, Level 1, Building 500, Curtin University, Kent St, Western Australia, Australia
Many jurisdictions face significant resourcing challenges, demanding more sustainable approaches to forensic service provision without compromising quality. The Forensic and Analytical Chemistry Research Group at Curtin have recently proposed a framework of principles for frugal forensics, balancing method performance with jurisdictional limitations.
Join us on Thursday 2nd November to hear from Professor Simon Lewis, head of the research group, as he explains how the concepts of frugal forensics can be applied in the context of latent fingermark detection and the use of alternate approaches suitable for jurisdictions with restricted resources.
This event will be held face-to-face at the Exhibition Space of Curtin University Building 500. The presentation will start at 6:00 pm, with refreshments and mingling from 5:30 pm. Please register by Monday 30th October for catering purposes.

AGM and Branch Presentation
2023-10-12 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | QPS Headquarters, 200 Roma Street Brisbane, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
2023 AGM and branch presentation – The Bayden-Clay Homicide Investigation, Senior Sgt Ewen Taylor (Forensic Manager for the Bayden-Clay Homicide Investigation).
Join us for our Annual General Meeting followed by a branch presentation by Senior Sgt Ewen Taylor.
Senior Sergeant Ewen Taylor, Officer in Charge, Hendra Scenes of Crime, was the Forensic manager for the Bayden-Clay Investigation involving the homicide of Allison Bayden-Clay in 2012. Senior Sergeant Taylor has previously performed duties in the role of Inspector, Forensic Coordinator primarily for North Brisbane, and for shorter periods on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.
He also performed 12 months in the role of Inspector InCharge of the DNA Management Section, and for a shorter period of time as the Inspector, State Scenes of Crime Coordinator. In the role of Forensic Coordinator, his duties involve the coordination and management of major crime scenes.
Please note, due to the sensitive nature of this presentation, it will NOT be recorded or available to view remotely. Recordings of any kind will be prohibited. Thank you for understanding.
For bookings: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=24
Thursday 12th October 2023 at 6pm at QPS headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.
Members: Free; Non-Members: $10; Student Non-Members: $5
We look forward to seeing you on the 12th October.
The 2023 AGM report can be found here:
Qld Branch Committee Nomination and Proxy forms can be found here:

ANZFSS NSW Branch - Investigating Sex Crimes
2023-10-12 17:30 - 20:00 (Australia/Sydney) | NSW State Coroner’s Court, 1A Main Ave, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia
ANZFSS NSW will hold their next presentation on the 12th of October. This presentation will cover the investigation of sexual assault and other sex crimes and will be given by Dr Ellie Freedman and DSC Monique Jackson. As this presentation will be discussing sexual assault, we encourage discretion for anyone who may have a related trigger.
Ellie Freedman is the medical forensic staff specialist at the NSW Education Centre against Violence (ECAV), and works as a medical forensic examiner at Northern Sydney Sexual Assault Service. She has a clinical background working in women’s health and sexual health services for over 20 years. Ellie has extensive clinical experience in the VAN (violence abuse and neglect) sector in NSW, working with adult and adolescent survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. She works in a state-wide role providing training, workforce and clinical advice to VAN clinical services, and has published several peer reviewed articles on primary care management of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Monique Jackson is a Detective Senior Constable currently positioned within the Investigations Team at the NSW Police Force Sex Crimes Squad. Monique graduated from the NSW Police Academy in 2008 and holds an Associate degree in Policing Practice and Advanced Diploma in Public Safety (Police Investigations). Following her graduation she was stationed at Cabramatta Police Station where she served for 8 years, obtaining her designation as Detective while there. In 2016 Monique was successful at winning a position at the State Crime Command Sex Crimes Squad and she has remained there since.
Doors Open: 5:30 PM
Presentation Starts: 6:30 PM
Location: NSW State Coroner’s Court, Forensic & Analytical Science Service. 1A Main Ave, Lidcombe
Ticket Costs:
Current ANZFSS Members: Free
Non-Members: $10
Catering will be provided by the Piccolo Me Cafe

WA Seminar: Developing New Techniques to Aid Cold Case Sexual Assault Investigations
2023-09-28 18:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Exhibition Space, Curtin University Building 500, Level 1, Building 500, Curtin University, Kent St, Western Australia, Australia
Five years ago, the #MeToo movement on social media drew a public light to sexual abuse and harassment faced by millions of people every year.
Join us on Thursday 28th August to hear from Colby Hymus and Fiona Baxter, who work in the Research & Development and Reporting Teams respectively at PathWest Forensic Biology (PWFB). They will share details of a case study where the in-house development and verification of a simple method to recover DNA from historic microscopy slides resulted in a conviction and resolution of a historic cold case sexual assault investigation. This will highlight the strong link between R&D work and real-world utility in a forensic setting.
This event will be held face-to-face at the Exhibition Space of Curtin University Building 500. The presentation will start at 6 pm, with refreshments & mingling from 5:30 pm. Please register by Monday 25th September for catering purposes.

ANZFSS NSW - 2023 Annual General Meeting - Proteomics in Forensic Science: From Basic to Applications
2023-09-15 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Henry Carmichael Theatre, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, 280 Pitt St Sydney, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Proteins in their most basic form are a linear chain of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. They are the workhorse macromolecules of the cell with a diverse array of structures and functions. Proteomics refers to the large-scale study of proteomes (the entire set of proteins that are or can be produced by a cell, tissue or organism) with the aim of identifying and quantifying proteoform abundance changes between samples (or over time) or investigating the involvement of specific proteoforms in metabolic pathways. It is important to note that the proteome, similar to the metabolome, is extremely dynamic and differs from cell to cell and varies over time, which poses challenges in the experimental design. Analytical advances in mass spectrometric techniques in recent years have led to the development of a multitude of proteomics workflows, which have also been incorporated into forensic science research. Most commonly, so called “bottom-up” experiments are conducted, where during sample preparation the proteoforms are broken down into smaller peptides by means of an enzyme (e.g. trypsin)
The resulting peptide fragments can then be readily analysed using targeted or untargeted liquidchromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Current examples of forensic applications utilising proteomics workflows include (but are not limited to) body fluid and tissue identification, proteomic genotyping, sex and age estimation, estimation of the postmortem interval as well as estimation of the age of a deposited blood sample. While proteomic analytical approaches have the potential to support and improve forensic casework practices in the future, most studies are still in the discovery phase and require thorough validation before implementation.
All are welcome to join, please see below for details!
This event will also host a short Annual General Meeting for the NSW Branch, please come along to influence the ongoing prosperity of the branch. Refreshments will be provided.
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
AGM starts: 6:45 PM (Zoom video broadcast will commence at this time for online attendees).
Presentation Starts: After AGM ~7:00-7:15 PM
Location: Henry Carmichael Theatre, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts 280 Pitt St Sydney
Ticket Costs:
Current ANZFSS Members: Free
Non-Members: $20
Zoom Video Link Only: Free

Qld Branch - Forensics in the Pharmaceutical Industry - The key to unlocking product integrity and patient safety
2023-09-14 18:30 - 19:30 (Australia/Brisbane)
We are thrilled to announce that our next presentation will be by Dr. Adrian De Grazia, who has kindly agreed to present to the Qld branch following a fantastic event in NSW. If you were unable to attend the NSW presentation, here is another chance.
Forensics in the pharmaceutical industry – The key to unlocking product integrity and patient safety
The scale of the counterfeit medicine market knows no bounds; no disease area, country or patient is completely immune to the threat. From online sales to the infiltration of legitimate supply chains, the illegal business of counterfeit medicine is a lucrative and ruthless crime, often funding organised criminal groups and endangering patients globally. Over the past 18 years, more than 302 million doses of counterfeit Pfizer medications have been seized. An average of more than 16.5 million doses a year.
This talk will provide awareness of Pfizer’s Product Integrity for Patient Safety (PIPS) program and the anatomy of a bust – including the development of our in-house artificial intelligence trawling tool and the investigative process from detection to interdiction, including forensic analysis at our in-house laboratories. The talk will also include advice on how to report suspected counterfeit medicines and detail how Pfizer Global Security works with internal and external stakeholders to ensure patient safety.
A little about Dr. Adrian De Grazia
Adrian is a Global Intelligence Lead in the Strategic Intelligence Planning and Analytics group, part of Pfizer Global Security. Adrian has a role in driving the Product Integrity for Patient Safety (PIPS) program, working with internal and external stakeholders to detect, disrupt and deter the sale of counterfeit Pfizer medicines globally.
After 10 years in the Australian Federal Police Forensic Drug Intelligence team, Adrian made the shift to a patient centric role within Pfizer, applying Forensic Intelligence and Chemistry principles to support Pfizer’s purpose of breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Adrian has a PhD and Bachelor’s degree with honours in Forensic Chemistry from the University of Technology Sydney.
When: Thursday 14th September 2023 at 6.30pm
Please note: This presentation is only available online. A link will be sent on the presentation day to all registered attendees. Thank you.
Please register here: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=26

WA Branch Seminar Series: Wild Mushroom Soup - What Not to Serve for Dinner
2023-08-30 18:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Perth) | Exhibition Space, Curtin University Building 500, Level 1, Building 500, Curtin University, Kent St, Western Australia, Australia
Recent news stories have reminded us that using wild mushrooms for culinary or psychoactive use is extremely dangerous, with wrong identification potentially leading to organ failure and death.
Join us on Wednesday 30th August to hear from Paul Sakrajda, a Chemist and Research Officer in the West Australian Police Toxicology team. He will share the story of a wild mushroom soup that caused eight people to become ill and two sent to hospital. He will give a chemist’s perspective of how the gastric contents, wine and food items implicated in the event were systematically analysed to lead to the source of the ‘poison’.
This event will be held face-to-face at the Exhibition Space of Curtin University Building 500. The presentation will start at 6 pm, with refreshments & mingling from 5:30 pm. Please register using the link below by Monday 28th August for catering purposes.
Registrations: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=25

Presentation: S/Const Chloe Holmes - Crash Investigator
2023-08-22 18:00 - 19:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | QPS Headquarters, 200 Roma Street Brisbane, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
Chloe is a Crash Investigator with the Queensland Police Service Forensic Crash Unit (FCU) based in Boondall, north of Brisbane City, Queensland. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Queensland and has completed specialised training relevant to her role. Following the severe wet weather events experienced in Queensland in mid-2021 to early 2022, she was tasked to investigate the increase in drowning deaths due to vehicles entering flood water. Chloe has since been active with key stakeholders and overseas agencies and disseminated her findings to TMR, MAIC, QFES, council and disaster management authorities.
Chloe’s talk will cover an overview of her vehicle related flooding fatalities report and the role of FCU within the QPS.
In person attendance registration – Click here: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=19
Online attendance registration – Click here: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=17
Tuesday 22nd August, 2023 at 6 pm
QPS Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane
Members: Free
Non-Members: $10; Student Non-Members: $5

ANZFSS NSW - Forensics in the Pharmaceutical Industry - The Key to Unlocking Product Integrity and Patient Safety
2023-08-10 18:00 - 21:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Western Sydney University – Parramatta South Campus, Building EB. Room EB.G.35. Cnr Railway St and Victoria Rd, Rydalmere, NSW, 2116, Australia
The next ANZFSS NSW Branch Meeting will feature a talk by Dr. Adrian De Grazia on forensics in the pharmaceutical industry.
The scale of the counterfeit medicine market knows no bounds; no disease area, country or patient is completely immune to the threat. From online sales to the infiltration of legitimate supply chains, the illegal business of counterfeit medicine is a lucrative and ruthless crime, often funding organised criminal groups and endangering patients globally. Over the past 18 years, more than 302 million doses of counterfeit Pfizer medications have been seized. An average of more than 16.5 million doses a year. This talk will provide awareness of Pfizer’s Product Integrity for Patient Safety (PIPS) program and the anatomy of a bust – including the development of our in-house artificial intelligence trawling tool and the investigative process from detection to interdiction, including forensic analysis at our in-house laboratories. The talk will also include advice on how to report suspected counterfeit medicines and detail how Pfizer Global Security works with internal and external stakeholders to ensure patient safety.
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Presentation Starts: 7:00 PM (Zoom video broadcast will commence at this time for online attendees).
Location: Western Sydney University – Parramatta South Campus. Building EB, room EB.G.35. Cnr of Railway St and Victoria Rd, Rydalmere, NSW. Public Parking available – P5, P6 and P16 are the closest car parks.
Ticket Costs:
Current ANZFSS Members: Free
Non-Members: $10
Zoom Video Link Only: Free

Inaugural Student Night - Registrations are now closed.
2023-07-27 17:30 - 20:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Griffith University, Nathan Campus, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Brisbane, 4111, Australia
Registrations have now closed.
The ANZFSS Qld Branch and Griffith University Forensic Science Society presents a joint initiative – Our Inaugural Student Night – A chance to meet and hear about the career journeys from a wide range of practicing forensic experts, followed by a Q&A session and the chance to mingle afterwards.
This exciting event will be held on Thursday 27th July 2023 from 5.30 to 8pm at Griffith University (Nathan Campus), N79_2.03A/B (please note new room number!).
Expert Presenters:

Illicit Drugs – Karen Blakey, A/Supervising Chemist, Illicit Drug Group, FSQ
Clandestine Laboratories – Helen Eldridge, Senior and Lead Field Chemist, Clandestine Laboratory Group, FSQ
Biology/DNA – Natasha Mitchell, Manager Biology Group, FSQ
Odontology – Dr. Annu Nangia, Forensic Odontologist, QHFSS
Crime Scene Investigation – S/Con Renee Torok, Scientific Section, Forensic Services Group, QPS
Criminalistics – Tony Peter, Supervising Chemist, Physical Evidence Group, FSQ
Criminalistics – Lucy Maxwell, Acting Principal Forensic Scientist, Analytical Services Unit, QPS
Ballistics – Sgt Carl Streeting, Forensic Scientist, Ballistics Unit, Forensic Services Group, QPS

Thank you to our amazing speakers and for generously donating their time. We are incredibly appreciative.

ANZFSS ACT Branch - Crime-mas in Brew-ly Trivia Night
2023-07-21 18:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Cypher Brewing, 3/35 Hinder St, Gungahlin, ACT, Australia
ANZFSS ACT is hosting a Christmas in July trivia night at Cypher Brewing at 6pm on 21 July! Details below
Members and their guests welcome. Form teams of 6 and get ready to battle it out for some great prizes!
Looking forward to seeing you all there!

ANZFSS WA Event: Humanitarian Forensics: Application Examples of an Evolving Discipline
2023-07-19 18:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Perth) | Exhibition Space, Curtin University Building 500, Level 1, Building 500, Curtin University, Kent St, Western Australia, Australia
The field of Humanitarian Forensic Action (HFA) has seen continuing evolution since the early 1980s, and now includes a range of activities framed by International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law that aim to alleviate human suffering and protect the dignity of those affected by natural or artificial catastrophic events.
Join us on Wednesday 19th July to hear from Edda Guareschi MD, who will highlight examples of how modern humanitarian forensics is applied to build a sustainable future for humanity through the promotion of historical truth and social progress.
This event will be held face-to-face at the Exhibition Space of Curtin University Building 500. The presentation will start at 6 pm, with refreshments & mingling from 5:30 pm. Please register by Friday 15th July for catering purposes.
Registration Link: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=14

ANZFSS NSW Branch - Unprecedented: The Investigation of the Lin Family Homicides
2023-07-06 18:00 - 22:00 (Australia/Sydney) | The Green Theatre – UTS, 67 Thomas St, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
On the 18th of July, 2009, five members of the Lin family were found brutally murdered in their home in Sydney’s northern suburbs. A complicated and protracted investigation followed, leading to one of the longest single-defendant murder trials in NSW history.
The case is unique in that while no identifying evidence was ever located placing the offender at the crime scene, forensic evidence nevertheless formed a significant part of the case at trial. Three members of the forensic response to the investigation will present the case from the perspective of the complexities in cross-discipline analysis. The presentation will focus on how bloodstain pattern analysis, DNA evidence, and shoe mark evidence became critical in establishing a defined sequence of events. Casework-based research was undertaken to investigate multiple hypotheses. It was also one of the first cases in NSW to utilise complex DNA mixture interpretation and 3D reconstructive evidence.
The presentation will highlight the considerations and benefits of a holistic approach to interpreting forensic evidence in complex casework.
Guest Speakers will include Detective Sergeant Shawn Harkins, Clayton Walton, and Dr Jennifer Raymond.
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Presentation Starts: 7:00 PM (Zoom video broadcast will commence at this time for online attendees).
Location: The Green Theatre (Building 7), University of Technology Sydney
Ticket Costs:
Current ANZFSS Members: Free
Non-Members: $20
Non-Members (Students): $10
Zoom Video Link Only: Free
Further Information: Lin Family Homicide Investigation Presentation

ANZFSS ACT Branch - Q&A Evening with Prof Hugh Selby
2023-06-13 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Green Couch Room, Peter Baume Building 42a, Australian National University
ANZFSS ACT branch is pleased to share with you a special Q&A evening with Professor Hugh Selby – barrister, law academic, expert witness trainer, and author.
13 June 2023 @ 6PM
FREE for members, $5 non-members. Guests welcome
Location: ANU Green Couch Room (Details below)

Research in Forensic Science, Presented by ANZFSS WA Student Representative Group
2023-05-15 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Perth) | The State Library of Western Australia, Great Southern Room, 25 Francis St, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia
Are you a student interested in forensic research, but not sure which pathway is right for you? Then you won’t want to miss this showcase event by students, for students!
ANZFSS WA student representatives Maddison Bourke (University of Western Australia), Lilijana Nicholls (Murdoch University) and Aaron Horrocks (Curtin University) will be presenting an overview of the forensic research carried out at each of their institutions, along with an overview of their personal research projects – ranging from toxicology to explosives!
This is a great chance to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of current research in action, as well as potential pathways for forensic science research from a student’s perspective.
This event will be held from 6 – 8 pm on Monday 15th May at the Great Southern Room, State Library of Western Australia. Catering will be provided and there will be plenty of opportunity to mix and mingle.
Places are strictly limited due to venue capacity. Please book your places by Friday 12th May at the link below.
https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=8

WA Seminar: Fire & Explosions Investigation
2023-03-22 18:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Exhibition Space, Curtin University Building 500, Level 1, Building 500, Curtin University, Kent St, Western Australia, Australia
In a welcome return to face-to-face events, the WA Branch invites you to join us for our first education evening of 2023! This seminar will be hosted in the Building 500 Exhibition Space at Curtin University. Enjoy mingling over food and drink from 5:30 pm, with a seminar start at 6:00 pm.
To celebrate our return to in-person events, this seminar will be free for both members and non-members. Please book your places for catering purposes by Monday 20th March. Registrations at https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=4

Fire & Explosion Investigation – The Private Sector Perspective
Investigations of fires and explosions is critical not only for criminal justice, but for public safety. James (Jim) Munday and Keith Murray are Senior Fire Investigators at Fire Forensics; leading experts in fire and explosion investigation in Australia and abroad. In this presentation, they will provide an insight into the fundamentals of fire investigation.
About the Speakers:
Jim Munday began his career in forensic science in 1972, having since examined around 4,000 fire and explosion scenes. He is one of only a few specialists worldwide in the interpretation of thermal damage and injury distribution to injured and deceased victims of fire.
Keith Murray’s professional career includes 30 years within the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Staffordshire Fire Service, before joining the private sector in 2018. He has conducted investigations in USA, Poland, France and the UK.
ANZFSS Webinar Flyer_MundayMurray

ANZFSS ACT Branch Meeting - Dr Melissa Humphries
2023-03-21 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Green Couch Room, Peter Baume Building 42a, Australian National University
The ACT Branch is kicking off 2023 branch meetings featuring special guest speaker from University of Adelaide, Statistician Dr Melissa Humphries who will share with use her passion for statistics and its applications to forensic science.
See the flyer sent by email for more information.

From Crime Scenes to Clean Spaces: Investigating Trace DNA Analysis and Self-Cleaning Substrates - Dr Dan Bonsu
2023-03-14 17:30 - 19:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, 4108, Australia
We are thrilled to announce our first presentation of 2023 – From Crime Scenes to Clean Spaces: Investigating Trace DNA Analysis and Self-Cleaning Substrates by Dr Dan Bonsu (Chemistry and Forensic Sciences, Griffith University)
Dan holds a PhD from the University of Adelaide and has recently joined the Griffith Sciences group from Forensic Science Queensland. With research interests in biometrics, genetics, and analytical chemistry, Dan is currently focused on streamlining workflows for analysing trace DNA samples and sexual assault evidence, as well as developing new methods for recovering trace DNA from metal substrates found at crime scenes.
Locard’s principle assumes that, apart from anthropological activities or natural (environmental) occurrences, trace biomaterial resulting from human contact with items may persist, potentially becoming evidence with probative value, for example, in a criminal investigation. While this principle has been “tried and tested,” its applicability to substrates that have a mechanism to self-clean by breaking down organic material on their surfaces has not been investigated.
This presentation explores the persistence, recovery, and amplification of trace DNA from self-cleaning surfaces and its implications for investigative forensics.
Tuesday 14th March, QHFSS Conference Theatre – 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, 5.45 pm (door will open at 5.30 pm. Please allow 10 minutes to check in with the security desk which is adjacent to the conference theatre).
Please Book via: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=5

NZFSS NSW Branch February Event - Eric Murray celebration and networking night
2023-02-24 18:00 - 21:00 (Australia/Sydney)
Dear ANZFSS NSW Branch,
ANZFSS NSW invites you to our first event of 2023, a celebration of our life member Eric Murray. This event will be an in-person networking night where students can meet and talk with industry professionals; something that Eric was extremely passionate about supporting. We will also be featuring short presentations to celebrate Eric’s life and his support of the careers of emerging forensic professionals. ANZFSS NSW will use the proceeds of the event to make a donation to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Drinks and nibbles will be provided on the night.
When: 24th February 6pm
Where: Croydon Park Club; 55 Seymour St Croydon Park
Cost: $10 for members and students; $20 for non-members
Register here: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=3
Please see attached flyer for more information.
Kind regards,
ANZFSS NSW Branch | nswanzfss@outlook.com | anzfss.org

Forensic Science Against Gender-Based Violence
2022-11-28 10:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Perth)
Violence against women and girls is a serious issue across Australia. For this reason, the ANZFSS (WA Branch) is pleased to be partnering with WA Museum Boola Bardip (WAM) to support the “16 Days in WA” 2022 campaign against gender-based violence.

The Branch is participating in the campaign by hosting a showcase of the contributions of forensic science in Western Australia to tackling gender-based violence. This coincides with the ‘Red Shoes‘ exhibit to be installed at WAM, in which citizens of Perth will be asked to donate red pairs of shoes filled in with messages of hope, solidarity, or testimonies.
Join us at from 10 am – 12 pm, Monday 28th November at WAM Woodside Learning Studios to hear first-hand about the current forensic research and practices in Western Australia helping to combat violence against women, and become part of the movement for change. The event will feature short presentations from several local forensic practitioners, researchers and police, followed by a Q&A panel.
Places for this event are strictly limited. Registration includes a catered morning tea sponsored by the ANZFSS WA Branch. All ticket fees from this event will be donated to the Sexual Assault Resource Centre to further support action against gender-based violence.
Register your place at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/472277453577.

If this topic has raised issues and you need to speak with someone, help is available by calling 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). This is a 24-hour national counselling line for any Australian who has experienced or is at risk of family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault. If you are experiencing emotional distress including suicidal thoughts, you can also contact Lifeline (13 11 14).

WA Branch AGM + Sundowner
2022-11-17 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Perth)
The WA Branch Committee invites all local members to our AGM + Sundowner event, to be held at Manning Memorial Bowling Club on Thursday 17th November 2022. The AGM will start at 6 pm, with the rest of the evening free to chat, eat, or even try a hand at bowls!
All committee positions will be open for nomination, so we hope to see some new faces joining us for 2023. For those unable to attend, we ask that you submit your proxy form (circulated via email) before the meeting.
Registrations will open shortly for catering purposes.

Qld Branch Symposium Award winner's presenatations
2022-11-17 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, 4108, Australia
Please join us in celebrating the Qld Branch Symposium Award winners who will be presenting either their research and/or experiences from the recent Symposium.
Georgia Teese: Developing a method for the detection, sampling, and Human DNA profiling of blood-stained soil
Eden Whittaker: Evaluation of crime scene scanning and mapping tools
Dr. Jasmine Connell: Evaluating the suitability of current mitochondrial DNA interpretation guidelines for multigenerational whole mitochondrial genome comparisons
Dr. William Gee: Assessing HFE-7100 of all-in-one iodine naphthoflavone finger-mark developers
Brendan Miller: 3,4-Dimethyl-5-phenyl-2-oxazolidinone: Artefact or intermediate?
A/Prof. Sarah Cresswell: Discipline Chair: Education and Training
Dr. Peter Culshaw: Discipline Chair: Illicit Drugs and Clandestine laboratories
QHFSS Conference Theatre – 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains from 5.15 pm (Please allow 10 minutes to sign in with security)
Please book at: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=245

Qld AGM + Branch Presentation
2022-10-27 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Sydney) | QPS Headquarters, 200 Roma Street Brisbane, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
The 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on 27th October 2022 at Queensland Police Service (QPS) headquarters from 6pm. This year we also have Senior Sergeant Gerard Simpfendorfer, the Deputy State Disaster Victim Identification Squad Coordinator for QPS, presenting some notable events he was deployed to.
Presentation: This will be a 90-minute presentation by Snr Sgt Gerard Simpfendorfer’s deployment to both the 2019 Christchurch Mosque Shootings and Whakaari/White Island Volcano Eruption. The presentation will focus on the Disaster Victim Identification process. The Christchurch Mosque Shooting section covers the DVI timeline from the date of the incident till the final identifications were presented to the coroner. It covers briefly all the DVI phases with a focus on the Reconciliation Phase were Gerard worked. The Whakaari/White Island Volcano eruption section will be an overview of the incident and will focus on some individual identifications that were presented to the coroner which highlighted difficulties encountered during the process. Several images contained within this presentation depict sudden death scenes and may be disturbing to some people.
Gerard is currently the Senior Sergeant, Senior Business Analyst with the Queensland Police. Before joining the Police 1992 he was a registered nurse who completed his Diploma of Health Science (Nursing) at Charles Sturt University in Wagga whilst working in rural NSW. He then moved to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane for a few years before joining the Police. Gerard joined the Queensland Police Disaster Victim Identification Squad in 1999 and his first operational deployment was the Childers Backpackers Hostel Fire in 2000. Gerard completed 2 tours of Bali after the 2002 bombing, 1 tour of Thailand after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, 1 tour of Christchurch after the 2019 Mosque Shootings and 1 tour of Auckland after the 2019 Whakaari/White Island Volcano Eruption. He has been involved in over 30 Disaster Victim Identification operations in his time with the Squad. During this time, he spent several years as both the Ante Mortem and Reconciliation Coordinator for the Queensland Police, a dual role he performed for the Slacks Creek House Fire in 2011. Gerard is currently the Deputy State Disaster Victim Identification Squad Coordinator for Queensland Police. Gerard’s most recent DVI deployment was the Banks Creek Plane Crash near Fernvale in August 2022.

Please note this presentation is Copyrighted by the QPS DVI under the following conditions:
Copyright © QLD DVI SQUAD (QPS) 2022
As an attendee viewing this presentation, you are required to abide by the following conditions:

Recording, photography, copying and/or sharing of this information is prohibited by the information owner without prior approval.

For in-person attendance registration: https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=240
For online attendance registration (via Teams): https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=241 (Please note a QPS, Qld Health or selected Government email address is required. This is a security feature at QPS where this presentation is taking place and is beyond our control. For qualifying attendees, please kindly register by noon October 27th. An email with the presentation link will be sent shortly after.

WA Campfire Forensics
2022-10-25 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Perth)
After two years being predominantly online, we’re delighted to introduce a new in-person event: Campfire Forensics! Come along to enjoy some nibbles & drinks while learning or sharing your thoughts on various forensic topics, such as:

What career challenges exist in academia vs. industry for forensic science?
How can we best translate forensic research into day-to-day forensic operations?
What are the current or emerging techniques for ‘virtual forensics’?

Our first ‘campfire’ session will be held Tuesday 25th October, 6 – 8 pm at Lake Karrinyup Country Club. Places for this event are strictly limited – registrations close Thursday 20th October.
For more information, email the Branch at wabranch@anzfss.org, or follow our social media pages (Facebook: ANZFSS.WA; Twitter: @ANZFSS_WA).

ACT AGM + Branch Event
2022-10-24 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Sydney)
The Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) ACT Branch Committee invites all members to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) 6pm Monday 24 October 2022. The AGM will be held virtually over MS Teams with no in-person meeting. Details for joining the meeting have been emailed to members.
Nil RSVP required. Refer to email for all relevant documentation including Committee Nomination and proxy forms (due to actbranch@anzfss.org by COB 17 October).
Questions, concerns, and ideas from members welcome. We have achieved a lot in 2021/2022 to reinvigorate the ACT Branch and look forward to even more engagement, interesting branch meetings and member support into 2023 – another busy Symposium year!
The AGM will be followed by a presentation from special guest speaker, Heidi Yates, the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner (stay online via the same MS Teams link, nil pre-registration required).
6pm – 7pm: AGM
7pm – 8pm: Presentation by Heidi Yates
Guest Speaker: Heidi Yates, ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner
A 2022 Bill Harris Executive Leadership Award winner and trailblazer in gender-related law reform, ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates is a lawyer and leading advocate for family violence reform in the ACT. She has advocated for the development and funding of free legal services across Australia, and for more inclusive laws here in the ACT.
As the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner, Heidi has the challenging and important role of promoting and protecting the rights of people who experience crime, and ensuring they can access the support they need.
Heidi will present on her career as a Human Rights Lawyer, the functions of the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner, and her role overseeing the daily operations of Victim Support ACT, which works with over 3,000 Canberrans each year. Heidi has great insight into how victims can be failed by the system particularly in sexual assault and family violence cases, and also in the variety of support services (including financial assistance) available.
Heidi will share case studies from her work with the criminal justice system and expert witnesses, inform us about the different kinds of support available to victim-survivors of crime, and speak to how victims of crime perceive forensic evidence.

Drugs in wastewater - Whose idea was that?! - Zoom + in-person in Christchurch
2022-10-20 18:00 - 19:30 (Pacific/Auckland)
Presenter: Andrew Chappell (ESR)
Date: Thursday, October 20
Time:

NZ: 6pm
AEDT: 4pm
ACDT: 3.30pm
AEST: 3pm
ACST: 2:30pm
ACWST: 2pm
AWST: 1pm

Event type: Zoom + in-person in Christchurch
On Zoom: Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84310498733?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 843 1049 8733
Passcode: [REDACTED]
One tap mobile
+61731853730,,84310498733#,,,,*[REDACTED]# Australia
+61861193900,,84310498733#,,,,*[REDACTED]# Australia
Dial by your location
+61 7 3185 3730 Australia
+61 8 6119 3900 Australia
+61 8 7150 1149 Australia
+61 2 8015 6011 Australia
+61 3 7018 2005 Australia
+64 4 886 0026 New Zealand
+64 9 884 6780 New Zealand
+64 3 659 0603 New Zealand
Meeting ID: 843 1049 8733
Passcode: [REDACTED]
In person in Christchurch:
Where: Media Room B130 at the Police Central, 40 Lichfield St, Christchurch NZ
When: 5:30-6:00: speed networking with pizza, 6-7pm: presentation
Registration: please register with Vica Papp at viktoria.papp@mbie.govt.nz to ensure we have enough pizza / seats
Logistics: please arrive at the main doors of the Police station from 5:30pm onwards. To be allowed on site, you will need be issued with a visitor’s pass by our NZ Police member. Police staff attending the presentation can make their way directly to Media Room B130. Please bring exact change to cover the entrance fee or show evidence of bank transfer to 02-0800-0875171-000. Some change will be available but limited.
Entry: NZFSS Members: $5, Non-members: $8, Students: koha.
Bio: Andrew Chappell is a senior scientist at ESR with over 20 years’ experience in environmental and food chemistry. His professional passion is analytical chemistry, and for the last six years he has been leading the Drugs in Wastewater programme. In 2016 he worked with Police to develop the methodology and undertake a trial to prove the concept in New Zealand, and it has grown from there.
Abstract: After growing from small beginnings, New Zealand now has the most comprehensive Drugs in Wastewater (DIWW) monitoring programme in the world, based on population coverage. With over four years of data covering much of the country, this presentation will share

how the technique works,
some interesting trends,
one off events we have detected,
how do we compare,
what else can we look for,
as well as deal with the most important question: “so what?”

WA Webinar: Experimental Approaches to Human Decomposition
2022-10-04 19:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Perth)
The WA Branch invites you to join us for our final webinar of the year! Our speaker is Dr Agathe Ribéreau-Gayon, a postdoctoral fellow at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, who will discuss her research on surface taphonomy in cold continental climates.
This webinar will be held via Zoom from 7:00 pm AWST (UTC+8) on Tuesday 4th October 2022. To register, go to https://members.anzfss.org/booking.php?id=244.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues with registration, please contact the committee at wabranch@anzfss.org.
We look forward to seeing you online!

Networking & brainstorming session
2022-09-22 18:00 - 19:30 (Pacific/Auckland)
Tēnā tātou,
We would like to invite you all to our next in-person-only networking and brainstorming session to be held at the Media Room at the Police central on Thursday, Sept 22.
WHAT: Networking & brainstorming session
As the country is slowly moving past the Covid era, the Society would like to reconnect the community of forensic and operational staff. People have arrived, people have relocated, and we all haven’t had a face to face kōrero in ages. This session is for you if you
WHERE: B130 Media Room at Police Central at 40 Lichfield St
WHEN: Thursday, Sept 22, 6-7:30pm
Please arrive at the main doors of the Police station, 40 Lichfield Street from 5:45pm onwards for informal networking and pizza, with the the structured networking event starting at 6pm sharp.
RSVP: Registration, however tentative, is essential for catering purposes. Please email Vica Papp at viktoria.papp@mbie.govt.nz by 12 noon on Sept 22.
HOW MUCH: NZFSS Members: $5, Non-members: $8, Students: koha. Please bring exact change or show evidence of bank transfer to 02-0800-0875171-000.
Nāku noa, nā
Vica (Viktória) Papp, PhD, MSc, MA (they / them)
Christchurch branch chair of NZFSS
