A Rotary Central Melbourne Club Meeting held on 3 December 2024
Reported by Fleur Maidment
Acting President: Neville John
Chair: Ignacio Inchausti
The in-person meeting was opened by Chair, Ignacio Inchausti at 8am, with a toast to Rotary. The Acting President, Neville John added his own introduction to the meeting and an acknowledgement of country and the culture, knowledge and continuing connection to the land of our First Nations people. He welcomed visitor Catherine Andrews, from the Alumni and Advancement Office, La Trobe University, and guest speaker Dr Jane Leong, Director Development at the Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation (ACAMI) at La Trobe University.
Guest Speaker - AI for medical innovation
Chair Ignacio Inchausti introduced the guest speaker and noted that it is an exciting time for the development of artificial intelligence (AI). AI can be seen as technology threatening traditional jobs and shifting norms, but it is also enormously exciting and will revolutionise many areas of our life. Dr Leong is leading world-first technology and innovation in medical research at La Trobe. She outlined to members the vision of ACAMI which was established in 2024, to be a world leader in AI for medical innovation by 2030. The centre also aspires to create commercially viable outcomes through its support of programs in Victoria, and small to medium biotechnology businesses. The centre was established through a Victorian Government grant of $10M, matched by contributions by La Trobe University.
An important aspect of the centres offering is to establish a Nvidia Dgx H200 computer system which is next generation technology and is twice as fast as other operating systems. This system will be available to partners such as the Olivia Newton John - La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, where quicker data analysis will save time and lead to innovation in diagnostics and individualised treatment. The technology will also be deployed in clinical trials for vaccine development, research collaboration and developing Victoria’s medical research capabilities. Dr Jane shared an example of using the technology to create a digital twin that could be used to trail and individualise treatments based on a patient's history and unique traits leading to faster, cheaper and targeted detection, diagnostics and treatment.
ACAMI hopes to establish an ecosystem of innovation and expertise in Victoria through scholarships, training and partnerships in AI and digital fluency related to medical research leading to commercially viable outcomes. A video outlining the work and aspirations of the centre was shown https://youtu.be/QZ6IZFeH5FU?si=BpkTWAaqchLUZDmp
Questions from Members
Questions from the floor expanded on our understanding of Jane’s work at the centre and guidelines of how AI is used across the world. Discussion ranged from US liberal guidelines to EU stricter guidelines, and that Australia sits somewhere in the middle. ACAMI will be a world accredited facility and all data analysis and research will be approved by an ethics committee. In addition, ACAMI will host a clinical grade laboratory making mRNA vaccines for clinical research. It will not be designed for manufacturing of commercial quantities, yet it will assist to accelerate development of vaccines in Australia.
Further discussion about the reliance on AI as a decision making tool prompted Jane to give her opinion that for the foreseeable future clinicians will be making the final decision based on all information available to them. AI is simply another powerful tool leading to better outcomes for patients.
In Victoria there are already electives, undergraduate and post-graduate degrees teaching AI. Skilled AI workers were estimated to be 800 in 2014 and expected to grow to over 200,000 by 2030, with ACAMI taking a role in training and developing our workforce to be world leaders in AI technology.
Member announcements
Doug Robertson provided an update of a celebratory event at the University of Melbourne where Silk Miller Scholars - Steve Turner, Josh Guy and from 2023 Julie Woods were given certificates after completing their Graduate Diploma of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. The UoM also announced the introduction of a Masters in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing with a focus on leadership.
Some “virtual” presentations were made, including one lady from Beirut who advised they were re-building! Doug gave a moving account of a story told by Josh Guy at the presentation, where he illustrated a positive outcome within the judicial system, that was only made possible as a result of his studies.
The University in conjunction with VicPol and RCM, also invited 19 Silk Miller scholars who are still employed in the force to the graduation. Nine members were able to attend and were asked to complete a questionnaire recounting stories of the difference they are making in youth support and interactions. The data will be analysed by UoM and will be shared with RCM. Neville advised members that RCM has contributed $280,000 (in todays $’s) to the scholarships over 26 years and thanked the members including Doug, who have been involved from the beginning.
Kevin Love encouraged members to see former NGSE recipient Raphael Wong play kindly cop Eddie Souther, in Sister Act. Raf gave a wonderful performance, almost stealing the show, and he and Veronica enjoyed it very much.
Rotary Down Under deserves a careful read this edition noted Rohan Williams, with our Tree of Joy project featuring in the Christmas Giving edition. He thanked Rebecca John for growing the project from one company contributing to employees from four companies giving over 200 Christmas presents.
Cards were signed for Caprice and Wilsons Storage, organised by Peter Duras.
Acting President Neville outlined arrangements and entertainment for the Christmas Breakfast on 10 December (tickets now closed) and highlighted the giving of presents as part of the Tree of Joy project and the collection of over 100 food hampers for Steps Outreach and Lentarra will be a colourful and meaningful feature of the morning.
Chair, Ignacio and Acting President, Neville wrapped up with closing comments about the very topical and fascinating presentation from Dr Jane Leong about the enigma that is AI and thanking her for her insights about possibilities for the future.
Meeting closed 8.31am.
Some photos from the Silk Miller/University of Melbourne celebration are below:
Silk Miller Graduate Josh Guy speaking at presentation
Silk Miller Graduates, Dr Ani Wierenga, Dr David Broderick, RCM Representatives
Silk Miller Graduates
