Take a laboratory management masterclass

The Laboratory Managers Conference 2012 will be opened by Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt. Other keynote speakers include Professor David de Kretser, the ex-governor of Victoria; and Professor Graham Mitchell, Chief Scientist Victoria.

What: Laboratory Managers Conference 2012

When: 19-21 November 2012

Where: Sebel and Citigate Hotel, Melbourne

Registration: www.labmanagers.org.au

The theme of this year’s conference is Insights from Experts Masterclass - Using the Right Tools:

• People
• Technology
• Business
• Regulatory

Presentations will cover topics such as the latest regulatory updates; handling scientific and technical staff; being aware of the legislative changes; and learning about technology that will benefit laboratory managers in their workplace. The conference commences on 20 November with registration from 8.30 am, with a conference dinner that night. There will also be a trade exhibition.

Three optional one-day workshops will be held on 19 November from 9 am to 4 pm:

• ‘Laboratory Productivity - Adapting Your Space and Self to the New World’ offers an overview of the skills and technologies of lean operations and Six Sigma problem solving. It adopts ‘the production perspective’, seeing your operation as a chain of value for serving consumers’ needs.
• ‘Managing Laboratory Staff - An Empowered Workplace’ considers the issues of difficult staff, conflict between staff, technical versatility and adaptability, employee engagement, and organisational systems and culture. It will help attendees set up a consistent system, where everyone has suitable goals, skills and motivation.
• ‘Risk Management - Towards a Safer Workplace’ enables attendees to be proficient in a range of activities that will allow the full range of inherent risks in the laboratory to be identified, monitored and reduced.

The workshops will be followed by optional tours to the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication or Victoria Police Forensic Services. The tours will leave from the conference venue by bus at 4 pm and return at 6 pm. They are free for conference delegates.