About the Stream
The Research Ethics and Innovation Stream of AABHL brings together researchers, educators, administrators, policy professionals, and other interested parties engaged with the ethical, legal and regulatory aspects of research. This includes research integrity, human research ethics, animal ethics, biocompliance, responsible innovation, and the broader governance of research activities across academic, clinical and industry settings.
Informed by decades of AABHL tradition and revitalised with fresh leadership in 2025, the stream continues the legacy of AAHBHL’s original Research Ethics stream, expanding its focus to reflect emerging developments in artificial intelligence, data use, precision medicine, and global research practices. The stream encourages interdisciplinary exchange on topics such as ethical oversight, consent, risk, regulatory design, and the institutional responsibilities that underpin trustworthy and impactful research.
Our goal is to create a vibrant, inclusive and practically useful space for the research ethics and innovation community. Stream leaders are committed to identifying and responding to members’ needs through resource-sharing, critical discussion, and collaborative networking opportunities. Researchers and practitioners navigating ethical and governance issues in research are warmly invited to contribute ideas and participate in stream activities.
We are seeking expressions of interest for a New Zealand-based co-leader to help guide the stream’s direction and ensure representation that reflects the AABHL membership across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. If you are based in New Zealand and interested in shaping the future of the research ethics and innovation stream, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
If you are interested, please contact via email: [email protected]
Stream Leaders
Prof. Andrew Crowden
Andrew Crowden is an Honorary Professor in the Department of Medical Biology at The University of Melbourne (UoM), Honorary Professor in Philosophy at the University of Queensland (UQ) and Adjunct Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). He is Chairperson of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), Chairperson of the UQ Ethics Advisory Group, Chairperson of UniSC HREC and an Executive Member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Research Ethics Committee (REC). He is the philosopher/bioethicist member of the CSIRO Australian Health Biobank Advisory Group and a Member of the Australasian Association of Philosophy (AAP) Philosophy in Community Committee (PiCC).
Tess Penglis, Associate Director: UniSA Research Office (Ethics and Compliance)
Tess Penglis is an experienced research ethics and integrity specialist with qualifications in business law, health science, and audit and compliance. She is an Associate of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tess has extensive experience across the Australian research ethics landscape, supporting both institutional and independent ethical review bodies. At Bellberry Limited, she led the administration of external audit and monitoring functions and supported the organisation’s successful accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP); the first Australian organisation to achieve this global recognition.
Her portfolio included post-approval compliance monitoring across a diverse range of research, from first-in-human clinical trials to social, government, and observational studies. This work has provided her with deep insight into regulatory frameworks, ethical principles, and international best practices in human research protection.
Tess has supported a range institutional committees – including biosafety, research governance, human research ethics, and animal ethics – as a non-voting member, providing policy, regulatory, and governance advice to support consistent, complaint decision-making.
Currently, Tess supports strategic research governance activities related to the University of South Australia and University of Adelaide merger, with leadership responsibilities across human ethics, animal ethics, research integrity, and research compliance. She also serves as Company Secretary for the Children’s Tumour Foundation, working closely with the board and senior management to support effective governance.