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, research compliance, 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 integrity 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 Stream Leaders based in each Australian and New Zealand jurisdiction to help guide the stream’s direction and ensure representation that reflects the AABHL membership across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. If you are interested, please contact via email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Stream Leaders
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
I am a research ethics and compliance specialist focused on positioning research ethics and governance as strategic enablers of globally competitive research. I provide leadership and operational oversight of Adelaide University’s integrated human ethics, animal ethics, institutional biosafety and research compliance functions. I am focused on developing a unified, best-in-class research ethics and compliance framework that embeds a minimum viable bureaucracy model to maintain robust compliance while enabling research through streamlined, risk-based systems and processes.
I have extensive experience across the Australian research ethics landscape, supporting both institutional and independent ethical review bodies and contributing to the design, implementation and continuous improvement of research governance systems. I supported Bellberry Limited to achieve internationally recognised accreditation through the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP), the first Australian organisation to receive this global recognition.
I hold a Bachelor of Health Science, a Graduate Certificate in Business Law and a Graduate Diploma in Integrated Governance, Risk Management and Compliance. I also hold professional qualifications as a lead auditor in quality and safety management systems and maintain professional governance qualifications/affiliations with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia.