- 25 minutes 54 seconds631 - AI, Workforce Enablement, and Women in Leadership: Highlights from HIC2026
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Rae Donovan, Chief Clinical Information Officer at e-Health Queensland, Professor Peter Steel, Associate Dean of Digital Health and Informatics at the University of Melbourne and Chief Transformation Officer at Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Anita Ghose, Founder and CEO of inventiveX, at HIC 2026, hosted by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.
Recorded on the sidelines of the conference, the conversation brings together perspectives from frontline clinical practice, academic leadership, and industry innovation, offering a well-rounded look at where Australia's digital health sector is heading.
The discussion covers digital health innovation, advancing clinical AI in Australia, workforce enablement, women in digital leadership, and the ongoing transformation of healthcare through technology-driven collaboration.
The conversation also touches on the gap between technical ambition and everyday clinical reality, including how outdated hospital systems and clunky electronic medical records continue to shape the day-to-day experience of clinicians.
Together, the guests unpack what it takes to modernise ageing hospital systems, build local expertise in clinical AI, and create lasting pathways for women in digital health careers, drawing on real experience from the clinic floor, the university, and the boardroom.
Key Takeaways
💡 Workforce enablement in digital health involves not just technical training, but supporting ongoing learning, retention, and the evolution of clinical workflows with new technologies.
💡 Clinical AI development in Australia needs hubs or ecosystems of excellence to concentrate capabilities and deliver region-wide benefits, rather than isolated innovation.
💡 Women remain underrepresented in tech roles, and programs focused on digital health leadership can bridge gaps through mentoring, networking, and targeted initiatives.
💡 Technology in healthcare must evolve beyond digitising paper processes to provide more intuitive, AI-enabled, and context-aware support for clinicians.
💡 Networks, global connections, and sponsorship are critical for developing future leadership and sustaining momentum in digital health transformation.
Timestamps
00:00 - Peter Birch | Episode introduction and HIC overview
00:33 - Dr. Rae Donovan | Workforce enablement & networking
07:58 - Professor Peter Steel | Clinical AI innovation & hubs
13:42 - Anita Ghose | Women in Digital Health Leadership Program
19:54 - Anita Ghose | Mentoring and legacy networks
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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26 August 2026, 5:30 pm - 1 minute 59 secondsWelcome to Talking HealthTech: Connecting Doers and Builders in Healthcare Technology
Talking HealthTech (THT) is Australia's leading media company for health tech conversations, connecting decision-makers, innovators and doers across the healthcare industry.
Hosted by Peter Birch, our weekly podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in healthcare innovation from around the world. Alongside the show, we run a newsletter, active social channels and a comprehensive glossary of digital health terms, so you've got one place to stay across the industry.
*THT+ Community*
Our safe space for the doers and builders in health tech to connect, learn and grow. Members get access to our community platform, live online meetups, exclusive content, partner discounts and other member-only benefits. Join at talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus
*THT Productions*
Our production arm helps healthcare organisations tell stories that spark real change, through customer testimonials, product showcases, workflow explainers and documentaries.
*Company Partnerships*
Want to get your organisation in front of the health tech community? Our partnership tiers include a feature podcast episode, directory listing, community seats and more. See what's included: talkinghealthtech.com/partners
*About Pete*
Peter Birch has spent his career in healthcare operations, from running GP clinics and global medical assistance centres to being first hire at multiple health tech startups. He now sits on the boards of industry groups and health tech companies, bringing that experience into every conversation on the show.
Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome to Talking HealthTech - podcast, newsletter, social and glossary
0:22 THT+ Community: our space for health tech doers and builders
0:41 THT Productions: video storytelling for healthcare
1:03 About Pete: from GP clinics to health tech startups
1:32 Real conversations that improve patient outcomes
1:47 Subscribe, follow and join the newsletter
🔗 Website: talkinghealthtech.com
🔗 Media kit: talkinghealthtech.com/mediakit
🔗 Join THT+ Community: talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus
🔗 Partner with us: talkinghealthtech.com/partners
#HealthTech #DigitalHealth #HealthcareInnovation #HealthcarePodcast #HealthTechAustralia
18 August 2026, 5:30 pm - 1 hour 4 seconds630 - Beyond Dashboards: How Command Centres Enable Real-Time Hospital Operations
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Manuel Pérez Vallina, former CIO in the Spanish health system, Femi Ladega, Group Chief Digital Officer at Dedalus, and Dr Vinod Seetharaman, Chief Medical Officer for Dedalus in Australia and New Zealand.
The discussion covers the evolution of hospital command centres, the shift from using dashboards for retrospective data towards enabling proactive, real-time operational decisions, and how these changes impact clinical workflows and patient outcomes across different health systems.
Recorded live, the conversation draws on experience building one of Spain's first hospital command centres alongside lessons from health systems in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
The panel unpacks why familiar pressures such as underused operating theatres, growing waiting lists and bed shortages appear so consistently across borders, and what separates a command centre from a wall of screens.
Along the way, they examine the four principles that determine whether the model delivers real change, the cultural and governance work that sits behind the technology, the role artificial intelligence can play in filtering meaningful signals, and the practical first steps for organisations weighing up where to begin.
Key Takeaways
🚑 Hospital command centres enable real-time, actionable insights beyond traditional dashboards, improving operational efficiency and patient care.
🛠️ Implementing command centre solutions requires aligning technology, organisational culture, and governance to drive sustained change.
📊 Demonstrating value and securing investment means clearly defining the use case, limiting initial project scope, and engaging stakeholders early.
⚡ Effective change management and clinician engagement are crucial for successful adoption and maximising impact.
🌐 Challenges and solutions discussed are common globally, but must be tailored to local healthcare system maturity and needs.
Timestamps
00:00 - Episode introduction & topic overview
03:42 - Manuel Pérez Vallina on Spain’s command centre journey
05:55 - Femi Ladega: Global perspectives and data orchestration
08:29 - Dr Vinod Seetharaman on capacity management challenges
10:26 - Command centres vs. dashboards
19:02 - Clinical benefits and flow management
22:13 - Stakeholder engagement and return on investment
32:07 - Real-world impacts and cascading benefits
39:48 - Implementation challenges and change management
48:59 - Integrating AI, primary care, and data governance
53:45 - Final advice for hospital leaders
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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12 August 2026, 5:30 pm - 25 minutes 14 seconds629 - RingCentral: Cloud Migration, AI and the Future of Voice Communications in Australia
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Steve Saunders, Healthcare Principle at RingCentral, about what is really at stake for Australian healthcare organisations still running on legacy phone systems and why the move to cloud-based communications is becoming increasingly urgent.
They cover the risks of relying on ageing PABX infrastructure, the barriers that slow down migration decisions and how a modular, evolutionary approach to modernisation can reduce risk and build confidence across an organisation.
The conversation also gets into the role of AI and automation in transforming how healthcare manages calls, appointments and patient interactions, as well as the critical importance of data sovereignty, privacy and security when moving to cloud-based platforms.
Steve shares why voice remains the most important communication channel in healthcare, why general-purpose tools are not built for clinical environments, and what healthcare leaders should look for when choosing a long-term technology partner rather than a one-off supplier.
For more information check out RingCentral at www.talkinghealthtech.com/ringcentral
Have a question about this episode? Reach out directly to Steve:
Steve Saunders
Healthcare Principle | RingCentral
📞 +61-2-9157-6831
Key Takeaways
📞 Voice communication remains the number one application in healthcare, with unique requirements compared to other sectors.
☁️ Healthcare is at a crossroads, moving away from legacy on-premise PABX phone systems towards resilient, cloud-based communications platforms.
🤖 AI tools are being used for pre-interaction triage, live transcription, translation, and post-call analytics to improve efficiency and patient experience.
🛡 Data sovereignty and security are top priorities, with strict compliance with Australian regulations and onshore data processing for AI.
🔄 Major barriers for adoption are fear of change and complacency, not just competition from other vendors.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction & guest background
00:37 - Why voice is critical in healthcare
03:41 - Unique challenges for healthcare phone systems
07:31 - Transitioning from legacy to cloud
11:25 - AI & efficiency in communications
16:25 - Data sovereignty & security
18:39 - Industry landscape & barriers to change
22:09 - Advice for healthcare providers
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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5 August 2026, 5:30 pm - 31 minutes 22 seconds628 - Smart Health Asia Insights: Technology, Collaboration, and Healthcare's Future in Asia
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Madhu Sasidhar, CEO and President of Apollo Hospitals, Luciano Bristia, Asia Pacific Business Lead at InterSystems, and Kym Chua, Executive Director of Messe Berlin Asia Pacific.
The discussion covers healthcare system challenges, digital transformation, AI adoption, workforce shortages, regional collaboration, and what it takes to drive innovation across Asia-Pacific health sectors.
The conversation explores how AI is easing pressure on clinicians, from assisting radiologists with scans to helping nurses pull up patient information faster.
It also touches on the urban and rural divide in access to care, Indonesia's push for a unified national health record, the importance of adapting solutions to local markets rather than adopting them outright, and how sustainability is shaping infrastructure decisions across the region.
This episode was recorded during Smart Health Asia in Singapore, an event that brought together over 3,000 participants from 18 countries.
It features interviews and observations captured during the event, highlighting perspectives from senior leaders, technology providers, and event organisers.
Key Takeaways
🩺 Access to healthcare and technology is a significant challenge in India and Southeast Asia, with urban-rural divides and workforce shortages affecting service delivery.
🤖 AI and digital technologies are being leveraged for efficiency gains, assisting with diagnostics (radiology, stroke, colonoscopy) and reducing clinician workload.
🌏 Regional health challenges and solutions differ greatly; mature markets like Australia and Japan contrast with fast-growing, young populations in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
💡 Collaboration across healthcare providers, policymakers, and technology vendors is seen as essential for scalable, effective innovation.
🔥 Initiatives like Indonesia's "Satu Sehat" (One Health) aim to create nationwide health records, especially targeting preventive care as a strategy for future public health management.
Timestamps
00:00 - Event Introduction: Smart Health Asia
00:48 - Madhu Sasidhar, CEO Apollo Hospitals
08:23 - Luciano Bristia, InterSystems, Asia Pacific
23:02 - Kym Chua, Event Organiser and Executive Director, Messe Berlin Asia Pacific
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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29 July 2026, 5:30 pm - 34 minutes 10 seconds627 - The Future of Biopharma: AI, Automation, and Clinical Trial Breakthroughs at BIO2026
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jayden Rogers (CEO, Linear Clinical Research), Dr Stacie Calad-Thomson (Business Development Lead, Nvidia for Pharma Labs and Manufacturing), Arjun Bhat (Co-Founder, Clinrol), and Tran Le (General Manager, Hippocratic AI).
The conversations cover the changing landscape of clinical trials and drug discovery, the growing role of AI in patient recruitment and drug development, and innovations in technology and operational efficiency in life sciences.
The discussion covers why Australia has become an attractive destination for global clinical trials, from its regulatory environment and world-class clinicians through to the integrated networks that help international sponsors find the right partners.
It also looks at the practical realities of running a trial site, where regulatory approvals, staffing, patient engagement, and sensitive data all need to be managed at once, and how purpose-built platforms are taking on the repetitive work so research teams can focus on patient care.
This episode was recorded during the BIO International Convention in San Diego, featuring conversations with scientists, founders, investors, and healthcare decision-makers addressing challenges and opportunities across the biotech sector.
Key Takeaways
🧬 AI and automation are transforming clinical trial recruitment, streamlining patient matching, eligibility screening, and follow-up tasks
🚀 Australia’s reputation for clinical trials continues to grow, supported by a strong regulatory environment and quality healthcare ecosystem
💡 Open source tools and AI models are making computational drug discovery more accessible for non-specialists in science and medicine
🧑⚕️ Technology advancements allow clinicians and trial sites to focus more on patient care by reducing manual and repetitive efforts
🔗 Collaboration across pharma, biotechs, technology providers, and regulators is essential to tackle operational bottlenecks and accelerate drug development
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
01:07 - Jayden Rogers, CEO, Linear Clinical Research
08:25 - Dr Stacie Calad-Thomson, Business Development, NVIDIA
17:55 - Arjun Bhat, Co-Founder, Clinrol
26:52 - Tran Le, General Manager of Life Sciences, Hippocratic AI
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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27 July 2026, 5:30 pm - 13 minutes 36 seconds626 - Turning Trends Into Action: Oura Ring 4 and Its Place in Healthcare
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Robyn Birch about their experiences using the Oura Ring 4, exploring how this wearable device fits into the broader clinical ecosystem.
The conversation focuses on the practicalities and implications of using wearables for health monitoring, such as bringing data into clinical consultations, comparing its ongoing data with clinical-grade tools, and considering the everyday healthcare impact for consumers and clinicians.
After six months of daily wear, Peter and Robyn share what the ring got right, where it fell short, and the moments the data prompted real action, including a GP visit that led to a formal sleep study.
They also discuss the scepticism patients can face when bringing consumer device data to their doctor, the role of trends and baselines over exact numbers, and what wearables are revealing about areas like sleep, recovery and women's health.
Key Takeaways
🟢 Wearables like the Oura Ring are increasingly used to support meaningful conversations with healthcare professionals
🟢 Data trends from wearables are more useful than one-off readings for both consumers and clinicians
🟢 Ongoing wearable monitoring complements, but does not replace, clinical grade diagnostic tools like sleep studies
🟢 Presenting continuous wearable health data can help drive further medical investigation when necessary
🟢 Wearable data is becoming more accepted by clinicians, helping patients become proactive participants in their health
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction & Oura Ring overview
02:27 - Wearables in clinical conversations
04:05 - Data trends vs. one-off readings
05:07 - Wearable data leading to clinical action
09:35 - Clinical sleep study vs. wearable metrics
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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22 July 2026, 5:30 pm - 20 minutes 24 seconds625 - Breaking Silos at DHF26: Telstra Health's Corus™ Modernises Patient & Clinician Experience
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Monica Trujillo, Chief Health and Risk Officer, and Farhoud Salimi, Chief Technology Officer, both from Telstra Health.
The discussion covers the ongoing fragmentation of Australia's healthcare system, the challenge of integrating diverse legacy systems and the announcement of Telstra Health's new platform, Corus™, a unified care intelligence ecosystem built in partnership with Snowflake, Smile Digital Health and Salesforce.
Peter, Monica and Farhoud explore how modern cloud architecture, interoperability standards, cybersecurity and AI are being brought together to support seamless healthcare delivery, from the data spine that unifies patient records through to curated AI agents designed to ease clinical workflows.
They also unpack the shift in thinking from connected care to care connected, keeping the moment of care at the centre with the technology built around it.
The episode was recorded live at the Digital Health Festival 2026 in Melbourne, part of a series of episodes captured at the event, where more than 8,000 health leaders, clinicians and innovators gathered to explore what's next for the sector, and brings together perspectives from both technology and clinical leadership on what meaningful digital change in health really takes.
Key Takeaways
🩺 Healthcare in Australia is made up of multiple independent, legacy systems, rather than a single integrated system
🕸️ Integration challenges stem from varied data standards, terminology, and the need for high data reliability
🌐 The new Corus™ platform combines modern interoperability standards (FHIR), a robust data spine, and partnerships with technology providers like Snowflake, Smile Digital Health, and Salesforce
🔒 Cybersecurity and clinical governance are crucial in developing safe, secure, and trusted digital health solutions
👩⚕️ Corus™ aims to empower both patients and clinicians by enabling more efficient workflows, seamless data access, and self-management, supporting a shift toward preventative and proactive healthcare
Timestamps
00:00 — Episode introduction and guest intros
01:48 — Why healthcare remains fragmented
03:47 — Technology challenges integrating systems
04:15 — Modernisation and standards aligning
05:12 — Corus™ platform announcement
07:09 — What Corus™ enables and its architecture
10:00 — The "data spine" explained
11:06 — AI integration and customisation
13:17 — Managing cybersecurity and clinical governance
15:04 — What success looks like for Corus™
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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20 July 2026, 5:30 pm - 19 minutes 30 seconds624 - Telehealth for Regional Australia: Updoc's Mission to Bridge Healthcare Gaps at DHF26
In this episode of Talking HealthTech Peter Birch speaks with Dylan Coyne, co-founder at Updoc, about the origins and growth of the Updoc platform, the challenges and opportunities of providing accessible healthcare across Australia, and the balance between technology, trust, and scalability in digital health.
The conversation traces back to a personal injury that exposed the inefficiencies of the traditional healthcare system, sparking the idea for a platform built around convenience and access.
The episode explores how Updoc is addressing gaps in rural and regional healthcare access, fostering a supportive culture for both patients and clinicians, and participating in the development of national telehealth standards.
Recorded live at the Updoc booth during DHF26, The Digital Health Festival, the conversation highlights the ongoing innovations and real-world community engagement driving the company's mission.
Key Takeaways
🩺 Updoc aims to be a digital "front door" to healthcare, offering on-demand consultations without the need for traditional appointments or waiting rooms.
🌏 Rural and regional Australians represent nearly 40% of Updoc’s consultations, reflecting critical healthcare access barriers outside metropolitan areas.
🔒 Trust and data security are central to Updoc's operations, safeguarding both patient and doctor information while fostering confidence in telehealth solutions.
💡 Bootstrapping the company drove a focus on sustainability, leading to scalable offerings like unlimited telehealth subscriptions.
📜 Updoc played an active role in developing national telehealth standards, advocating for shared quality, credentialing, and feedback systems across the industry.
Timestamps
00:00 - Updoc's origin story
02:07 - Making healthcare accessible and convenient
04:22 - Impact and scale—reaching over a million Australians
05:24 - Building trust with patients and clinicians
08:20 - Serving rural and regional communities
09:09 - Community Access Programme and in-person outreach
12:01 - Attracting and supporting clinicians through flexibility
15:06 - National telehealth standards initiative
16:36 - Updoc's future and role in the healthcare ecosystem
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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15 July 2026, 5:30 pm - 43 minutes 8 seconds623 - Digitising Healthcare at Scale: Safe AI, Smarter Workflows and the Future of Care
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dalibor Frtunik, CEO of Sorsix, about how their platform Pinga® is building the backbone for the future of digital healthcare.
The conversation covers Sorsix's origins in North Macedonia, where the company cut its teeth integrating an entire national health system from the ground up, through to the concept of a health operating system and what that means in practice for clinicians, administrators, and patients alike.
Frtunik unpacks how AI-powered digital pathways are being deployed safely within clinical workflows, why the balance between customisation and standardisation matters more than ever, and how Sorsix approaches compliance and governance using frameworks like ISO 42001.
The episode also explores the growing role of data in preventative care, the limitations of old-style integration, and what the next decade of digital health transformation will demand from platforms and health systems alike.
Key Takeaways
💡 Sorsix’s platform Pinga® acts as a health operating system, integrating different healthcare workflows from individual clinics to entire countries
⚙️ Pinga® supports both clinical and administrative workflows, including triage, long-term care management, screening programs, and preventative pathways
🤖 AI is already in practical use within Pinga®, supporting operational efficiency and improved clinical outcomes, but safety and compliance remain priorities
🔒 ISO 42001 certification for AI is a critical part of building trust and governance in healthcare platforms
🌏 Sorsix’s experience shows that future health systems will need interoperable, flexible, AI-enabled technology that adapts to local workflows and supports ongoing digital transformation
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction to Sorsix and Pinga®
05:22 - Concept of a health operating system
07:04 - Solving healthcare interoperability and scheduling
13:02 - Balancing customisation with compliance
17:04 - Building clinical and administrative digital pathways
31:36 - Certification, ISO 42001, and AI safety
37:11 - Looking to the future of interoperable, patient-centred systems
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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13 July 2026, 5:30 pm - 20 minutes 48 seconds622 - From Legacy Systems to AI-Driven Healthcare: Tackling Cybersecurity and Innovation at DHF26
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch sits down with Cameron McBride, Divisional Director of Digital Technology Services at Western Health, Chris Fisher, Head of Solution Engineering for Asia Pacific and Japan at Island, and Jeroen Nguyen, Solutions Architect from Endpoint Focus to explore what it really takes to modernise digital workspaces in healthcare.
The conversation moves through the everyday challenges of implementing secure and efficient technology in hospitals, the flow-on impact on clinician workflows, the cybersecurity considerations that come with managing sensitive patient data, and the complexities of compliance in a global context.
The discussion also looks ahead to the future of AI integration at the point of care and what it will take for emerging technologies to earn the trust of clinicians and patients alike.
Recorded live at DHF26, the Digital Health Festival held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, this episode features a multi-guest panel discussion captured in front of a live audience at one of Australia's premier health innovation gatherings.
Drawing on real-world examples from Western Health and technology partners active in the Australian healthcare sector, the panel offers a grounded look at how digital transformation is unfolding on the ground, not just in theory.
Key Takeaways
🖥️ Legacy applications and insecure browsers create significant risks and challenges, addressing them simplifies IT service delivery and enhances security
🔒 Moving security controls into the browser provides more effective protection and flexibility compared to traditional network-based layers
⚡ Improving clinician access to critical systems, such as electronic medical records, directly impacts patient care by reducing wait times
📊 Enhanced analytics and visibility tools enable IT teams to better monitor user behaviour and application performance
🤖 Integrating AI-driven workflows and secure technology environments is paving the way for future innovations in healthcare delivery
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction and guest backgrounds
03:04 - Challenges with legacy apps
04:08 - Island's place in security landscape
07:02 - Security at the browser level
09:01 - Clinician workflow improvements
11:36 - IT analytics and reporting benefits
12:57 - Implementing technology changes in healthcare
17:27 - Future plans and AI integration
Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.
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