Six of Brisbane’s leading researchers and innovators will receive grants to attend major international conferences in their fields.
The 2026 Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant program supports the city’s brightest minds in science, health, agriculture and emerging technologies.
This year’s recipients are:
Dr Stanley Chen, Research Project Manager – Agrifutures Consortium at The University of Queensland’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, advancing sustainable poultry production and food security.
Dr Birgitta Ebert, Senior Research Fellow at The University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, developing environmentally sustainable “microbial factories” to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Dr Michelle Hill, Founder and CEO of Proseek Bio, translating proteomics research into real-world diagnostics to improve women’s health outcomes.
Dr Zeinab Khalil, ARC Future Fellow at The University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, leading global bioeconomy initiatives and developing new antimicrobial solutions.
Dr Mickael Mounaix, Westpac Fellow at The University of Queensland, pioneering technologies to control light for advanced communications and medical imaging.
Dr Debottam Sinha, Research Fellow at the University of Queensland’s Frazer Institute, focusing on improving treatments for aggressive cancers through immunological research.
The recipients will attend major conferences, and work with the Brisbane Economic Development Agency, to help secure future events for Brisbane.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the program helped connect local expertise with global opportunities.
“By supporting our local leaders to build global connections, we’re unlocking new pathways for investment, collaboration and jobs across industries,” he said.
“This program elevates Brisbane on the global stage, strengthens our competitive edge and delivers real, lasting economic value in our own backyard.”
For more information about the Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant visit https://beda.brisbane.qld.au/
