631 - 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The conversation also touches on the gap between technical ambition and everyday clinical reality, including how outdated hospital systems and clunky electronic medical records continue to shape the day-to-day experience of clinicians.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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