Research Data Alliance’s community gathered in Brisbane on 14 July, 2026 for the RDA Roadshow Brisbane 2026 hosted by QCIF Digital Research and the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC).
Held at The Precinct in Fortitude Valley, the event brought together researchers, research support professionals, infrastructure providers and members of the wider data community to explore the latest developments in research data, artificial intelligence, and open science.
The morning featured a diverse programme of presentations showcasing both local expertise and global RDA initiatives. Attendees heard welcome remarks from Sach Jayasinghe (QCIF Digital Research) and Keith Russell (ARDC), followed by presentations from:
- Trish Radotic (RDA) providing an overview of the Research Data Alliance and opportunities to participate locally
- Natasha Simons (ARDC) on her RDA journey and involvement with RDA groups, contribution to outputs and impact
- Moji Ghadimi (QCIF) with a presentation on “From FAIR Data to AI-Ready Infrastructure: Governing Research Data in the Age of AI”
- Rob Clemens (ARDC) on Data Spaces and controlled data sharing at scale
- Alison Specht (TERN) on an Environmental Researcher’s perspective of the RDA and her recent publication on re-curation of a 90-year old ecological data collection applying FAIR principles
The presentations highlighted the growing urgency for international collaboration, trusted data sharing, responsible AI, and the role that community-led initiatives play in advancing research.
Following the formal presentations, the audience gathered for an informal morning tea session to ask questions, have discussions and connect with the local research data community. Researchers, data practitioners, and research infrastructure professionals shared experiences, built new relationships, and explored opportunities to collaborate across institutions and disciplines. These conversations reinforce the strength of the RDA community and the value of bringing people together to tackle shared research data challenges.
The Brisbane Roadshow forms part of the RDA’s ongoing outreach activities designed to introduce new communities to the organisation while strengthening connections with existing members. As research continues to evolve in the age of AI, community collaboration, open science, and interoperable research infrastructure remain more important than ever.
The RDA extends its sincere thanks to QCIF Digital Research for hosting the event, ARDC for its continued support, all of the presenters for generously sharing their expertise and experiences. A big thank you to Macarena Rojas from QCIF for organising the logistics and catering on the ground!
We look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces at future RDA events across the Oceania and East Asia region – next stop, RDA Roadshow Sydney 2026 in September!
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