Sun Exposure Summit Success

Expert panel and consumer perspectives on Day One of the Summit.

The Australian Skin and Skin Cancer Research Centre (ASSC) hosted the Sun Exposure Summit, in March 2021.

The Summit took the form of a 2-day virtual conference, followed one week later by an invitation-only Policy Roundtable which invited 30 participants to discuss whether the existing Australian Position Statement on the Risks and Benefits of Sun Exposure was still fit for purpose.

The Sun Exposure Summit attracted 270 registrations for the event. There was international interest via the WHO UV INTERSUN Programme, many of whom registered so that they could watch the recordings later online at a more convenient time. There were 140 participants who attended the webinar live.

The Policy Roundtable event had CEO/senior executive representation from almost all relevant stakeholder groups in the country, including the Cancer Council Australia, Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, the Australasian College of Dermatologists, Endocrine Society of Australia and Health Bones Australia (formerly Osteoporosis Australia), RACGP, Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia, Public Health Association Australia, a member of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) , the Skin Cancer College of Australasia, and leading scientists and clinicians in the field.

There have now been three highly successful Summits, the most recent with the support of the Queensland Government. This sponsorship was essential in allowing the ASSC to host an extremely polished conference on a virtual platform. The Summit was able to proceed, complete with several international speakers presenting live from the UK, Switzerland and New Zealand.

From this conference, a working group has been formed to propose a new position statement on Sun Exposure and Vitamin D.

Professor Rachel Neale in action at the virtual Summit.

The ASSC wished to formal thank the Sun Exposure Summit Organising Committee:
Professor Rachel Neale, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor David Whiteman, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Monika Janda, The University of Queensland
Professor Robyn Lucas, Australian National University
Professor Graeme Jones, University of Tasmania
Adjunct Associate Professor Craig Sinclair, Cancer Council Victoria

The ASSC also greatly appreciates the Support form the Queensland Government for the Sun Exposure Summit.

View Summit program and video links