From driving sustainability in agriculture and advancing wildlife conservation through research to pioneering paramedicine innovations in rural communities and exploring the intersection of sport and education, the La Trobe University Partner Showcase 2025 highlighted industry collaborations that are shaping a healthier, more connected, and sustainable future.
The partnerships showcased - Wine Australia, Carlton Football Club, Zoos Victoria, and Safer Care Victoria - demonstrated how the synergy between advanced research and industry expertise can drive meaningful change and deliver tangible outcomes.
With that in mind, for its third consecutive year, the event delivered two clear messages:
Genuine university-industry collaboration is key to driving meaningful innovation in Australia and beyond, and
La Trobe University is the partner of choice for industry, and we're open for business.
The evening set the scene for the 230+ attendees to explore the La Trobe ecosystem and foster connections and conversations to inspire and shape future collaborative endeavours.
“Our work extends across research and development, co-location at our vibrant campuses, workforce development, and entrepreneurship programs. At La Trobe, we are focused on having an impact in Melbourne’s north and beyond, and our engagement with industry partners enables that. We want to be the partner of choice for industry. Let’s work together,” said Dr Megan Fisher, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Industry Engagement, La Trobe University.
Missed the formalities? Below is a round-up of each presentation, and a full session video.
Zoos Victoria
Fighting Extinction Together: Reproductive and stress research to improve wildlife conservation outcomes.
Wildlife conservation took centre stage during the presentation by Dr Kerry Fanson, The Wildlife Conservation and Reproductive Endocrinology Lab, La Trobe University, and Dr Marissa Parrott, Senior Conservation Biologist, Zoos Victoria. Their partnership’s focus on improving the reproductive health and reducing stress in endangered species has been pivotal in saving animals from extinction.
Zoos Victoria’s dedication to ensuring that no native Victorian terrestrial species faces extinction is fortified through strategic collaborations with academia, such as La Trobe’s Wildlife Conservation Lab. Together, they have contributed to developing monitoring tools and publishing research on over 25 species, such as the Mountain Pygmy-possum. This research not only underpins evidence-based decisions for species management but also forms the foundation for conservation policies featured in media outlets like Australian Geographic.
This session reinforced the importance of combining conservation biology with academic expertise to address urgent ecological challenges.
Wine Australia
The Power of the WISD (Wizard) for the Australian Wine Industry.
Bushfire season presents increasingly serious risks for wine producers in Australia. Professor Ian Porter, Ecological Plant and Animal Sciences, La Trobe University, and Dr Sharon Harvey, Senior Research Manager, Wine Australia, presented the revolutionary Wine Industry Smoke Detector (WISD).
Notably, the WISD represents a global industry-first solution for detecting and mitigating smoke taint early in vineyards. This cutting-edge tool uses real-time data to provide smoke taint risk levels, enabling growers to make confident harvesting decisions. Since its inception, the WISD has helped recover millions of dollars in produce and strengthened the resilience of Australia's wine sector in the face of climate unpredictability.
Professor Ian Porter summed up perfectly how this innovation is helping protect both the reputation and output of Australia’s wine regions. And the plan is to go global!
Safer Care Victoria
Can it be this easy? Community Paramedicine and rural health.
Healthcare innovation was underscored in the session by Professor Leigh Kinsman and Professor Evelien Spelten from La Trobe’s Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research, alongside Dr Louise Reynolds of Safer Care Victoria. Highlighting their collaborative work on community paramedicine, this partnership shines a light on addressing the disparity between urban and rural healthcare accessibility.
Their work focuses on the need to integrate paramedics, a large available workforce, into primary care services, easing the burden on hospitals, and providing care tailored to rural needs. The success of this partnership has been felt in communities across Victoria, with trial clinics giving locals direct access to health services previously unavailable in their regions.
By focusing on innovation in health delivery models, La Trobe and Safer Care Victoria are helping bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility for rural populations.
Carlton Football Club
Carlton FC and La Trobe University | 12 years of partnership innovation connecting sport and education in Victoria’s Northern corridor.
Carlton Football Club’s collaboration with La Trobe University stands as a model for blending sports, education, and research. Over 12 years, Carlton FC and La Trobe have introduced pioneering programs, such as the Carlton College of Sport, which offers diplomas in Sport Coaching and Elite Business.
Led by Eliza Dewar, Senior Partnerships Account Manager, Carlton Football Club, and Professor Russell Hoye, Pro Vice-Chancellor Health Innovation, La Trobe University, this session explored how the club and the University have integrated elite business education and advanced research into fostering talent in Melbourne’s northern corridor.
Key successes of the partnership include co-branded programs, research funding, and access to Carlton IN Business, paving the way for unique opportunities connecting sport and academia.
What La Trobe and Carlton Football Club shared during their session truly captured how long-term commitment can drive multi-dimensional success.
The La Trobe University Partner Showcase 2025 celebrated how knowledge-sharing between researchers and industry creates opportunities and solutions that matter - not just economically but societally.
The future of innovation lies in partnerships.
Following the groundbreaking initiatives presented at the showcase, there’s an open invitation to learn more about cultivating meaningful, scalable collaborations with La Trobe. If you're interested in creating change through research-driven partnerships, explore upcoming opportunities and stay connected by visiting La Trobe Industry or emailing industry.engagement@latrobe.edu.au
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