8th Annual Dust and Respiratory Forum

Dr Nikki LaBranche, Julita Greda, Libby Humphries (SMI-UQ)

The 8^th Forum co-ordinated by the University of Queensland (UQ) Sustainable Management Institute (SMI) was held in Brisbane on the 30th October 2025. The Forum brought together experts from around the world to showcase advancements and emerging trends in the management of dust and mine dust lung diseases. It fosters collaborations and the sharing of best practice to improve the health, safety and treatment options outcomes for mine workers affected by occupational dust lung diseases. 

Dust lung diseases can lead to long-term health problems, and they continue to be a significant risk for mine workers around the world. Worryingly, there is still no holistic picture of the overall risk of these diseases or the risk factors in development and progression, which makes the Forum an important opportunity to share knowledge and experience.

Speakers included Professor Bob Cohen, Professor Emily Sarver, Lauren Williams and DR Nikki LaBranche to mention a few.

The forum is crucial for sharing the identification, understanding and the effective control of workplace dust to prevent lung related disease.