Connecting Minds. Transforming Mathematics.
The 70th Annual Meeting of the Australian Mathematical Society, hosted by The University of Western Australia, Perth.
About the Conference
Welcome to the 70th Annual Meeting of the Australian Mathematical Society, hosted at the stunning campus of the University of Western Australia in Perth.
Bringing together researchers, educators, students, and industry leaders from across Australia and around the world, AustMS 2026 is a celebration of mathematical discovery, collaboration, and impact. From fundamental theory to real-world applications, the conference showcases the depth and diversity of contemporary mathematical sciences.
Set against the unique backdrop of Western Australia, this year’s meeting offers an opportunity to connect across disciplines, exchange ideas, and explore new directions in mathematics.
Plenary Speaker Profiles
Our invited speakers span a broad spectrum of disciplines, from pure mathematics and statistics to applied, computational, and interdisciplinary research, reflecting the depth and diversity of the mathematical sciences today. Their work addresses fundamental theoretical questions while also driving impact across areas such as data science, industry and technology.
Vera Roshchina
Hanna Neumann Lecturer
UNSW
Biography
Good day! I’m Vera Roshchina, an applied mathematician working on convex and nonsmooth problems, primarily in optimisation. I am currently an Associate Professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at UNSW Sydney, where I also lead the School’s Research Nexus Frontiers in Fundamental Mathematics.
Before joining UNSW in 2018, I was an ARC DECRA Research Fellow at RMIT University and held postdoctoral positions at the University of Melbourne, Federation University Australia, and the University of Évora (Portugal). In 2021, I was awarded the Christopher Heyde Medal by the Australian Academy of Science. I obtained my PhD from the City University of Hong Kong, and my undergraduate degree from Saint Petersburg State University.
Chad Topaz
Dr Yuniupingu Lecturer
Williams College
Biography
- Data science and social justice
- Mathematical modeling of complex systems
- Topological data analysis
- Criminal legal system
- Education equity
- Diversity and inclusion in arts/media
- Environmental justice
- Health care justice
- Quantitative methods for policy
- Public scholarship and science communication
- Anti-racist and inclusive teaching
- Evidence-based pedagogy
Luciana Basualdo Bonatto
ECR Lecturer
University Of Oxford
Biography
My research interests include Configuration Spaces, Diffeomorphism Groups, Homological Stability, Embedding Calculus, Knot Theory, and Operad Theory.
Christopher Lustri
ANZIAM Lecturer
University of Sydney
Biography
I use contemporary asymptotic methods to find solutions to continuous and discrete problems arising within applied mathematics, and explore behaviour that is invisible to classical asymptotic methods. I spend a lot of time looking at a special class of behaviour known as the Stokes Phenomenon, that only appears at exponentially small orders in an asymptotic expression. Understanding this behaviour can be an important way to describe effects that normally lie beyond the reach of common asymptotic methods.
Joshua Zahl
Chern Institute of Mathematics
Nankai University
Biography
I am a professor at the Chern Institute of Mathematics at Nankai University. Prior to this I was an associate professor in the mathematics department at the University of British Columbia. I have a broad interest in classical harmonic analysis and combinatorics. I’m especially interested in incidence geometry, the restriction and Kakeya problems, and sum-product phenomena. I am a co-organizer for the programme Frontiers in harmonic analysis, elliptic and parabolic PDEs, and GMT, which will take place at the Newton Institute in Cambridge UK from January – April 2027.
I am an editor for the journal Mathematische Zeitschrift.
Gary Froyland
University of
New South Wales
Biography
Scientia Professor Gary Froyland leads the ARC Laureate Centre for Dynamical Systems and Data. His main areas of interest are Dynamical Systems, Machine Learning, and Optimisation. His research ranges from pure mathematics through to computation and application to industry and other scientific disciplines.
His dynamical systems research lies at the interface of probability, geometry, operator theory, and learning in nonlinear and chaotic dynamical systems.
Neena Gupta
Indian Statistical Institute
Kolkata
Biography
Neena Gupta was born in 1984 at Kolkata. Her education from early childhood till PhD research had been in India. She obtained her PhD degree, under the supervision of Professor Amartya Kumar Dutta, from the Indian Statistical Institute in 2012. Earlier, she had obtained her M.Math. (Master of Mathematics) degree from the same institute in 2008. Before that she studied at Bethune College. She did her post-doctoral research at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai in 2012.
Neena is known for her outstanding contributions to fundamental questions in affine algebraic geometric and commutative algebra, and especially for her complete solutions to the longstanding `Zariski Cancellation Problem’ for affine spaces in positive characteristic. Neena began her research career by studying global properties of certain affine varieties whose either local structure, or whose structure of fibres were given. She discovered the structure of locally Laurent polynomial algebras, a beautiful analogue of the theorem on locally polynomial algebras by Bass-Connell-Wright and Suslin, and other results on Laurent polynomial fibrations and related topics. Neena has developed general theories on a certain family of affine varieties which reveal surprising connections between deep questions on affine spaces and provide much sought-after conditions for the varieties to be affine spaces. In particular, she has demonstrated new families of linear hypersurfaces in higher-dimensional affine spaces which satisfy the Abhyankar-Sathaye Conjecture on the Epimorphism Problem. Some of her other significant discoveries include new algebraic characterisations of affine two and three spaces. New examples of non-cancellative varieties, certain K-theoretic properties of the ring of invariants of G_a-actions on affine spaces which she used to settle a question of Miyanishi, new results on the triviality of separable affine three forms, results on retractions of polynomial algebras, and results and examples around questions on finite generation of algebras arising out of Hilbert’s fourteenth problem.
Roslyn Hickson
Public Lecturer
James Cook University
Biography
A/Prof Roslyn Hickson is a Science Leader for Emerging Infectious Diseases, a joint appointment with CSIRO. Her research is broadly on informing policy and practice through the mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, through the lenses of biosecurity and One Health.
Roslyn completed her PhD studies through UNSW Canberra in 2010, where her research into the critical times of heat and mass transfer through multiple layers was jointly awarded the Ria de Groot prize for the best female postgraduate student. Roslyn then became a Research Fellow with the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University. In December 2011 she was awarded a four year University of Newcastle Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Roslyn joined IBM Research Australia in May 2014, and during that time she was named one of twenty finalists for the EmTech Asia Innovators Under 35 list by MIT Technology Review in both 2016 and 2017. Roslyn joined The University of Melbourne as an Australian Centre of Research Excellence in Malaria Elimination Research Fellow in July 2018. She was awarded one of the Victorian Young Tall Poppies in 2018. She was a member of the team awarded the 2020 Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Award for Excellence in Research and Development.
Johanna Knapp
ANZAMP Lecturer
University of Melbourne
Biography
Dr Johanna Knapp is a researcher in mathematical physics at the University of Melbourne, working at the intersection of algebraic geometry, gauge theory, and string theory. Her research explores deep connections between geometry and fundamental physics, contributing to our understanding of quantum field theory and the mathematical structures underlying the universe.
Dr Knapp is also an experienced educator and contributor to advanced teaching in areas such as conformal field theory and string theory, helping to shape the next generation of mathematical physicists.
Event Details @ UWA
Located on the banks of the Swan River, the University of Western Australia campus offers a world-class setting for collaboration and discovery. With its mix of heritage architecture, natural beauty, and proximity to Perth’s city centre and coastline, UWA provides an inspiring environment for this year’s conference.
Explore Perth, Western Australia
Set in one of the world’s most isolated yet vibrant cities, the conference offers a unique opportunity to experience the natural beauty and relaxed lifestyle of Perth.
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden: One of the largest inner-city parks in the world, Kings Park offers sweeping views of the Perth skyline and Swan River. Delegates can explore native bushland, curated botanical gardens, and walking trails just minutes from UWA.
- Rottnest Island: A short ferry ride from Perth, Rottnest Island is famous for its crystal-clear waters, pristine beaches, and the iconic quokka. It’s an ideal day trip for conference attendees looking to experience Western Australia’s coastal beauty.
- More to Discover
The Swan River foreshore, perfect for walks and riverside dining. Perth’s vibrant CBD, with restaurants, bars, and cultural venues. Nearby beaches such as Cottesloe, known for sunsets over the Indian Ocean
Getting to UWA
By Public Transport
UWA is easily accessible via Perth’s public transport network. Frequent bus services connect the campus with the CBD, Subiaco, and surrounding suburbs, including major routes such as the 950 and CircleRoute services.
By Car
The campus is located at 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley. Parking is available on campus, though spaces can be limited during peak periods, and visitors are encouraged to consider public transport where possible.
By Active Transport
For those staying nearby, UWA is accessible by walking or cycling along the scenic Swan River foreshore, offering a relaxed and picturesque commute to the conference venue.
Contact Us
- austms2026-maths@uwa.edu.au