It is with great pleasure that I invite you to attend the 11th ANZHNS Annual Scientific Meeting from the 6th to the 8th of August. This year, for the first time, the meeting will be held in Western Australia, at The Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle.

The theme of the meeting, "Innovation and Integration", reflects the original principles adopted by the founding members of the Society and draws us into the exciting processes occurring in Head and Neck Oncology management currently, and projecting into the future.

We are fortunate to have three outstanding international keynote speakers involved in our program. Professor Moni Abraham Kuriakose brings a wealth of research and clinical experience from his significant work in UK, USA and India, with particular emphasis in his areas of interest, being oral cancer and skull base surgery.

Professor Vincent Gregoire is our invited Radiation Oncology speaker from the University of Louvain, Brussels. We look forward to share the knowledge he has gained in his work as Director of the Centre for Molecular Imaging and Experimental Radiotherapy, and particularly, to share information relating to his extensive experience in volume delineation for IMRT planning, at a time when more centres in Australia are implementing this treatment.

Our third keynote speaker is Professor Harry Hoffman, ENT surgeon from the University of Iowa. We are keen to gain further insights into his research on pressure-sensitive reflexes during phonation, and his extensive clinical work on vocal cord paralysis.

In addition to our keynote speakers, we have been able to attract to our programme, significant international and national allied health lecturers, including Joseph Murray (Speech Pathology, Ann Arbor). In keeping with the society's aim of seeking optimal treatment outcomes for our patients, we will have input from a growing group who contribute significantly to this in clinical practice, the Head and Neck Cancer nurse coordinator. We hope that specialty nurses involved in the care of the Head and Neck patients will be encouraged to attend.

In association with our Annual Scientific Meeting we have two surgical workshops to be held at C-Tech (University of Western Australia)

i) 2nd Australian Sialendoscopy Course - 4 August 2009

ii) Larynx Laser Surgery Course - 5 August 2009

These workshops are highly regarded internationally and will be intellectually and practically challenging.

Fremantle is a unique city with a casual, relaxed atmosphere. A harmonious yet exciting mix of cafes, restaurants and bars exist within the historical convict-built surrounds. Fremantle is a great place for attending partners and families to explore. There is easy access to the Indian Ocean beaches nearby, and day trips to Rottnest Island and Swan Valley, as well as opportunities to travel over 2-3 days through Margaret River and the Great Southern Region to experience our boutique wineries and picturesque scenery.

I look forward to you and your colleagues attending this exciting meeting and enjoying the unique Western Australian experience.