Hands-on experience and tuition at our Brisbane Seminar Workshops in February 2026
OUR GUEST TUTORS AND COURSE SYNOPSES
Lizette Fourie brings over 20 years' experience, owning, running, and supporting audiology clinics through real-world challenges. At Hearpreneur Solutions, she helps independent hearing clinic owners build sustainable, values-driven practices. Lizette specialises in strategic planning, financial systems, and practical technology implementation that respects both clinical excellence and business realities. She has pioneered AI-powered systems for client management and business intelligence, while maintaining compliance with the Australian Privacy Act and professional standards. Her approach combines audiological foundations with business clarity, offering guidance that's grounded in care, practical experience, and a deep understanding of what clinic owners actually face daily. Lizette holds a B. Communication Pathology from the University of Pretoria’s Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
Lizette showed how to save 70-80% of document creation time, using AI tools, while maintaining patient privacy and professional standards. Delegates learned the RACE (Role, Action, Context, Expectations) framework, four simple steps to transform vague AI requests into clinic-ready resources, ethical AI implementation, and critical Australian compliance obligations.
Lizette showed how to save 70-80% of your document creation time, using AI tools, while maintaining patient privacy and professional standards. No AI experience is required, and bring your laptop/device to practice. You will learn the RACE (Role, Action, Context, Expectations) framework, four simple steps to transform vague AI requests into clinic-ready resources, and receive course materials.
Daniel Fechner is a dedicated hearing care professional with over 22 years’ experience spanning independent and vertically integrated clinics as well as hearing aid and implant manufacturers. He trained in Germany and, since 2015, is now based in Australia. Daniel combines his technical expertise with a deep commitment to improving clinical outcomes for individuals with hearing impairment. As a business owner of six years, he is passionate about helping other clinics enhance their operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and client care standards. While running his own hearing care clinic in Castle Hill in Sydney, Daniel also offers consulting services to hearing care clinics nationwide and helps those clinics with the implementation of technical solutions to their challenges.
Daniel introduced AudZone, a purpose-built platform to streamline and support the core functions of independent audiology practices. He gave delegates a first look at how it simplifies clinic management, with features like AI-powered clinical notes, report generation, supervision tools, compliance tracking, and a glimpse into the future of financial reporting and other features.
Dr. Adam Locker, Au.D., is an audiologist, entrepreneur, and international speaker known for helping hearing care professionals grow their practices and build authentic brands that connect. With more than 25 years in the profession, he brings experience across clinical, corporate, and entrepreneurial roles, giving him a rare, 360-degree view of the industry. Dr Locker began his career in corporate audiology with HEARx, gaining early insight into large-scale patient care systems. He then joined Phonak, where he helped practices integrate new technology and improve clinical outcomes, later moving into business development with AHAA (American Hearing Aid Associates), supporting hundreds of independent clinics nationwide. He went on to found and successfully sell HearFlorida, a respected multi-location hearing care group in Florida. Today, as the founder of Audiology A.I. and Delray Hearing Center, Dr Locker combines his clinical background with cutting-edge marketing and automation strategies to help practices stand out and succeed.
Adam guided delegates through applying both external and internal branding strategies directly to their own practices, enabling them to map their patient's journey, identify brand gaps, and build a real-world action plan for implementation. He also gave ready-to-use templates, messaging outlines, and a clear roadmap to confidently and consistently execute their brand strategy.
Ashleigh Cowan is a dedicated Key Account Manager at Cochlear, the global leader in implantable hearing solutions that help people hear and be heard through innovative medical device technologies. She works closely with clinical and professional partners across the region to build strong relationships, support product education, and ensure seamless integration of Cochlear’s technologies into contemporary hearing care pathways. With a passion for enhancing patient outcomes and a deep understanding of the hearing health landscape, Ashley plays a key role in advancing Cochlear’s mission to improve quality of life for people living with hearing loss. She approaches every day with a people-focused work ethic. Ashley holds a BBehSc (Psychology), BBus (HRM), and MAudSt, MAudSA (CCP).
Emma Russell is an audiologist with experience across both clinical and commercial roles in the UK and Australia. After beginning her career in the NHS, she worked for Phonak in Australia before moving into private practice, where she built new clinics and grew several independent practices in Sydney. She joined Cochlear in 2022 and, now as a Key Account Manager for Cochlear Australia and New Zealand, Emma focuses on clinical training and support, raising awareness of cochlear implant candidacy among non-CI audiologists, and partnering with clinics to grow the cochlear implant market and deliver improved patient outcomes. Emma holds a Bachelor of Science in Audiology with First Class Honours, Aston University, UK.
Ashley and Emma introduced the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Nexa System, the world’s first and only smart cochlear implant. Designed to redefine the possible in implantable hearing technology, it integrates advanced connectivity, intelligent features and future-ready design to support improved outcomes and streamlined clinical care.
Charles Vorrath is a business leader with over three decades of experience in B2B marketing and leadership roles across diverse industries. He is currently Director at VorOtek Pty Ltd, an Australian medical device company specialising in the design, manufacture, and distribution of medical devices with precision optics and fully integrated LED illumination. Before joining VorOtek, Charles was the Marketing Director at Tetra Pak Oceania. He began his career at Unilever as a Product Manager, honing his expertise in business-to-business operations. Charles holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School, a Graduate Diploma in Marketing from Monash University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
Meg Bumpstead has over 30 years’ experience in the health sector in hospital management, management consulting, and nursing in acute hospital and community health environments. She is the co-founder of a small business start-up, Clear Ears, and has worked clinically both nationally and internationally. She holds qualifications from the Course in Aural Care, Clear Ears and The Univ.of Melb, Masters Business Administration, Deakin Univ., Post Grad Diploma Advanced Clinical Nursing (Intensive Care), The Univ, of Melb., and Bachelor Applied Science Nursing, La Trobe Univ. Meg’s founded Clear Ears in 2011 to improve access to ear wax removal via the gold standard dry techniques, which at the time was only provided in Australia by ENT surgeons. Clear Ears was known as a “disruptive and innovative start-up” being the first Australian health service to be completely cloud based and offer patients online booking processes. Clear Ears established the first course in Aural Care and Microsuction techniques in Australia. The course was initially a face2face course and then developed as a fully online digital learning portal in collaboration with ENT and audiology experts and digital learning and development experts at Deakin Co. Online learning has the advantage of improved knowledge consolidation as evidenced by spaced learning theory (practice/repeat cycle). Meg is recognized as a leading expert in Aural Care education and the online course has been globally accepted with participants across Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, Europe and Africa.
Charles and Meg taught practical skills and wax management tips, using the VorOtek O Scope. This included patient assessment, cautions and consent, wax ring and curettage, and micro-suction techniques, set-up tips and controllers, equipment cleaning, curretage and microsuction equipment, depth perception, forceps and hook, and the Jobson Home & Wool Carrier.
ADDITIONAL WORKSHOP
Dr. Anita Bhandari, Neuro Otologist and ENT: NeuroEquilibrium, Advancements in the Diagnosis of Vertigo & Dizziness.
Separate from HBA Workshops.