2026 ARCS + MAPA Leadership Summit

When:  Apr 29, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM (Sydney time)
Associated with  National Space

2026 ARCS + MAPA Leadership Summit

Leading at the Speed of Science: Adaptive Leadership for a Changing Pharma Landscape

What to Expect

ARCS Australia and Medical Affairs Professionals of Australasia (MAPA) will co-host a focused, one-day Summit bringing together leaders from across the sector in an informative and practical program. Leaders will leave with practical tools, renewed clarity and a stronger sense of agency — ready to lead at the speed of science, shape outcomes across the organisation, and future proof their teams by strengthening the cognitive, emotional and social capacities that now define competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving pharma landscape.

This summit is applicable to Pharma/Biotech/Medtech Industry Non-commercial Functional leaders and emerging/aspiring Leaders (Medical, MedInfo, Regulatory, PV, Clinical, Market Access and MedOps)

 

When: Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Where: Treetops | Melbourne Museum 
11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053
Registrations: Now open — please click here.

Objectives

Title: Leading at the Speed of Science: Adaptive Leadership for a Changing Pharma Landscape

1. Understand the Leadership Gap

  • Why cognitive, emotional and social capacity are becoming the new economic assets in pharma
  • The organisational risks of underinvesting in brain health and human skills
  • The question facing every CEO: Can the organisation invest in human capability fast enough to keep pace with the speed of science? 

2. Brain Economy 101

  • The neuroscience of High-Stakes Leadership in Pharma
  • Why cognitive and emotional load — not information gaps — are the primary constraint on leadership performance across Medical, Regulatory, Clinical, PV, and Market Access functions 
  • The three lenses through which their own decision-making patterns become visible: Language Patterns, Decision Trajectory, and Credit and Accountability 
  • Personal decision-making profile and understand its practical implications for how they lead under pressure 
  • Articulate the organisational cost of unaddressed cognitive and emotional overload — and make the business case for investing in human capacity 

3. Navigating the Leadership Spectrum: From Technical Expert to Strategic Influencer​

  • Through the lens of The Leadership Spectrum discovering how your ability to influence people, decisions, and outcomes is context‑dependent and focuses on why people development typically fails – and what to do about it. ​
  • This interactive and engaging roundtable session explores and unpacks the key challenges of leading through complexity and uncertainty in the digital age, and the fundamentals of healthy leadership of self and others.​
  • The opportunity to challenge your Leadership assumptions you will walk away  with an uplift in both capability and confidence to take on your current Leadership challenge.​

4. Strengthen Cross Functional Leadership Capability

  • Why collaboration breaks down under cognitive overload 
  • How emotional intelligence reduces friction between Medical, Clinical, PV and Regulatory 
  • The organisational ROI of investing in human skills 
  • How to address change agility as an important skill required for the business, for now and in the future. 
  • Challenging negotiations, communications from a medical space across the enterprise. 
  • Whether current leadership development pathways can keep pace with scientific and regulatory complexity.  

Agenda (subject to change)

Time

Session

Speaker / Facilitator

9:30 – 10:00

Registration 

 

10:00 – 10:05

Welcome ARCS-MAPA Leadership Summit & Acknowledgement of Country

 

10:05 – 10:10

Spotlight Speaker Introduction

 

10:10 – 11:00

Spotlight Keynote + Q&A

The CEO’s Challenge: Leading in a Multi‑Polar, Uncertain Future

Nicky Long

11:00 – 12:30

Leadership Roundtable 

Navigating the Leadership Spectrum

Annree Wogan and Rob Ormsby

12:30 – 13:30

Lunch Break

13:30 – 14:45

Masterclass: Judgement Under Pressure - The Neuroscience of High-Stakes Leadership in Pharma

Leon Rozen

14:45 – 15:05

Afternoon Break

15:05 – 16:00

Panel Discussion: New frontiers of Cross‑Functional Leadership

Moderator: Andrew Weekes, 
Panellists: Kate Church, Nicky Long, Leon Rozen

16:00 – 16:05

Summit Close & Key Takeaways

 

 

Stay informed

Registrations are now open. We’ll continue to update this page as the agenda is confirmed. Register here.

Practical information

  • Venue: Treetops | Melbourne Museum | 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053
  • Timing: One day, in-person program on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 10:00am - 4:30pm (Melbourne time) 
  • Format: Plenary keynotes, expert panels and practical sessions.

FAQs

When will registrations open?

Registrations are open now. Register here.

How much does it cost?

Early Bird rates only available up to 2 April 2026 and only for members. All prices are in AUD and exclusive of GST.

  • Early Bird ARCS or MAPA member — $300
  • Standard ARCS or MAPA member — $425
  • Standard non-member — $685
Event Image

Contact

Nav Lee
(02)8905 0829 (voicemail)
arcs@arcs.com.au

Location

Treetops - Melbourne Museum
11 Nicholson St,
Carlton, VIC 3053