On October 25th 2024, we convened Australia’s first National Symposium on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).

This event ignited conversations to advance the MASLD public health agenda in Australia.

The event provided a forum where 60 clinicians, researchers, public health experts, health promotion organisations and people with lived experience came together.

Through presentations and interactive discussions, participants shared knowledge and experience, identified the support and investment needed, and determined priorities to improve the experiences and outcomes of people with, and at risk of developing, MASLD.

The Symposium was held at the Greg Craven Centre on the Australian Catholic University’s Fitzroy campus in Melbourne.

We were thrilled that global expert Professor Jeffrey V. Lazarus joined us online from New York as our keynote presenter. This event built on the momentum from the first global liver health policy gathering, held alongside the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September, where international health leaders—including Professor Lazarus—focused on prioritising the public health threat posed by MASLD.

Topics and discussions of our symposium drew on leading international research led by Professor Lazarus to identify key priorities within the Australian context. We were pleased to receive very positive feedback about the day.

We synthesised the insights shared throughout the day’s discussions into a summary report. Read this report, From Insights to Action, covering the outputs and actions arising from the event.

Keynote

Watch Professor Jeffrey V. Lazarus’s virtual international keynote from the LiverWELL MASLD Symposium, where he shared groundbreaking research insights on MASLD and related liver conditions.

Local Presenters

Visit the Speakers page to see the impressive line-up of experts who shared diverse perspectives and insights, shaping the conversations about the future of MASLD in Australia. Presentation slides are linked in each biography description.

Read Professor Lazarus et al.’s article, A Global Action Agenda for Turning the Tide on Fatty Liver Disease, which features contributions from leading experts across the globe.

LiverWELL would like to thank our Symposium steering committee members for their invaluable contributions and guidance:

A/Prof. Paul Gow, Deputy Director of Gastroenterology and Liver Transplant Medicine, Austin Hospital

A/Prof. Jess Howell, NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Gastroenterologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne; Co-Head, Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer Program, Burnet Institute; Associate Professor, University of Melbourne; Adjunct Senior Research Fellow,  Monash University; Chair, Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Liver Faculty

Prof. Alexander Thompson, Director of the Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and the University of Melbourne

Jacqui Richmond, Program Manager, Workforce Development and Health Service Delivery, EC Australia, Burnet Institute

Bella Simon, Liver Transplant Recipient, PhD Candidate, Monash University. Focus: Novel Angiotensin II-Directed Therapies for Metabolic-Dysfunction Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH)

Jane Martin, Executive Manager, Food for Health Alliance

Phoebe Van Lambaart (Trinidad), Hepatology CNC, Latrobe Regional Health