How we build our conference program
Each INHSU conference program is carefully developed through a transparent, collaborative process that brings together community voices, sector expertise, and local and global perspectives.
Our aim is to deliver a program that is rigorous, relevant, and responsive to the real-world challenges facing people who use drugs, health practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and community organisations.
A collaborative and values-led approach
Our program development process centres:
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Rigorous science and the latest research
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People who use drugs and lived experience
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Evidence-informed practice
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Geographic and disciplinary diversity
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Transparency and accountability
Below, we outline how different parts of the program are developed.
Invited talks
Each INHSU conference includes 15 invited speakers, comprising six plenary speakers and nine invited speakers. The process begins well before the conference with the Program Advisory Committee, a group of 20–30 people representing sector organisations, living and lived experience, geographic diversity, professional backgrounds, and expertise across conference topics.
The Program Advisory Committee identifies emerging issues, priority themes, and key topics, which are then shared across all INHSU committees for input and voting. Based on these results, the Conference Executive Committee selects the final invited talk topics. Once priority topics are selected, the Program Advisory Committee provides speaker suggestions for the chosen topics, these are also voted on, and the Executive Committee makes the final speaker selections.
Abstract presentations
Abstract presentations form a substantial part of the INHSU conference program. For the most recent conference, this included 92 oral presentations across plenary, fifteen-minute, and five-minute formats, alongside 28 poster tours and an additional 118 posters.
Abstracts are submitted under one of four themes: epidemiology and public health, clinical science, social science and policy, and models of care and programs. Each abstract is reviewed by three expert reviewers using standardised guidelines, with scores collated and shared with Program Theme Leads.
Theme Leads propose which abstracts should be included in the program and recommend presentation formats. These proposals are reviewed by the Executive Committee, which may make adjustments to support balance and quality. In the final program build, abstracts are grouped by topic rather than theme, bringing together multiple perspectives within each session.
Workshops, Discussion Space, and curated parallel sessions
All workshops, discussion space sessions, and curated parallel sessions are included through the abstract submission process. Each submission is reviewed by three expert reviewers using standardised guidelines, with scores collated and shared with the Executive Committee who making final decisions on which sessions are included in the conference program.