The Department of Medical Entomology is a joint facility of the University of Sydney and the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research at Westmead Hospital. The Department’s functions include the provision of a diagnostic service, research, consultation, and teaching. The diagnostic service is the state and national reference laboratory and the only NATA accredited facility for insects of medical importance in Australia. Research is related to many aspects of medical and public health entomology and the Department is widely consulted by industry and government. Senior Hospital Scientist Stephen Doggett, is the ICPMR coordinator of the symposium.

Dr Chris Orton retired as Director of the UNSW Centre for Entomological Research and Insecticide Technology (CERIT) in 2006 and currently is a Senior Visiting Fellow of the Faculty of Science at UNSW. He funds his continuing involvement in the urban and commercial pest management industry by providing part-time services through his company Pest Information Appraisal and Consulting Services Pty Ltd (PiMACS).