The Check Up: September 2026 | Australian Dental Industry News

Posted by ADIA on 30 September 2026

The Check Up | September 2026

News, people, achievements and updates from across Australia's dental industry. Catch up on what's been happening across the ADIA community this September.

Insight

TGA Regulatory and Technical Forum

Dr Joanne Challinor-Rogers, pictured recently with Sam Thalassinos and Kym De Britt, receiving her 20-year ADIA service pin. Jo and Dr Sarah Raphael represented ADIA at the TGA Regulatory and Technical Forum in Canberra.

The forum enables direct engagement with the TGA on current and emerging medical device regulatory reforms.

People

Seija Keeble from Professional Dentist Supplies

PDS Enters A New Chapter

A proud milestone for Professional Dentist Supplies (PDS), with Seija Keeble stepping into the role of Owner and Director as the family business moves into its second generation. Founded in 1989 by Dr Geoffrey Knight AM and Sinikka Knight, PDS has supported the Australian dental profession for 37 years, with Geoffrey and Sinikka remaining trusted advisers as Seija leads the next chapter.

20 Years At Henry Schein

Congratulations to Toni Bryan, who celebrates 20 years with Henry Schein this September. Across seven different roles, Toni has built a career shaped by growth, collaboration and strong relationships, with the people she has worked alongside remaining the standout part of the journey.

After Hours

A Night On The Harbour

ADIA Director of Policy & Education, Dr Sarah Raphael, is pictured at Australiana Night with Dr Peter Norton and Organising Committee Chair Dr Bill Kahler after helping deliver the International Federation of Endodontic Associations World Congress.

The congress welcomed around 1,000 delegates from more than 50 countries, with many ADIA members also supporting the event as sponsors and exhibitors.

Milestones

Smilo.ai at the 2026 Patient's Choice Awards

Smilo.ai Takes Home Digital Health Service Award

ADIA member Smilo.ai has received the Outstanding Digital Health Service Award at the 2026 Patient's Choice Awards, recognising the team's work in AI-powered screening and preventive oral healthcare.

Central Smiles Launches In Ceduna

The Australian Dental Foundation and Straumann Group Foundation have launched Central Smiles, providing free dental treatment, prevention and oral health education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, beginning in Ceduna, South Australia.

Learn more

Grants and Scholarships

$50,000 Available Through Credabl's Helping Hand Grants

Credabl is offering five $10,000 Helping Hand Grants for healthcare professionals with ideas that could benefit their patients, practice, team or community. Applications close 30 November 2026.

Apply now

Coming Up

Women in Dentistry Breakfast | 10 October 2026

Join the dental community for the Women in Dentistry Breakfast on the final morning of ADX Brisbane.

View breakfast details

ADX Brisbane | 8–10 October 2026

Join the dental community at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre for three days of learning, connection and industry engagement at the ADX exhibition.

Register for ADX Brisbane

Got news to share?

Share your milestones, achievements, team news, community initiatives or industry insights for consideration in an upcoming edition of The Check Up.

SUBMIT YOUR NEWS

Submissions are subject to editorial review. Promotional content, sales offers and commercial event listings are not included.

Posted in:Industry News News & Media Member News

Celebrating decades of service across Australia’s dental industry

Posted by ADIA on 15 September 2026

Recognising our industry milestones

ADIA recently had the privilege of recognising an extraordinary collection of career milestones at our State Branch Briefings, celebrating members of the dental industry who have contributed between 10 and 60 years of service.

Together, these milestones represent hundreds of years of experience, knowledge and commitment to Australia’s dental industry.

ADIA members recognised for industry service milestones

Ryan Green, Lisa Conway, Louis Rouessart Snr and Frank Papadopoulos

ADIA congratulates:

Louis Rouessart Snr, LR Dental – 60 years
Leon Gritter, Gritter Dental – 40 years
Frank Papadopoulos, Centaur Software – 30 years
Karen Gerakis, Dentavision – 30 years
Lisa Conway, Primary Dental – 30 years
James Lee, Ivoclar – 20 years
Jeremy Jackman, Ivoclar – 20 years
Joanne Challinor-Rogers, Dentsply Sirona – 20 years
Jackie Marco, Medi-Dent – 10 years

Kym De Britt, James Lee and James Rosborough

Sam Thalassinos, Jackie Marco and Kym De Britt

Celebrating our people

Celebrating these career milestones alongside fellow members was a fitting reminder that the strength of Australia’s dental industry is built not only on products, businesses and innovation, but on the knowledge, relationships and experience of the people behind them.

Congratulations to each of those recognised, and thank you for your ongoing contribution to Australia’s dental industry.

Sam Thalassinos, Jeremy Jackman and Kym De Britt

Sam Thalassinos, Karen Gerakis and Kym De Britt

Sam Thalassinos, Joanne Challinor-Rogers and Kym De Britt

State Branch Briefing in Adelaide, South Australia

Posted in:Industry News News & Media Member News State Branch Briefing

2026 ADIA Board Election

Posted by ADIA on 6 August 2026

On behalf of the ADIA Board, I am calling for nominations for election to the Board of the ADIA from appropriately credentialed individuals to serve as a Director for a two-year term, commencing after the 2026 AGM in November.

The call for nominations for three Director positions will be held between 27 August and 10 September 2026.

Commitment

Directors should expect to attend quarterly board meetings in their role, as well as represent ADIA at other meetings or events as required.

Skills and Attributes

Given the complex governance issues that are brought to ADIA Board meetings, it is expected the elected Director/s will hold a position of Proprietor / General Manager / Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer within their business (whether large or small). Please distribute this communication within your organisation as appropriate.

Experience in corporate law, audit and finance, human resource management or event management is highly regarded but not essential.

Next Steps

To nominate for the election, please forward a recent photo, short bio, and a paragraph of no more than 100 words outlining your reasons for wanting to support the dental industry as an ADIA Director, to the Association by COB Monday, 24 August 2026.

Nominations are to be emailed to Kym De Britt at ceo@adia.org.au

Posted in:Industry News News & Media Member News CEO Updates

News: Whiteley Champions Innovation and Community ahead of ADIA’s 100-Year Celebration

Posted by ADIA on 18 July 2025

As the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) marks its centenary in 2025, one of its long-time supporters, Whiteley, is celebrating alongside, reflecting on decades of Australian innovation, research, and resilience.

“I'm looking forward to the big celebration,” said Dr Greg Whiteley, Managing Director of the company that bears his family name. “It’s a fantastic sector.”

Founded in 1933, Whiteley has grown from a small family business into Australia’s largest manufacturer of sterilants and disinfectants. From its base in Tomago, New South Wales, it now exports to over 30 countries and continues to innovate in the field of infection prevention, particularly in healthcare and dental settings.

Carl Scully, NSW Minister for Small Business and Regional Development with Whiteley Directors at the opening of the plant in June 1995.

Dr Whiteley’s own journey into the business began reluctantly. “I made sure I'd never be part of the business,” he laughed. Trained originally in environmental health, he was drawn in as the company’s focus shifted toward medical and health sectors. “It turned out my degree was almost perfect for what needed to happen.”

Since then, he’s added postgraduate qualifications in occupational health, business, and research. Today, he leads the company’s ongoing collaborations with universities, with a strong focus on practical clinical outcomes. One of the company’s signature developments is Surfex®, the world’s first dry surface biofilm remover—born from Whiteley’s obsessive focus on microbial science and infection transmission.

Whiteley Executive Chairman, Dr Greg Whiteley and NSW Member for Port Stephens, the Hon. Kate Washington MP at the opening of the company's $25 million Human Therapeutics Plant in Tomago, New South Wales.

But science aside, it’s the sense of connection that keeps him grounded. “It really is a community,” Dr Whiteley said. “A place where people support each other.” He credits much of Whiteley’s continued involvement in the sector to those long-standing relationships and the shared focus on clinical safety and infection prevention. That sense of connection, he believes, is what has sustained Whiteley through decades of change, growth, and challenge, including the collapse of their first major dental distributor in the 1980s. “You get around those things. That’s just part of the commercial reality.”

Whiteley is one of only three remaining independent manufacturers of its kind in Australia. “We had lots and lots of competitors around,” he explained. “We’re now probably the largest.”

Looking to the future, the company is preparing to open its own manufacturing operations in the United States. “We’ve been manufacturing under licence in the US for more than 30 years,” said Dr Whiteley. “One of our critical licences is coming to a close… and we’re getting ready to come on board.” Establishing its own manufacturing presence in the United States will open new avenues for growth in one of the world’s largest healthcare markets.

“Never give up. Sometimes you get it wrong… but you’ve got to keep moving forward.”

Whiteley is a big supporter of industry teaming up with universities, especially when it comes to clinical innovation. “I don't think we do nearly enough collaborative research as a sector,” said Dr Whiteley. “There’s a huge opportunity there.” He sees research-backed innovation as key to making better products and breaking into tightly regulated export markets.

As ADIA celebrates 100 years of representing Australia’s dental suppliers and manufacturers, Whiteley stands as an example of an Australian business continuing to invest in the future of healthcare, both at home and abroad. His advice after decades in the industry? “Never give up,” he said. “Sometimes you get it wrong… but you’ve got to keep moving forward.”

Posted in:Industry News News & Media Member News

Are YOU an Industry Pioneer?

Posted by ADIA on 17 November 2021

For the first time, Australian Dental Industry Association Members are invited to nominate themselves or a Member candidate they feel embodies the title of ADIA Industry Pioneer.

The Industry Pioneer Award was introduced in 2021 and bestowed by the Board to Jeffery Cheetham, founder of Southern Dental Industries (SDI).

Jeffery has a long and distinguished record of delivering change and benefit to the dental and oral health industries, growing SDI from a family dental manufacturing business to an industry leading company involved in the research and development, manufacturing, and marketing of specialist dental materials.

ADIA recognised Jeffery’s achievements and dedication to the industry at the 2021 ADIA Awards Dinner as the inaugural recipient of the ADIA Industry Pioneer Award.

About the ADIA Industry Pioneer Award

Nominees for the ADIA Industry Pioneer Award are considered by the Board and the title is awarded to a Member of the Association who has made a contribution of merit to the dental industry.

Prior to being granted an ADIA Industry Pioneer Award, the Board must satisfy itself that the nominee:

Has established a reputation at a personal level for high ethical standards and high quality of work.
Has a record of employment with a Member for at least 10 years (not necessarily consecutively).
Has a record of service to the dental industry that spans at least 10 years (not necessarily consecutively).

Click here to read the nomination criteria.
You will need to log into your ADIA account to view this document.

Email your nomination(s) to ADIA CEO Kym De Britt.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE FRIDAY 10 DECEMBER 2021.

Posted in:Industry News Member News

Posted in Member News