Australasian Forensic Science Summit 2016: business models towards 2030

Abstract

The characteristics of successful business models for the delivery of forensic science towards 2030 was the subject of a working group discussion stream at the Australasian Forensic Science Summit held on the 8th and 9th of December 2016 in Canberra, Australia. A diverse working group of practitioners, managers and leaders from government forensic science services considered current business models and their fitness for the future in light of local and global trends impacting policing, criminal justice and the community. This article summarizes the discussions into the strengths and risks of current models followed by an analysis of future challenges for forensic science, including changing demand and balancing the needs of policing and criminal justice stakeholders. Opportunities for future business models are explored under the themes of customer responsiveness, specialist services, quality assurance, information technology, technology disruption and future workforce. The outcomes of the discussions are expressed as a set of statements intended to stimulate thinking about the future business model needs of forensic science in Australia and New Zealand.

Keywords:

• Forensic Science Summit 2016
• business models
• Australia New Zealand
• future trends

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of the following working group members who participated in the Business Models stream discussions at the Australasian Forensic Science Summit:

Des Carroll, Northern Territory Police

Michael Collins, National Measurement Institute, Australia

Paul Csoban, Queensland Health

Jason Hutcheon, Tasmania Police

Brian Huxley, Queensland Police Service

Rebecca Kogios, Victoria Police

Sharon Neville, New South Wales Forensic & Analytical Science Service

Francine Poole, New South Wales Police Force

David Ranson, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine

Simon Rockliff, Australian Capital Territory Government Analytical Laboratory

Laszlo Szabo, Forensic Science Service Tasmania

Gavin Turbett, PathWest Laboratory Medicine Western Australia

Tanja van Peer, New Zealand Police

Eric Wenger, Australian Federal Police