2025 has been a landmark year for QCIF.

This year was defined by expanding our capabilities, forging new partnerships, and delivering meaningful impact for the research community across Australia and beyond, at a time when resources in higher education and research are increasingly constrained and when many organisations have understandably chosen to look inward.

In the face of this uncertainty, QCIF has taken a different path. Instead of retreating, in 2025 we embraced a bold “go big or go home” mindset, leaning into ambition, stepping up as change agents, and backing this approach with tangible evidence.

One way this impact is expressed is through QCIF’s refreshed brand and new website. These updates are more than cosmetic, they reflect our commitment to showcasing the depth and diversity of our projects, capabilities, and collaborations across academia, government, and industry. They also shine a light on the data and digital expertise that our talented team of scientists, engineers, and support staff bring to life every day. Their stories and contributions are at the heart of what we do, and they deserve to be celebrated.

And yet, despite these changes, one thing remains constant: our identity. Our appearance may have evolved, but our spirit has not. As we broaden our capabilities and extend our national reach, we remain deeply proud of our heritage. Being Queensland born will always be a core part of who we are, and we are proud for it.

However, QCIF’s impact is national, especially through our long-term partnerships with NCRIS capabilities of the Australian BioCommons and the Australian Research Data Commons. There are also emerging partnerships with international peers, accelerated by my trip to Europe and productive dialogue with peer European data research infrastructures. Our aspirations are also reflected in QCIF’s new headquarters at The Precinct – being among a vibrant community of innovative start-ups is an ideal place to promote knowledge diffusion as we explore opportunities together in AI and Quantum convergence – our newest capability - for example.       

This year, QCIF has continued to enable research excellence and make real-world impact and there’s a several projects and initiatives that deserve to be mentioned.

A highlight of 2025 has been the continued growth of KeyPoint, QCIF’s secure and trusted research environment for sensitive data. KeyPoint is now a cornerstone for federated learning and federated machine learning research, underpinning flagship Medical Research Future Fund projects such as the National Infrastructure for Federated Learning in Digital Health (NINA) and the Digital Infrastructure For improving First Nations Maternal and Child Health (DIFFERENCE) project.

The DIFFERENCE project, in particular, exemplifies the power of partnership, bringing together universities, health services, CSIRO and Indigenous health organisations to improve maternal and perinatal health outcomes for First Nations mothers and babies.

QCIF also made a nationally significant contribution to biosecurity through the development of Taxodactyl, in partnership with Queensland University of Technology and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. By transforming complex bioinformatics processes into a scalable, transparent workflow, Taxodactyl strengthens Australia’s ability to protect its borders from biological threats, a clear example of research infrastructure delivering real-world impact.

While 2025 was a challenging year for QCIF, we continued to deliver on our mission of accelerating research and innovation by provisioning cutting-edge data and digital capabilities, upskilling current and future researchers and innovators, and catalysing collaboration across Australia and internationally. We couldn’t have done it without the support and trust of QCIF’s directors, investing members and partners, your sage advice and your continuing commitment shaping QCIF’s direction has been invaluable.

As we move into 2026, we look forward to forging new collaborations and partnerships across our NCRIS network and government, while also exploring exciting opportunities with industry partners. A key focus will be developing our Strategic Plan for 2026–2028, which will guide the direction of QCIF in the years ahead. One thing, however, remains unchanged: our unwavering commitment to delivering impact through collaboration, innovation, and capability uplift.           

And the only way we could achieve this is through teamwork. None of this would have been possible without our incredible team, the people who make everything happen. Your resilience, professionalism, and passion in the face of adversity have been truly exceptional. It is a privilege to lead such a dedicated group, and I look forward to the accomplishments we will achieve together in the year ahead.

Have a fantastic break and see in you in 2026!