James Rankin Oration

The James Rankin Oration is an annual oration which has been held during the APSAD Conference since 1990 and is named in honour APSAD’s first President and co-founder Professor James (Jim) Rankin.

Professor Rankin established the first medically based combined clinical and academic program for the treatment and of study for alcohol in Australia at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne in 1964. When St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney established the new building for Drug and Alcohol Services, it was named ‘Rankin Court’ in recognition of Jim’s assistance in establishing the services.

The James Rankin Oration honours a significant Australasian contributor to research, practice, and policy in alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

To learn more about Professor James Rankin or to see the honours list of James Rankin Orators visit the APSAD Website.

2026 James Rankin Orator:

Nicholas Lintzeris

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Australia

Professor Nicholas Lintzeris AM is a specialist in addiction medicine and clinical researcher with over three decades of experience in the alcohol and other drugs sector.

Nicholas was the Director of Drug and Alcohol Services for the South East Sydney Local Health District and President of the Chapter of Addiction Medicine in the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and is currently a Conjoint Professor in Addiction Medicine at the University of Sydney.

Nicholas has served as Chief Addiction Medicine Specialist for the NSW Ministry of Health and Clinical Director of the Lambert Initiative in Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney.

Nicholas has been at the forefront of researching novel treatment interventions for substance use disorders, including opioids, cannabis and amphetamines and has led research using cannabinoid medications in treating cannabis use disorder (CUD).

Key Deadlines:

~~Scholarship Application Deadline:~~ ~~5 July 2026~~

~~Late Breaker Abstract Deadline:~~ ~~27 July 2026~~

~~Early Bird Registration Deadline:~~ ~~31 August 2026~~

~~Accommodation Deadline:~~ ~~28 September 2026~~

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APSAD acknowledges that the conference is being held on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s continuing connection to land, water, and community and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. APSAD acknowledges Sovereignty in this country has never been ceded. It always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.