Join us for the 2026 Statistical Society of Australia Annual General Meeting, followed by a panel discussion featuring distinguished experts on “The 2026 Census is (partially) done—what’s in store for 2031?”
Date: Wednesday 26 August 2026
Times (AEST): 1:00pm - 2:00pm
- Annual General Meeting: 1:00 pm–1:20 pm
- Panel discussion: 1:20 pm–2:00 pm
Format: Online via Zoom: The Zoom link will be provided in your registration confirmation.
Title: "The 2026 Census is (partially) done, what's in store for 2031?”
Abstract:
Following our AGM we will be holding a panel session on the future of the Australian Census. With 2026 Census night behind us - but still much work to be done before results are released - planning is already underway for 2031.
Join Professor James Brown OBE, Professor of Official Statistics and Head of Mathematical Sciences University of Technology Sydney and Georgia Chapman, ABS Director, 2031 Census in conversation with Teresa Dickinson PSM, as we explore how and why Censuses are changing internationally, what changes the ABS is considering for 2031 and what they could explore for the future. We will be considering aspects such as how content of our Census continues to evolve and the growing uses and potential of administrative data to enhance traditional Censuses and provide a pathway to new ways of producing Census-like data.
Presenter Bio's
Professor James Brown, OBE
James has nearly 30 years of experience collaborating with national statistical agencies, particularly in measuring population census coverage and adjusting census outputs for coverage errors. His work has included collaborations on the UK censuses for 2001 and 2011, Scotland’s census for 2022, and New Zealand’s census for 2018 and 2023. He is the current chair of National Records Scotland’s Methods Steering Group for census, a member of ABS Methodology Advisory Committee, a member of ATO’s Tax Gap Panel, and working with Office for National Statistics (UK) on its transformed labour force survey program. More widely, he collaborates across disciplines, including his work with Health+Law on the first legal needs survey for those living with HIV and Hepatitis B.
With his extensive knowledge of Census taking and methodology James is well placed to provide expert commentary on likely and desirable future paths for the Australian Census.
Georgia Chapman
Georgia Chapman has more than 18 years working on official statistics at the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the 2031 Census is the fifth Census she has worked on. Georgia played a key role in establishing the 2026 Census Program and also led the content and topic development process where sexual orientation and gender data will be collected for the first time. Her experience spans the full Census cycle, including content review and questionnaire design, community engagement, inclusive strategies and field operations. She has also supported the Fiji Bureau of Statistics in preparing for its 2027 Census, assessing the Census design and readiness for delivery. Other notable roles include leading work to enable all eligible Australians to participate in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey and as Director of Inclusion for the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Georgia’s breadth of experience leading diverse aspects of the Australian Census over 5 Census cycles, and her current responsibility to drive multi-disciplinary work developing options and recommendations for key aspects of the 2031 Census put her in the box seat to talk to this topic.
Teresa Dickinson, PSM
Teresa is now semi retired, with her most recent full-time role being a Deputy Australian Statistician at the ABS, where she led the 2021 Census of Population and Housing and early design work for the 2026 Census. She also had responsibility for ABS’ work to expand the breath and use of linked administrative data, including seeing this data more widely used to support Census 2021. When not being the SSA Secretary Teresa now works with statistical offices in the Asia-Pacific region to improve their leadership, governance and statistical programmes.
@StatSocAus
