22 & 23 October 2026: Main Conference Programme
All keynotes will be presented on Day 1 of the conference by a distinguished panel of speakers to inspire participants about the conference theme on through “Warming Contexts: Reflection and Aspiration for The Future of Family Therapy“.
Timing: 9am – 12pm
Location: SUSS Auditorium
Opening Keynote
Speaker
Title:
Family Resilience in the Longevity Era
Professor Paulin Straughan
Professor of Sociology (Practice) and Director of the Centre for Research on Successful Ageing at SMU
Keynote
Speaker 1
Title:
The Connection between Relational and Family Health with Mental Health
A/Prof Daniel Fung
Chief Wellness Officer, NHG Health
Keynote
Speaker 2
Title:
Beyond Model Fidelity: Cultivating Contextually Competent Family Therapist in Asia
Professor Timothy Sim
Head of Programme, Master of Counselling, S R Nathan School of Human Development, Singapore University of Social Sciences
Keynote
Speaker 3
Title:
Family Therapy Nested within Wider Social Networks
Dr Dan and Dr Sally
Professor Emeritus and Professor Emerita, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary
All plenary sessions will be presented on Day 1 of the conference by a distinguished panel of speakers, inspiring participants through the conference theme “Warming Contexts: Reflection and Aspiration for The Future of Family Therapy“.
Timing: 1.30pm- 5.30pm
Location: SUSS Auditorium
Plenary
Speaker 1
Title:
The History and Development of Family Therapy Worldwide Over the Past 50 Years
Dr Jay Lebow
Clinical Professor, The Family Institute at Northwestern
Plenary
Speaker 2
Title:
Hypermodern times: the evolution of the Milan Approach
Professor Umberta Telfener
President, European Family Therapy Association
Plenary
Speaker 3
Title:
When Global Model Meets and Local Meanings: Contextual Adaptation of Structural Family Therapy
Dr Timothy Sim
Head of Programme, Master of Counselling, S R Nathan School of Human Development, Singapore University of Social Sciences
Plenary
Speaker 4
Title:
The Development of Family Therapy in China
Dr Zhao Xu Dong
Professor of Medical Psychology & Psychiatry at Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Day 1 concludes with an engaging panel discussion featuring distinguished keynote and plenary speakers. Centered on “Localising Systemic Family Therapy in Singapore: Why, What, and How,” the session will explore its potential, challenges, and future directions.
Expect a lively and thought-provoking dialogue filled with insights, possibilities, and inspiration!
Timing: 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Location: SUSS Auditorium
Panel Topic: Localizing Systemic Family Therapy in Singapore: Why, What, and How
Moderator: Dr Chua Wei Bin
Panelist: Dr Timothy Sim Panelist: A/P Daniel Fung Panelist: Dr Barbara Mckay
Day 2 of the conference will present on the real-world application of systemic practice across diverse settings and communities. Through a series of practice-oriented presentations and discussions, speakers will share insights, innovations, and lived experiences from the fields of supervision, healthcare and mental health, community practice, rehabilitation and correctional settings, as well as regional and international collaborations. We invite interested participants to submit their abstracts here!
Timing: 9am – 5pm
Location: SUSS Block C
