30 Years Of Bermuda Principles Celebrated
The Bermuda Principles 30th Anniversary Conference held in February 2026 at the Hamilton Princess has been hailed as a resounding success, reinforcing Bermuda’s role in global genomics collaboration.
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Principles 30th Anniversary Conference, held from 25–28 February 2026 at the Hamilton Princess, has been hailed as a resounding success, bringing together world-leading experts, innovators, policymakers, and stakeholders to advance the future of ethical, equitable, and globally connected genomics.
“Held under the theme ‘Future-Proofing Global Collaboration in Genomics,’ the conference honoured the legacy of the original Bermuda Principles while creating an important platform for dialogue on the future of genomic data sharing, health equity, bioethics, artificial intelligence, and international scientific partnership. The four-day convening featured keynote addresses, technical sessions, public engagement events, and a gala celebration, further positioning Bermuda as a meaningful destination for global scientific leadership.
“The conference welcomed speakers and participants from across the world, with 92 people visiting Bermuda from 19 countries represented, demonstrating the truly international importance of the discussions taking place in Bermuda.
“Among the distinguished speakers and contributors were: Professor Robert ‘Bob’ Waterston, Dr Piero Carninci, Dr Weiben Liu, Professor Alex Brown, Vence Bonham, Professor Patrick Tan, Professor Julie Dutil, Dr ThankGod Ebenezer, Adrian Thorogood, Professor Lygia Pereira, Dr Carika Weldon, Dr Serena Scollen, Professor André Uitterlinden, Dr Dawn Chen, Professor Mark Blaxter, Dr Heidi Rehm, Professor Ambroise Wonkam, Professor Caroline Wright, Dr Katherine Littler, Dr Michael Dunn, Dr Sasha Henriques, Professor Nicola Mulder, Dr Claire Attwoll, Dr Ben Busby, Professor Mark Taylor, Dr Jonathan LoTempio Jr, Dr Mercury Shitindo, Peter Goodhand, and Professor Dame Janet Thornton.
“A standout moment of the conference was the public session, ‘The Future of AI in Business’ with NVIDIA, which broadened the event’s reach beyond the scientific community and highlighted the growing intersection between genomics, artificial intelligence, business innovation, and decision-making. That session featured Dr Chelsea Sumner of NVIDIA, Stuart Lacey of Labyrinth, and Lloyd Holder of SiriusPoint, moderated by Michelle Jackson.”
Governor Andrew Murdoch opened the conference stating that “Bermuda remains an active and innovative contributor to global genomics. Local organisations such as CariGenetics, and international partners like the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Nvidia, supporting Bermuda’s new Bioinformatics Centre of Excellence. The work on this beautiful archipelago shows that innovation, leadership and collaborations can take place anywhere. It needs talent, passion and imagination- and this island has that. I look forward to meeting the next generation of Bermudian scientists and data specialists.”
A spokesperson added, “In addition to its scientific and strategic significance, the conference also delivered meaningful value for Bermuda’s visitor economy. The estimated economic impact of the event is $350K, reflecting spending across accommodation, hospitality, transportation, and related services.
“Feedback from delegates was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees expressing a strong desire to return to Bermuda for future editions of the conference. Their enthusiasm reflects not only the quality of the program, but also Bermuda’s unique ability to host world-class international gatherings in an environment that fosters both innovation and collaboration.
“The conference concluded with the Bermuda Principles Awards Gala Reception & Dinner, where Professor Ewan Birney was honoured, with gala tributes from Peter Goodhand and Professor Dame Janet Thornton.
“As the global genomics landscape continues to evolve, the success of this anniversary conference underscores the enduring relevance of the Bermuda Principles and the vital need for trusted, inclusive, and future-ready global collaboration.”
