In his article 'Making of an expert,' author K. Anders Ericsson states: 'Consistently and overwhelmingly, the evidence showed that experts are always made, not born.' Developing professional expertise is very feasible-but it does require choosing an appropriate career niche, developing innovative research, and being able to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency. It is attainable with the right mentorship, dedication, and perseverance. The panelists will discuss practical aspects of identifying and developing a career niche. In addition, technical aspects of presenting nationally, whether as a panelist or expert lecturer, will be discussed. This includes practical tips on how to choose a topic to present, how to seek presenters, and techniques for successfully moderating panels. Lastly, the experts will discuss how to develop a research portfolio including maturing projects into publications.