Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Hear from an exciting lineup of more than 60 international and local speakers. The programme will inform and inspire through thought-provoking lectures and stimulating discussions.

Prof Joyce Yeung

University of Warwick, UK

Prof Joyce Yeung

University of Warwick, UK

Dr Joyce Yeung graduated from University of Birmingham Medical School in 2001 and and was appointed as a consultant at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in 2013 having undertaken postgraduate training in anaesthesia and critical care. Joyce is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Warwick where she leads the Emergency, Prehospital, Perioperative and Critical Care Trials group, leading a portfolio of large clinical trials in anaesthesia, chronic pain and critical care within Warwick Clinical Trials Unit. Alongside NHS and University commitments, Joyce is Director of UK Perioperative Medicine Clinical Trials Network and NIHR National Specialty Lead for Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Pain. She focuses on applied health research and clinical trials with the aim of improving perioperative patient outcomes. She maintains an interest in resuscitation science and is a member of Scientific Advisory Committee and taskforce member of International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Science (ILCOR), responsible for international evidence-based clinical guidelines with a mandate to save more lives globally by resuscitation.

Prof BobbieJean Sweitzer

Inova Health and University of Virginia, USA

Prof BobbieJean Sweitzer

Inova Health and University of Virginia, USA

Dr. BobbieJean Sweitzer is dual trained and boarded in anesthesiology and internal medicine. She is Systems Director, Preoperative Medicine, Inova Health, Falls Church, Virginia, and Professor of Medical Education, University of Virginia. Dr. Sweitzer is an author and the editor of Preoperative Assessment and Management (currently 3rd edition). She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and abstracts and over 30 book chapters. She lectures nationally and internationally on preoperative medicine and ambulatory surgery topics. She is the Executive Editor of A&A Practice, and on the editorial boards of Anesthesiology and Anesthesia and Analgesia. She hosts a monthly podcast for Anesthesiology, the premier journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Sweitzer is immediate past President of the Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA). She is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Anesthesiologists and SAMBA. She is an elected member of the Association of University Anesthesiologists, and a founding member of the Governing Board and past President of the Society of Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement. She is a founding member of the Society for Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine.

Prof Ki Jinn Chin

Toronto Western Hospital and University of Toronto, Canada

Prof Ki Jinn Chin

Toronto Western Hospital and University of Toronto, Canada

Ki Jinn Chin, MBBS (Hons), MMed, FANZCA, FRCPC, is a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto, and is also the Regional Anesthesia Program Director at Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada. He graduated from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, U.K., completed anesthesiology training in Singapore, and is dual-fellowship certified in neuroanesthesia (University of Western Ontario) and regional anesthesia (Toronto Western Hospital). He is a well-published and internationally-recognized expert and educator in regional anesthesia. His academic areas of interest include ultrasound-guided truncal and central neuraxial blocks, as well as online education in the fundamental procedural skills required for safe and effective regional anesthesia through his YouTube channel.

A/Prof Hairil Rizal Abdullah

Singapore General Hospital, Singapore

A/Prof Hairil Rizal Abdullah

Singapore General Hospital, Singapore

Assoc Prof Hairil Rizal is a Senior Consultant Anaesthesiologist and the Clinical Director for the Office of Value-based Healthcare (OVBH) at SGH. He completed his anaesthesiology specialty training in Singapore, and further pursued fellowship and a MSc degree in Perioperative Medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada and University College London, UK respectively. Additionally, he holds a PhD in Clinical and Translational Science, focusing on Data Science in Healthcare, which were supported by the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship in 2022 and the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Research Training Fellowship in 2020. As a perioperative clinician, he led a transformative initiative in SGH that culminated in a one-stop Preoperative Assessment Centre, and introduced the “PREPARE” prehabilitation program for elderly patients, earning him the National Healthcare Innovation and Productivity Award in 2020. Concurrently a Clinician Scientist funded by the NMRC and a Faculty Fellow for Singapore Biodesign, Hairil is a leading figure in healthtech innovations. As the Clinical Director of OVBH, his work in operationalizing Value Based Healthcare has been recognized with the "Distinguished Champion of Change Leader Award" by SingHealth in 2022. His focus on innovation, education, and patient care positions him as a prominent leader in his field.

Sir Ashley Bloomfield

Alan Merry Orator

Sir Ashley Bloomfield

Alan Merry Orator

Sir Ashley Bloomfield trained in medicine at the University of Auckland and specialised in public health medicine. He has 25 years experience in public policy and health leadership, including at the World Health Organization in Geneva. His professional areas of interest are non-communicable disease prevention and control and addressing health inequities. He was New Zealand’s Director-General of Health from June 2018 to July 2022 and led the country’s health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was appointed a Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to public health.

Dr Nicholas Lightfoot

NZSA Invited Speaker

Dr Nicholas Lightfoot

NZSA Invited Speaker

Nicholas Lightfoot is a Specialist Anaesthetist in Private Practice based in Auckland, New Zealand. His clinical interests centre around anaesthesia for orthopaedic and gynaecological surgical procedures including the application of regional anaesthesia to optimise patient outcomes. While working at Te Whatu Ora – Counties Manukau, he maintained an active interest in clinical research including both prospective and retrospective studies including collaborations with the ANZCA Clinical Trials Network. These endeavours have led to more than 35 publications in the peer reviewed literature and several local grants to further develop these projects. In addition to these roles, he has spent time as a College Supervisor of Training for Clinical Fellows, a Scholar Role Tutor and has actively mentored more junior colleagues prior to their selection for and while on the Anaesthesia Training Programme. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with friends, travel and listening to music.

Carlton Irving

Hauora Māori Service Directorate, Te Whatu Ora

Carlton Irving

Hauora Māori Service Directorate, Te Whatu Ora

Carlton Irving’s career in New Zealand’s healthcare sector demonstrates his dedication to advocating for health equity across all marginalised communities, with a strong focus on his Māori heritage. As the Clinical Chief of Allied Health at the Hauora Māori Service Directorate – Te Whatu Ora, Mr. Irving uses his broad experience from frontline critical care to strategic leadership roles to ensure the health system serves the unique needs of diverse populations effectively. His leadership as the inaugural Chair of Te Kaunihera Manapou | Paramedic Council has been pivotal in shaping policies that promote equitable healthcare. Complementing his professional endeavors, Mr. Irving’s academic journey, culminating in an expected MBChB from Otago Medical School in 2024, reinforces his commitment to medical excellence and advocacy. Beyond his professional and academic roles, Mr. Irving founded Ngā Ringa Ngaio Whakaora, a charity that supports underserved communities. This work underlines his commitment to societal impact, extending his influence from healthcare settings into community empowerment, fostering environments that uplift all individuals, particularly those in marginalised groups.

A/Prof Michal Kluger

ANZCA Invited Speaker

A/Prof Michal Kluger

ANZCA Invited Speaker

Dr Kluger has interests in all aspects of anaesthetic practice, including acute and chronic pain, perioperative medicine, regional anaesthesia and enhanced recovery programmes. He undertakes ‘boutique’ research in the areas of persistent post-surgical pain, perioperative medicine and acute pain management. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh and subsequently trained in Adelaide and Auckland in Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management. Optimising the overall care of surgical patients has led to the development of a Transition Pain Service within Waitemata Health and the planning of an Advanced Recovery Room Care model for at risk surgical patients. He is an enthusiastic clinician, and even more enthusiastic guitar player and continues to hold the dream that Scotland can beat the All Blacks at least once! His talk will focus on the concept of a Transition Pain Service; the background and context within the ANZCA framework; and some potential challenges for our speciality.

Invited Speakers

Keith Adkins

St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney

Keith Adkins

St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney

I am Clinical Perfusionist at St Vincent’s hospital in Sydney. I have been a Perfusionist for 15 years and have done two stints at St Vincents hospital where we perform a Heart and Lung transplant program as well as doing conventional cardiac surgery. We also have a busy ECMO programs averaging 60 ECMO runs a year. In between my two stints at St Vincent’s hospital, I spent 5 years as Chief Perfusionist at St George Hospital. It was here that I managed the Autotransfusion service. During my time at St George, by working closely with Anaesthetists, Nursing staff and Surgeons, we were able to double the amount cellsavers performed each year. My interests in Perfusion are Transfusion rate reduction, renal injury prevention, and ECMO education.

Dr Gina Bane

Te Whatu Ora Tairawhiti

Dr Gina Bane

Te Whatu Ora Tairawhiti

Originally from Michigan, USA, Gina Bane has been practicing in Gisborne as a staff anaesthetist for nearly the past 2 years. Prior to her immigration to New Zealand she practiced in a variety of cities in Northern California. She has previous training in Pediatrics and Pediatric Intensive Care before she made the transition to Anaesthesiology. She has focused on underserved populations for the majority of her career and has an interest in remaining a skilled generalist. In her free time she enjoys surfing, crossfitting and spending time with her cat and two dogs.

Dr Craig Birch

Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau

Dr Craig Birch

Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau

I work at Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, where my clinical interests are bariatrics, upper GI, obstetrics and regional anaesthesia. I also work in private practice and my regular lists include bariatrics, ENT, maxillofacial and dental work. I have always been an enthusiastic teacher and am currently in my final year as a FANZCA Part 2 examiner. I have too many hobbies. I love the outdoors, spending plenty of time running, swimming, walking, paddling kayaks, surfing, and riding bicycles. I persist with guitar lessons despite making very slow progress over the past 8 years. I’m a keen follower of recipes, and an even keener consumer of good food.

Dr Kelly Byrne

Te Whatu Ora Waikato

Dr Kelly Byrne

Te Whatu Ora Waikato

I have been a consultant at Waikato hospital since 2011, after completing fellowships in Melbourne, Australia and Edmonton, Canada. My subspeciality interests are cardiac and regional anaesthesia, with an interest in ultrasound linking those 2 sub-specialities. My research interests are fascial plane blocks, phantom limb pain and ensuring that our institution is involved in multi-centre research. I am currently an examiner and part of the Final Exam Subcommittee. I have spent time working in Cambodia and the Pacific islands and I’m interested in fostering a relationship with these countries that enables our trainees to be exposed to anaesthesia in resource limited environments.

Dr Susan Calvert

Chief Executive, Medical Sciences Secretariat | Medical Radiation Technologists Board/Medical Sciences Council

Dr Susan Calvert

Chief Executive, Medical Sciences Secretariat | Medical Radiation Technologists Board/Medical Sciences Council

Dr Sue Calvert is the Chief Executive of the Medical Sciences Secretariat and the Medical Radiation Technologists Board/Medical Sciences Council. Sue has spent over 30 years working in health in several roles, including education. She has also been a practitioner and researcher. Sue has spent the last 16 years in health professional regulation. During this time she completed her doctorate, focussing on how a group of practitioners maintain their competence to practice. Sue has always been an advocate for safe clinical practice. It’s a key part of her current role as CE of responsible authorities – helping to make sure practitioners are competent and fit to practice.

Dr Rose Cameron

Middlemore Hospital

Dr Rose Cameron

Middlemore Hospital

Rose is an Anaesthetic Fellow currently at Middlemore Hospital. Her involvement in sustainability began in 2020 after joining TRA2SH (Trainee-Led Research and Audit in Anaesthesia for Sustainable Healthcare). She is also a member of the Environmental sustainability Network run by ANZCA and NZSA sustainability group. She has been involved in audits, research and promoting sustainability throughout theatre during her time as a trainee.

Dr Denys Court

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Denys Court

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Denys has had 40 years’ experience in obstetrics and gynaecology in both the public and private sector. Until recently he was the Associate Clinical Director of Obstetrics at Waitemata District having previously been the Clinical Director of Obstetrics at Auckland City Hospital. He has Fellowships with the Royal Australasian College of O&G and the Australasian College of Legal Medicine. Denys is also qualified in law and was previously the senior medico-legal Adviser in Auckland for the Medical Protection Society and a communication skills educator for Cognitive Institute. He chaired a clinical ethics advisory group during the Covid pandemic and is a credentialed mediator and conflict management coach. His interest in Healthcare Resilience follows time on an Expert Advisory Group for the Health Quality and Safety Commission. Denys is author of the book “Getting to Safe: Resilience Strategies for Health Professionals”. His second book on the humanity and skills of healthcare communication is soon to be released.

Sonya English

PREKURE

Sonya English

PREKURE

Sonya is a passionate advocate in the proactive prevention of disease and living the best quality of life you can. She is a clinical nurse specialist in critical care medicine and the patient at risk and a PREKURE certified master health coach (ICF ACC). Her vast experience affords the holistic approach to transformative behaviour change and lifestyle medicine science (in particular, mental fitness and nutritional metabolic health). Her focus is on supporting her clients to be the project manager of their own health, find and explore their strengths, and what really matters to them.

Dr Dan Frei

Wellington Regional Hospital

Dr Dan Frei

Wellington Regional Hospital

Dr Dan Frei is a cardiothoracic anaesthetist and research lead at the Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Wellington Regional Hospital. He is honourary research fellow at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ) and honourary senior clinical lecturer at the University of Otago, Wellington School of Medicine. He has completed his PhD in perioperative oxygen therapy is the lead investigator for the Hospital Oxygen Therapy Randomised Oxygen trial (HOT-ROX). His other research interests include cardiac anaesthesia, and selecting appropriate trial outcomes for perioperative research.

A/Prof Ben Gray

University of Otago, Wellington

A/Prof Ben Gray

University of Otago, Wellington

A/Prof Associate Professor Dr Ben Gray works in the Primary Health Care and General Practice Department at University of Otago Wellington. He convenes the course in professional development and ethics. He retired from a career working in general practice 3 years ago having worked first in Waitara and for 27 years at Newtown Union Health Service in Wellington. NUHS is a practice that serves high needs patients and in particular a significant group of patients from a refugee background. The practice was one of the first to employ professional interpreters. In his role at the University he developed a research platform around working with interpreters and has published many research and opinion pieces on working with interpreters. He authored the chapter for Coles Medical Practice in New Zealand on working with interpreters. He worked on contract to MBIE working on their Language Assistance Programme that has launched a significant programme to professionalise the interpreter workforce and to increase the uptake of interpreters within the public service, including Health.

Richard Hamblin

Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality and Safety Commission

Richard Hamblin

Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality and Safety Commission

Richard Hamblin is Director of Health Quality Intelligence at Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality and Safety Commission, responsible for all aspects of our measurement of the quality of New Zealand’s health care. This includes the New Zealand Atlas of Healthcare Variation, measurement of the effects of national quality improvement programme, and design and implementation of national indicators of quality and value. Prior to joining Te Tāhū Hauora, Richard worked for 20 years in and around the NHS in England, including as Director of Intelligence at the Care Quality Commission. He has also worked for the King’s Fund in London, and is a 2006–07 Harkness Fellow.

Dr Jacqueline Hannam

University of Auckland

Dr Jacqueline Hannam

University of Auckland

Jacqui is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology at The University of Auckland, President of the Population Approach Group of Australia & New Zealand and leads the Auckland Pharmacometrics Group. Jacqui completed her Ph.D. in 2013 during which she developed models describing anaesthetic and analgesic combinations. Following this she undertook postdoctoral roles with the pharmacometrics team at the University of Navarra, Spain, and with Professor Alan Merry at the School of Medicine, University of Auckland. Jacqui’s research interests span paediatric pharmacology, patient safety, anaesthesiology and clinical implementation of model-based dosing. Her work is predominantly in pharmacometrics, which refers to model-based interpretation of pharmacology, and includes modelling for pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pathology. Current projects involve pharmacokinetics of commonly used antibiotics in neonates, babies and children to improve dosing, developing models to understand commonly measured biomarkers such as CRP and PCT to support clinical decision making around infections, as well as pharmacokinetics for other medicines where dosing recommendations may be empirical or sup optimal. Beyond research, Jacqui contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, postgraduate supervision and has committee roles related to equity and pharmacology.

Dr Alana Harper

Northern Rescue Helicopter

Dr Alana Harper

Northern Rescue Helicopter

Dr Alana Harper is an emergency medicine specialist at Auckland City Hospital, deputy medical director and pre-hospital and retrieval medicine doctor with the Northern Rescue Helicopter in Auckland. Alana is passionate about early care in trauma and ensuring excellence in clinical care for all patients, being our “why” and at the centre of everything we do. She is particularly interested in systems and the trauma ‘chain of survival’: especially the goal of seamless care between the pre-hospital and early in-hospital phases. When she isn’t in or hanging out of a helicopter, she can be found at the side of a football pitch cheering on her 2 boys, or cuddling the cute muscovy ducklings she breeds.

Dr Kerry Holmes

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata, Westpac Rescue Helicopter

Dr Kerry Holmes

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata, Westpac Rescue Helicopter

Kerry is a Consultant Anaesthetist at TWO-Waitemata and has also been working as a Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Physician on the Westpac Helicopter in Auckland for the last 5 years. He has had a long interest in retrieval medicine and worked with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Alice Springs, as well as the AMREF Flying Doctors based in Nairobi, Kenya. Working on the Westpac helicopter has opened his eyes to the world of pre-hospital medicine, and especially the subtleties of the hyperacute phase of trauma management. This stage is invariably over by the time of arrival in hospital and presents its own unique challenges.

Dr Cheng Kai (CK) Jin

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Cheng Kai (CK) Jin

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Cheng Kai (CK) Jin was trained in medicine, graduating from the University of Auckland in 2017. As a former resident medical doctor at Waitemata District, he was able to witness the rapid digital transformation that occurred during recent years. Seeing the potential benefits of technology, data and AI, his career has taken an atypical path into the realm of data science, blending the worlds of healthcare and technology. Driven by a strong interest in using data to improve patient outcomes and a desire to make system changes, he has ventured beyond traditional medical practice. This unique combination of skills has enabled him to support the COVID-19 response, leveraging artificial intelligence to address the complex health challenge. Currently, he serves as the Clinical Director for Te Whatu Ora’s AI Laboratory and is a honorary lecturer at the University of Auckland, where he continue to integrate AI with healthcare within New Zealand’s public healthcare system. His work focuses on creating systems that improve clinical decision making, population risk prediction, reduction of clinical administrative workload, and streamline patient care, all while navigating the ethical implications and governance structures of AI in medicine.

Lee Johnson

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Lee Johnson

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Lee Johnson is an Anaesthetic Technician who qualified from Middlemore Hospital in 2002. He is married with a ten-year-old son and enjoys his free time fishing. With vast experience in both the private and public sectors as a technician and team leader, Lee moved to Waitemata in 2008 after hearing about the various roles techs were taking on outside of the OR. This included resuscitation, transfers and IV cannulation. Over the years in private, Lee became particularly interested in vascular access and after moving to Waitemata he worked alongside his colleagues to support junior doctors with cannulation and phlebotomy due to a staffing crisis. Lee has also become skilled at placing PICCs having placed over 2000 lines over the past 14 years. Currently the tech lead service at Waitemata inserts approximately 1000 PICCs a year and on average 10 Peripheral IV lines each day. This experience has lead to a realisation that the walls of the OR are only a minute part of the wider hospital setting and by pushing out of his comfort zone, Lee has learned additional skills which not only helps support our colleagues across other departments but has also helped him to improve the care he can provide to patients in theatre. During his presentation, Lee will be highlighting that a collaborative approach to patient care improves outcomes, develops individuals, and grows a new, strong culture that is focused on providing the best care possible.

Dr Matt Kirk-Jones

North Shore Hospital

Dr Matt Kirk-Jones

North Shore Hospital

After completing an airway fellowship in the UK, Matt developed a favourable attitude towards airways and patient oxygenation in general. In particular, he developed an affection for awake techniques, and returned to North Shore Hospital to co- found a training course the for the performance of awake endoscopic intubation at -basing it on similar established courses in the UK. Several courses later he remains passionate about teaching and endoscopy, believing that familiarity breeds content(ment).

Tommy Knight

Patient-at-Risk Specialty Nurse and Hyperbaric Chamber Assistant

Tommy Knight

Patient-at-Risk Specialty Nurse and Hyperbaric Chamber Assistant

Tommy is originally from North Yorkshire, England, and trained as an Adult Nurse at Florence Nightingale’s School of Nursing and Midwifery in London. He worked within Critical Care at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. In 2019, he moved to New Zealand, joining North Shore Hospital ICU. He worked for the Unit during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Tommy has worked as an ICU Clinical Coach and now works for the Patient-at-Risk Team. He is also Nurse Lead for the Serious Illness Conversation Group. Alongside his full-time role, Tommy also works at the Slark Hyperbaric Unit, Devonport assisting patients needed Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, acute Decompression Illness and Carbon Monoxide poisoning, amongst others. In his spare time, Tommy is an Open Water Instructor for the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) NZ, enjoys watching England beat New Zealand in the rugby and also loves travelling around the World with his Wife.

Dr Katy Konrad

Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau

Dr Katy Konrad

Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau

I’ve been working as a consultant anaesthetist, at Te Whatu Ora, Counties Manukau for the last 12 years. I would describe myself as a ‘generalist’ anaesthetist with an interest across the specialities including obstetrics. I am the Hospital Transfusion Committee chair and joint clinical lead of the Patient Blood Management team, and have an interest in giving the right blood products at the right time to our patients. I was part of the working group involved in the introduction of the Massive Haemorrhage Protocol, with a particular focus on obstetric haemorrhage. When not at work, I enjoy living in our rural property south of Auckland with my husband and 3 kids, who have introduced me to the joys (and challenges) of mountainbiking!

Dr Matt Lowe

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Matt Lowe

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Matt has a particular interest in regional anaesthesia and is actively involved in teaching and mentoring at North Shore Hospital. He has made contributions to quality improvement including audit of the local rib fracture pathway and involvement in a departmental nerve block follow-up system. In addition to his clinical work, Matt has served as an Editorial Fellow for Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Journal and has co-authored peer-reviewed publications on topics such as labour epidural complications and perioperative cardiac enzyme elevation in patients with fractured neck of femur. His efforts have been recognized with a Poster Prize at the NZSA Annual Scientific Meeting in 2018.

Virginia Mills

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

Virginia Mills

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists

Virginia Mills is the Acting Director of Policy and Research at the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. Prior to this, she has held roles as the Executive Director of the Council of Medical Colleges, and senior policy positions with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the Public Health Group at the Ministry of Health. Virginia has a background in nutrition, including publishing original academic research with the University of Otago. She has a strong interest in public health policy, and health equity. While at the Council of Medical Colleges she was an integral part of the team that developed the new cultural safety framework for vocational medical training in partnership with Te ORA (the Māori Medical Practitioners Association), with the aim of supporting colleges to develop cultural safety training within their own programmes for registrars in training and fellows undertaking continuing medical education.

Dr James Moore

Co-Lead of the Trauma National Clinical Network | Wellington Hospital

Dr James Moore

Co-Lead of the Trauma National Clinical Network | Wellington Hospital

James is a graduate of the University of Otago Medical School, he completed his specialist training in New Zealand with further subspecialty training in cardiac anaesthesia & intensive care at Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom. He also holds a Master of Science with Distinction in Trauma Sciences from Queen Mary University of London. James is a Senior Research Fellow at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and is the site and national principal investigator for a number of clinical trials in the fields of trauma, traumatic brain injury, bleeding and transfusion. In addition to his research and clinical work, James is an active educator, teaching on several courses, including Early Management of Severe Trauma (EMST) and the Definitive Surgical Trauma Course (DSTC). He is a Medical Advisor for Hato Hone St John and was made a Commander of the Order of St John in 2019. Between 2016 and 2023 he was the Director of Trauma at Wellington Hospital and Regional Lead for the Central Region Trauma Network. He was appointed as Co-Lead of the Trauma National Clinical Network in late 2023.

Dr James Morse

University of Auckland

Dr James Morse

University of Auckland

James Morse is a Research Fellow in the Department of Anaesthesiology and an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Auckland. He has completed a PhD titled “Population Pharmacokinetic Pharmacodynamic Modelling to Improve Anaesthesia in Children and Adults”. His research uses pharmacometric methods to explore anaesthetic and analgesic drug dosing in neonates through to adults. He is specifically interested in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for target-controlled infusion anaesthesia, maturation pharmacokinetics and the influence of body composition on drug dosing in anaesthesia.

Dr Lisa Newby

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Lisa Newby

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

I am the current obstetric fellow at North Shore Hospital, here in Auckland. I FANZCA’ed in January after training through the central programme. I have always had an interest in obstetrics, and prior to anaesthetic training completed a postgraduate diploma in Obstetrics and Medical Gynaecology while working in O&G. I have a personal interest as well, as a Mum of 3 boys, giving me an insight from the patient’s perspective!

Dr Nola Ng

Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai

Dr Nola Ng

Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai

Dr Nola Ng is a Specialist Anaesthetist who specialises in ORL and Vascular Anaesthesia and has worked in these specialities at Te Toka Tumai since returning from fellowship ten years ago. Her work includes anaesthetising for shared airway procedures using advanced techniques such as high frequency jet ventilation and THRIVE, complex head and neck resections, skull base tumours and vestibular schwannomas. She has a strong interest in workforce optimisation by improving the wellbeing of the staff that work in healthcare and the structures that support them. Currently, her roles include being a Supervisor of Training for the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, a Vital Talk Facilitator and is a Te Toka Tumai Hot Debrief Facilitator. She has facilitated on CICO courses and also Airway scanning at POCUS courses. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Education and is working towards a Graduate Diploma in Science with psychology as her subject. Her most important achievement to date are her three young children who regularly test her coping strategies.

Dr Rebecca (Bex) Parkes

Clinical Psychologist, Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Rebecca (Bex) Parkes

Clinical Psychologist, Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Rebecca (Bex) Parkes is a Clinical Psychologist who works in the Cancer Support Service at Te Whatu Ora Waitemata, and in private practice. She specialises in working with people who have complex and multifactorial chronic health conditions, including chronic pelvic pain, gastrointestinal and connective tissue disorders, and those who have experienced medical trauma. Bex has extensive experience working with survivors of trauma and is a Sensitive Claims therapy provider, and has a special interest in trauma informed care, both at a clinical and organisational level. Her mission in this regard is to help improve treatment experiences for both clinicians and patients, through education around how to recognise and work with patients who are experiencing a trauma response in the medical setting.

A/Prof Roshini Peiris-John

University of Auckland

A/Prof Roshini Peiris-John

University of Auckland

Dr Roshini Peiris-John (MBBS, PhD) is Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Co-Director of the Centre for Asian and Ethnic Minority Health Research and Evaluation at the University of Auckland. She has a keen interest in health inequities and in research on intersecting systems of marginalisation (and resilience) that shape and challenge the health of under-served communities. Using intersectionality, she explores how the heterogeneity in people’s lived experiences result in multiple layers of disadvantage and disparities. Roshini leads Thriving at Crossroads, a Health Research Council funded project exploring how varying social identities/ associations of Asian and ethnic minority youth (including migration generation, gender diversity, religious affiliations etc.) intersect with health experiences, including the impacts of systemic racism and discrimination. Roshini is also Asian/ migrant lead of the Adolescent Health Research Group that leads the Youth2000 national secondary school surveys. She is a recipient of the Public Health Association of New Zealand’s Asian and Ethnic People’s Award (2024) for leadership and commitment to the health and wellbeing of Aotearoa’s ethnic communities and the University of Auckland’s Research Impact award (2022) for transformative impact towards improving hauora/ oranga of Rangatahi.

Dr Min Yee Seow

Orthogeriatrician, Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Min Yee Seow

Orthogeriatrician, Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Min Yee Seow is a geriatrician with post fellowship qualification in acute medicine and training in palliative care. She graduated in 2007 and completed FRACP training in 2018. Her current employment is the consultant orthogeriatrician in Waitemata Health. She was recently awarded the Graduate of the Chapter of Perioperative Medicine (GChPOM) via the recognition pathway. She established an award-winning hip fracture care service for older adults by Health Quality and Safety Commission (HQSC) in New Zealand. She works closely with orthopaedic surgeons and anaesthetists on daily basis, providing best care for older patients going through both acute and elective surgeries. She has established Proactive Care of Older People Considered for Surgery (POPs) clinic in Waitemata and provides comprehensive geriatric assessment for patients accepted for elective orthopaedic surgeries. Besides providing perioperative care for older patients, Dr Seow has her skillset in the management of complex geriatric patients such as those with underlying cognitive impairment, delirium, frailty, multimorbidities, polypharmacy, falls and osteoporosis.

Dr Marta Seretny

University of Auckland, Auckland City Hospital

Dr Marta Seretny

University of Auckland, Auckland City Hospital

Dr Marta Seretny is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland Department of Anaesthesiology and a specialist anaesthetist working at Auckland City Hospital. She completed much of her postgraduate clinical training in Edinburgh, Scotland and her final years of clinical training in Auckland New Zealand. Marta's PhD, awarded by the University of Edinburgh, investigated Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) using fMRI of the brain. This led to her interest in optimising the perioperative pathways of patients with cancer. Marta is interested in improving patient centred outcomes with a focus on prehabilitation in cancer.

Jo Shirtcliffe & Julie Bromley

Patient at Risk (PAR) Team, Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Jo Shirtcliffe & Julie Bromley

Patient at Risk (PAR) Team, Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Jo Shirtcliffe: is an experienced healthcare professional with a rich and diverse nursing background. After qualifying as a registered nurse in 1998, Jo began her career in acute adult mental health, gaining valuable experience over three years. Transitioning to general medicine, Jo honed her clinical skills before dedicating 12 years to specializing in cardiac nursing. In 2016, Jo joined the Patient at Risk Team, previously known as the Critical Care Outreach Team, focusing on managing and mitigating clinical deterioration in high-risk patients. As an advocate of intra-disciplinary learning, she has lead the Acute Care Training programme at Waitemata District for the past 4 years. Demonstrating a commitment to professional growth and excellence in patient care, Jo achieved Nurse Practitioner qualification in January 2024. Julie Bromley: After training in the UK, Julie moved to New Zealand in 1996 and within 18 months, took on the role of Charge Anaesthetic Technician Manager at Waitemata. Julie has a robust background in Resus and became an NZRC Resus educator in 2007. Her extensive experience and dedication to patient care have been instrumental in advancing anaesthetic technicians' practices in resuscitation and education within her team and the wider Anaesthetic Technician community. She served as an NZATS examiner for over 20 years, driven by a passion for advancing the profession to work at the top of its scope of practice. Julie became part of the Acute Care Training Faculty when it first started, demonstrating how Anaesthetic Technicians can be a valuable part of the multidisciplinary team, particularly in resuscitation.

Dr Mei Soo

Te Toka Tumai, Auckland City Hospital

Dr Mei Soo

Te Toka Tumai, Auckland City Hospital

Mei is a Specialist Anaesthetist at National Women’s Health, Te Toka Tumai, Auckland City Hospital. She completed her anaesthetic training in the UK prior to moving to New Zealand as a Women’s Health fellow and subsequently as a consultant. Mei has an interest in high risk obstetrics – she is one of 4 maternal fetal medicine special interest consultants in the department, and has taken active part in managing patients with complex pregnancies including abnormal placentation. Mei is also enthusiastic about teaching and training. In addition to being an ANZCA supervisor of training, she is faculty on PROMPT, neck rescue emergency and in-house simulation. In collaboration with midwifery educators, Mei created the maternity complex care area (MCCA) teaching programme in 2018 to upskill midwives and nurses caring for parturients requiring higher level of maternity care. This programme has evolved over the years but continues to educate staff on recognising and managing critically unwell wāhine.

Dr Sanket (Sunny) Srinivasa

General and HPB Surgeon, Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Sanket (Sunny) Srinivasa

General and HPB Surgeon, Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Sanket Srinivasa is a General and HPB Surgeon working at Te Whatu Ora, Waitemata and a Senior Lecturer in Surgery at the University of Auckland. He is the clinical lead for Robotic General Surgery at TWO Waitemata and runs an active research program on teaching and implementation of Robotic Surgery. His clinical practice focuses on on robotic liver and pancreas surgery.

Dr Sam Wall

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Sam Wall

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

I am an anaesthetist and airway lead at Te Whatu Ora, Waitematā, with special interests in complex and shared airways, as well as management of patients undergoing upper GI surgery. I completed 12 month fellowships in both of these fields, in Melbourne and Auckland, respectively. Otherwise, I’m faculty on our part one examination course (‘Prep Course’), am a member of EART (Equity in Anaesthesia Recruitment and Training), and am the Upper GI fellowship supervisor. I have previously taught gastric POCUS in workshops at various conferences and meetings, and this year will be involved with our ‘CICO’ workshop.

Katrina Walsh

Auckland University of Technology

Katrina Walsh

Auckland University of Technology

I have 30 years of experience in healthcare, both as a Registered Nurse and as a Registered Anaesthetic Technician. As a nurse I have worked on wards, and in operating theatres in scrub, circulating and PACU roles. I have worked exclusively as an Anaesthetic Technician since 2014 employed in both public and private hospitals and in a range of specialties. I also have an extended practice qualification in PICC line insertion. I have a passion for promoting and progressing our profession which is the reason why I’m a member of the NZATS Executive Committee and now a full-time AUT lecturer.

Dr David Wang

Waikato Hospital

Dr David Wang

Waikato Hospital

David is an Anaesthetic Registrar at Waikato Hospital, PhD finalist through the Otago University, and has an MBA from Deakin University. David has an interest in drug development, medical technology, health economics, and business process management.

Dr Jonathon Webber

University of Auckland

Dr Jonathon Webber

University of Auckland

Jonathon Webber is an advanced qualified lifeguard (ret.), and life member of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club and Surf Life Saving Northern Region. A senior lecturer in the Department of Anaesthesiology and director of the Simulation Centre for Patient Safety at the University of Auckland, he is a corresponding member of the International Life Saving Federation Medical Committee. Jonathon has authored and co-authored several lifeguarding, water safety, first aid and resuscitation texts, national surf lifesaving policies and drowning resuscitation guidelines. He has presented and published work on drowning detection and response by lifeguards, leisure-related injuries at NZ beaches, lifeguard perception and performance of CPR, bystander rescue, body recovery times on the NZ coastline, human factors in lifeguarding, airway management in drowning, and first aid training and resuscitation in the aquatic environment. Jonathon is a co-founder of the International Drowning Researchers’ Alliance (IDRA) and holds a Doctor in Professional Studies by Public Works through Middlesex University.

Alan White

Nelson Aviation College

Alan White

Nelson Aviation College

Alan is a retired Air New Zealand Captain, having flown Boeing 737, 767, 777 and 747 aircraft. He now runs the Airline Integration Course at Nelson Aviation College. This involves teaching the pilots of tomorrow the essential skills required to transition from a single pilot operation to a multi-crew environment, using a Boeing 737-800 simulator. Inspired by the years of questions from fearful flyers, he helped the college establish flight anxiety courses. His flying career spans 32 years in the commercial industry, nine years in the Air Force including 18 months as aide-de-camp to the Governor General. He is particularly interested in human factors and endures endless dinner-table discussions with his anaesthetist daughter, Catherine, centering around the aviation approach to emergencies in comparison to the anaesthetic approach!

Prof Martin Wilkinson

University of Auckland

Prof Martin Wilkinson

University of Auckland

Martin Wilkinson is Professor of Politics at the University of Auckland. He is a member of the Auckland Clinical Ethics Advisory Group and has written extensively on medical ethics.

Dr Debbie Wilson

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand

Dr Debbie Wilson

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand

Principal Advisor Sustainability team, Office of the Chief Executive, Investment and Infrastructure Group Business Partner, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand. Debbie is a doubly qualified nurse (RMN/RGN) and worked in ICU for years before moving into a sustainability managers role in 2012 at Counties Manukau Health district. Debbie graduated with a doctorate at Auckland University of Technology in 2020. Debbie’s research focus was sustainable healthcare practice, carbon measurement and reduction, sustainable waste management, organisational change management. Debbie started working at the Ministry of Health as part of the asset management team in early 2020 to develop guidance around sustainable design for healthcare infrastructure. Debbie is currently a member of the Te Whatu Ora Sustainability team working in a national role to support the infrastructure and investment group.

Dr Sunny (Jiafan) Yao

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Sunny (Jiafan) Yao

Te Whatu Ora Waitemata

Dr Jiafan (Sunny) Yao is a PGY1 House Officer at Northshore Hospital this year. He graduated from the University of Auckland Medical School with a Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) focusing on anaesthetics. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Yao has been actively engaged in research, with a significant focus on environmental sustainability in anaesthesia. His work aims to better understand current practices and improve the ecological footprint of operating theatres. Dr. Yao has presented his findings at both departmental and scientific meetings on this topic. In his spare time, Dr. Yao enjoys participating in community sporting activities, including tennis, golf, badminton, and ultimate frisbee. Dr Yao is committed to continuing his work in sustainable healthcare practices and contributing to advancements in the field of medicine.

Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Hear from an exciting lineup of more than 60 international and local speakers. The programme will inform and inspire through thought-provoking lectures and stimulating discussions.

Invited Speakers

CONFERENCE MANAGERS