Speakers - conference management Events 4 You New Zealand

Dr Leo Celi Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA Leo Anthony Celi, MD, MS, MPH is an internist, an intensive care unit doctor, and an infectious disease specialist. After working in Dunedin Hospital for 5 years, Leo returned to Boston to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical informatics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a master’s degree in public health at Harvard University, and a research post-doctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is currently on faculty at both the Harvard Medical School and at MIT. His current research projects are in the field of artificial intelligence in medicine and mobile health technology in resource-poor settings. He is one of the founders and currently leads Moca, a volunteer organization consisting of students from MIT and Harvard (www.mocamobile.org). Leo has also taken up boxing and trains 3-4 times a week
Eddi Cohen Mobile Medical Systems International, California, USA As a Clinical Nurse Consultant, Eddi Cohen specialises in the prevention of healthcare-acquired infections and its relation to clinical nursing practices in hygiene care; for over 18 years she has been a popular and frequently requested lecturer in conferences throughout Australia, Singapore and New Zealand where she introduced the concept of ‘‘Interventional Patient Hygiene”, a process designed to reduce occurrences of HAI’s and HASI (Healthcare acquired skin injuries) in high risk patient populations such as the critically ill and vulnerable elderly. Eddi actively works to change nursing practices from tradition - based to evidenced - based protocols promoting excellence in nursing care. Author and clinical expert in skin and oral care she focuses on the prevention in the occurrences of pneumonia, skin breakdown, pressure ulcers and surgical site infections by driving changes in policy and procedures. A critical care clinician and educator for over 35 years, Eddi divides her time between Sydney and Los Angeles, California; she is Medical Director of Mobile Medical Systems International (Australia) and CNC with EMS Network International (USA)
Paul Webber Director, Webber Training Inc, Belleville, Canada Paul Webber, of Webber Training Inc, Canada, speaks and writes in the field of healthcare hygiene and infection control and health message communication. With co-founder, Dr. Syed Sattar of the University of Ottawa, they created an educational program called Teleclass Education – telephone-based seminars on infection control topics accessed by tens of thousands of healthcare professionals on 7 continents
Assoc Prof Nigel Dickson Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Director of AIDS Epidemiology Group Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin Associate Professor Nigel Dickson initially trained as a paediatrician and then undertook further study and gained postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology and public health medicine. Since 1990 he has been part of the AIDS Epidemiology Group – and is now the Director - based at the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago Medical School in Dunedin. The AIDS Epidemiology Group has a contract with the New Zealand Ministry of Health to undertake epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS in New Zealand. He is a member of the Ministry of Health’s AIDS Medical and Technical Advisory Committee
Alison Carter Nurse Consultant – Infection Control Medlab South, Christchurch, NZ Alison is a Registered General and Obstetric Nurse and has been employed by Medlab South since 1995. Prior to that she was employed as Director of Nursing at private hospitals in Bundaberg, Queensland and Darwin in the Northern Territory. She has over thirty years experience in infection control, working in both NZ and Australia. Her educational qualifications include Certificate in Infection Control, a Bachelor of Nursing, Graduate Diploma of Education and Graduate Diploma of Health Management. She is one of the founding members of the NZ National Division of Infection Control Nurses and has held office both as secretary and chairperson. She has also held office of the both New South Wales and Queensland infection control committees. In August 2006 Alison was made an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation National Division of Infection Control Nurses. Alison is a member of the New Zealand Organisation for Quality and is currently a member of the Canterbury NZOQ Committee and is involved in the delivery of the NZOQ course ‘Quality in Health – Practical Skills’ March 2010.
Karen Davis, Market Winners Ltd, Auckland Karen has been working in the field of Infection Prevention and Control for approximately 16 years and has a special interest in infection control practices and requirements for Hospitals and Endoscopy Services, Long Term Care Facilities, Accident and Medical Centre’s/General Practice and Dentistry. Karen has recently organised a number of workshops around the country on behalf of the New Zealand Ministry of Health on Infection Prevention and Control and Pandemic Planning, for nurses working in the community sector and to promote the new Infection Prevention and Control E-learning tool that has been developed. Karen currently lives in South Auckland.
Catherine Rae Regional Quality and Risk Manager Southern District Health Board, NZ Catherine is the Regional Quality and Risk Manager for the Southern District Health Board. She is responsible for the strategic leadership and implementation of quality improvement and risk management systems and processes. Catherine has 17 years experience in health care management. Prior to undertaking her current role in 2003, she held the role of Project Manager for the Otago DHB with responsibility for introducing the Quality Health NZ accreditation programme and for setting up quality and risk systems including the legislative compliance programme. Catherine was a member of the national Quality Improvement Committee (QIC) that led the national DHB quality improvement programmes, including the NQIP Infection Prevention and Control programme. Catherine is committed to improving quality in healthcare and patient safety by applying quality improvement practices, strengthening the consumer voice and promoting a culture that encourages the learning needed to improve systems and reduce the risk of patient harm.
Suzi Rishworth Transfusion Nurse Specialist New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) Suzi is a Registered Nurse working as part of a national Transfusion Nurse Specialist (TNS)/ Clinical Nurse Specialist team operating within eight New Zealand hospitals. Suzi joined NZBS in 2003 when they launched the TNS project. Her role rests at the clinical end of the NZBS “vein to vein” philosophy and focuses upon teaching (including under-graduate and post-graduate programmes), auditing (national and local), policy writing, haemovigilance, CQI, liaison and support. Suzi is based in the NZBS Blood Bank at Dunedin Hospital and covers the Otago and Southland region. Prior to joining NZBS Suzi spent 14 years working predominately within the fields of Oncology, Haematology and Palliative Care both in New Zealand and the UK, and District Nursing in Central London. She undertook post graduate studies in Cancer Care at the University of Manchester, while working at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, during the 1990s. Suzi held office (president) in the Otago Cancer Nurses during the early 2000’s and was a member of the National Executive of NZNO Cancer Nurses in 2002. She is the New Zealand representative in the ANZSBT (Australia & New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion) Education Sub-Committee. Currently she is completing the occasional Clinical Teaching paper via the University of Canterbury. Suzi has recently developed a passion for cycling, and her friends note she is an excellent dancer and committed consumer of fine wine.
Marie Sutherland Honorary Member of NDICN Marie set up and coordinated Infection Control for the Otago Hospital Board in 1980. She was one of the four ICN’s to participate in the inaugural meeting in Palmerston North in that same year, with the 1st National Conference following in 1981 in Auckland. Since retiring in 2003, Marie has set up and coordinated SuperGrans in Dunedin and reawakened Neighbourhood Support in the area. Marie is currently the Coordinator of SuperGrans Charitable Trust, Trustee on the Neighbourhood Support Board, Trustee/Secretary of Dunedin North Community Patrol, Patron of West Harbour Pony Club and a member/volunteer of the Regent Theatre. She has also been active in many hospital and hospice fundraisers.