Kaikōrero | Speakers
We are incredibly thankful to our wonderful line up of presenters as follows:
MB ChB, MD, FRCP (Ed), FRACP, Cert Med Ed
Professor Wood is a geriatrician and general physician at Redland Hospital and the Metro South Movement Disorders Service. He is also the RACP Adult Medicine Division (AMD) President. Professor Wood completed his medical degree at the University of Aberdeen and trained in geriatric and general medicine in the Northeast of England (including a fellowship in Sydney). He also completed a two year teaching and research fellowship studying falls in Parkinson’s disease obtaining a doctoral degree. Emigrating to Queensland in 2016 with his family, Professor Wood became a Senior Staff Specialist at Redland Hospital. Along with maintaining an education interest and becoming a Professor at Griffith University, he is also one of the medical directors of the Queensland physician training network. Throughout his career, he has worked in a variety of medical management roles.
Professor Martin is President of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She is a citizen of both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and a practising physician, educator and academic healthcare leader. She gained Fellowship in 2001 and continues to train Basic Trainees and Advanced Trainees in internal medicine and clinical pharmacology. She has been the Southside Medical Dean at University of Queensland and is the current Chair of Clinical Pharmacology in Newcastle. Her more recent leadership roles include the NSW State Secretary for Rhodes Scholars Australia where she has broadened the selection and representation of NSW Rhodes scholars, elected Councillor of the NSW Divisional Council and Corporate Governance Committee of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and elected staff representative of the University of Newcastle Council.
Richard Beasley is a physician at Wellington Regional Hospital, Director of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, and Professor of Medicine at Victoria University of Wellington. He has over 800 publications, and a Google Scholar H-index of 122.
David is an Occupational Physician and former President of AFOEM. He is the Deputy Chair of the Member Health and Wellbeing Committee. His book, Positive Medicine: Disrupting the Future of Medical Practice won the BMA Medical Book Award for Primary Care.
Laura is an Acute + General Physician at Waitemata District, and the Chief Medical Officer. Her previous roles include Director of Clinical Training, Clinical Director of ADU and several University of Auckland leadership positions. She sits on the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and has contributed to the RACP across committees and accreditations. Laura is a strong believer in building the team, to achieve better teams and patient care.
Associate Professor Janak de Zoysa is a graduate of the Auckland Medical School. He is a Nephrologist at Health NZ Waitemata and the Waitemata Clinal Campus Dean for the University of Auckland.
Rebecca is a rheumatologist in public hospital practice in Wellington, where she is Clinical Lead of the Wellington Regional Rheumatology Unit. She is a Professor of Medicine at University of Otago Wellington where she leads research teams, the Education Unit and is Associate Dean of Medical Education. My leadership is grounded in the belief that leaders are stewards of possibility: We must create conditions for others to flourish, fostering curiosity, questioning, and courage, and ensure decisions are aligned with values and long term outcomes, even in the face of short term pressures.
Dr Kate Grimwade
David is an Occupational Physician and former President of AFOEM. He is the Deputy Chair of the Member Health and Wellbeing Committee. His book, Positive Medicine: Disrupting the Future of Medical Practice won the BMA Medical Book Award for Primary Care.
GM Recruitment and Attraction, lead recruitment teams across Health NZ.
Mike is one of the most seasoned communications practitioners in New Zealand, having seen it all from both sides of the fence; an award-winning television and print journalist with a long history in media management across politics, business and sport.
Mike was Chief Press Secretary to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, working with her through the 2017 election and into Government. His experience also includes working as a political reporter and economics correspondent for Television New Zealand, Senior Press Secretary to Minister of Finance Sir Michael Cullen, Communications Manager for Rugby World Cup 2011, Media and Public Relations Manager at New Zealand Rugby and was Government Relations Manager at Kiwibank before joining Capital in 2022.
Dr Sisira Jayathissa is a Consultant Physician at Hutt Hospital, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. From 2015 to 2023, he served as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Hutt Hospital. He led general medicine and coordinated clinical education for University of Otago medical students. Dr Jayathissa created Aotearoa New Zealand’s first year-long senior registrar role in general medicine and contributed to specialist training committees. He chaired PHARMAC’s technical advisory committee. He has played a key role in transforming Hutt Hospital focussing patient-centred care, good clinical governance, and value based staff recruitment. He currently continues clinical work, advises regional health leadership, researches healthcare transformation, and serves on NZ formulary and HRC committees.
Chris has been Clinical Director of Child Health for Te Whatu Ora Waitemata since 2017. He has interests in clinical quality, adverse event investigation, and integration with community services.
Shirley Simmonds is a Kaupapa Māori Researcher and mother of two sons, Tamihana and Raukawa. She initially trained in science and adult education before turning to public health and research 20 years ago. Her areas of expertise include; Kaupapa Māori Epidemiology, Hauora Māori, evaluation, adult education and facilitation, development of models and frameworks, strategic planning, curriculum design and the development of learning materials. In recent years, some of her work has focused on Cultural Safety in the health system, and experiences of Māori trainees and doctors. Shirley is a passionate advocate of te reo Māori and of ways to foster our connection with the natural environment. Shirley and her whānau live in Ōtaki.
Martin is the Clinical Director and Director of Safety and Quality Systems.
His portfolio covers system safety, improved service delivery (quality improvement) and trauma. Martin has been with Te Tāhū Hauora since 2021.
Having trained as an anaesthetist in the UK, he moved to Lakes District Health Board to take up a specialist role in 2002. Prior to joining Te Tāhū Hauora, he held various clinical leadership roles during his time at Lakes and was Chief Medical Officer for eight years. In 2019, Martin was seconded to the Ministry of Health to develop a credentialing framework for female pelvic floor reconstructive surgery.
Martin is a strong advocate for clinical leadership with a particular focus on the systems that underpin effective clinical governance. He has an MBA from the University of Waikato and is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.
Fiona is a general and respiratory physician in Hawkes Bay and the Medical Director for internal medicine. She currently chairs the Aorteroa NZ Adult Medicine Division Committee for the RACP and is on the organising committee for this Leadership Workshop.
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