Pito kōrero me ngā pānuiPartners in Care

Earlybird registration (date extended to Dec)

(Received by
1 December 2017)

General registration

(Received after
1 December 2017)

Janine Shepherd

Australian author, aerobatics pilot and former cross-country skier

Janine’s career as an athlete ended when she suffered life-threatening injuries after being hit by a truck during a training bike ride.

Before the accident, she had been in contention to win Australia’s first-ever medal at the winter Olympics. 

Though she was told she would never walk again or have children, and doctors had significant doubts as to whether she would survive at all, she defied these adversities.

Her story later became the focus of national attention, as well as a popular telemovie.

Jake Bailey 

Author and young cancer survivor

Jake Bailey is an ex-Christchurch Boys’ High School senior monitor, whose prize-giving speech made international headlines.

A week before delivering the speech, he fell ill and was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma.

In remission since January 2016, Jake will share his experiences and what he learnt on his unexpected journey.

He is the author of What Cancer Taught Me, and the subject of a documentary, The Common Touch.

sponsored by

Dr Lance O'Sullivan

General practitioner, community leader, author

Dr Lance O'Sullivan is a medical and community leader living and working in Kaitaia, a remote and challenged area of rural New Zealand. Lance is an accomplished author, national and international public speaker, role model, disruptive leader and innovator. From a young boy labelled by society as a trouble maker Lance developed into a passionate advocate for Maori health and in 2014 was named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.

Dr Lynne Maher

Director of innovation, Nurse leader, co-designer

Lynne joined the Ko Awatea team in June 2013. She is a successful visionary leader, illustrated through an extensive healthcare career ranging from critical care nursing, operational and board posts at local and national level, during which she has been highly influential in supporting teams to achieve significant improvements in health systems.

Lynne is recognized as an expert on innovation and improvement and has pioneered work on co-designing health and care services. She has published guidance on innovation, patient experience, improvement and change management and has worked with a wide range of health care organisations and charities.

Lynne is also Honorary Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Auckland and Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania.

Te Rina Ruru

Consumer champion

Te Rina (Ngāti Kahu Ki Whaingaroa, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki) is a support worker for her older brother who sustained a traumatic brain injury from a motor vehicle accident in 2007.  Te Rina and her family spent three months in hospital with him and seven months helping him through rehabilitation.  Te Rina says her family’s experiences, coupled with the experiences of others she had met along the way, have increased her awareness of the quality and safety issues people face on a day-to-day basis.  She has since co-founded the NZ Brain Injury Support Network for survivors and their families. She is a member of the Commission's Te Roopū Māori group and is a consumer representative on many other groups.  Te Rina has since graduated from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Social Science.