Come and meet our speakers
Dr Cecile Bergzoll
Dr Trent Burgess Senior Scientist, Univ of Melbourne, Australia
As a senior scientist at the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS) Trent’s primary role is the provision of high quality genetic pathology testing, research and development, and genetics education to the health care community. Trent has spent the majority of his 25 years at VCGS working in the field of Cytogenetics but now works more broadly across the scope of reproductive genetics, both in population screening and diagnostics. Key highlights have been the introduction of Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) which has revolutionised antenatal screening, chromosome microarray technology as a replacement to conventional karyotyping, and the subsequent introduction of saliva sampling as a replacement to blood in paediatric genetics. Trent is actively involved in education of both the scientific and medical communities, for which he is an Honorary Fellow in the department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne.
Dr Wendy Burgess Wendy Burgess (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hāwea)
Dr Michael Burling
Born and raised in Tonga. Completed medical school at Auckland University. Completed O&G training in Middlemore, Hamilton (most of my training), Taranaki and Auckland hospital. Currently completing my Gynaeoncology training Australia.
Dr Lisa Dawes
Lisa Dawes is a Clinical Research Fellow in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Liggins Institute with the University of Auckland. She is passionate about the care of women and their families who have high risk pregnancies and is currently undertaking a Doctor of Medicine in optimising the care of women at high risk of preterm birth. Lisa's research has been supported by the Mercia Barnes Trust.
Dr Michael East
O&G specialist, Christchurch
Dr Kimberly Gamet
Kim is the Team Leader and Senior Genetic Counsellor in the Northern Hub of Genetic Health Service NZ. She has been a Genetic Counsellor for 20 years having initially trained in the UK. She moved to NZ in 2007 and works in cancer, general and prenatal genetic counselling.
Kim is the Team Leader and Senior Genetic Counsellor in the Northern Hub of Genetic Health Service NZ. She has been a Genetic Counsellor for 20 years having initially trained in the UK. She moved to NZ in 2007 and works in cancer, general and prenatal genetic counselling.
Dr Jane Morgan
Jane trained as a specialist genitor-urinary physician in England and has been the clinical lead at the Sexual Health Clinic in Hamilton since moving to New Zealand in 1997. She is passionate about improving sexual health in New Zealand and is involved with a number of advisory boards. She completed her doctorate on the epidemiology, screening and management of chlamydia infections in New Zealand in 2014 and is part of the Auckland university research team investigating the protective effect of MenZB vaccine against gonorrhoea.
Dr Katie Groom
Katie Groom is Associate Professor of Maternal and Perinatal Health and the Hugo Charitable Trust Fellow at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland. She is a Subspecialist in Maternal and Fetal Medicine at National Women’s Health, Auckland City Hospital.
She is the Clinical Lead for the NWH Preterm Birth Clinic and provides regional and national guidance on issues relating to the care of women at high risk of preterm birth. Her PhD thesis examined the potential of a novel therapy (COX-2 inhibitor) for the prevention of preterm labour. Her research now focuses on clinical trials of therapies and interventions for the prevention and treatment of the major complications of pregnancy.
Katie is passionate about improving health outcomes for mothers and babies through effective clinical trials research integrated into clinical practice as part of a learning healthcare system. She is an ANZ leader in clinical trials networks as current Chairperson of the Perinatal Society or Australia and New Zealand Interdisciplinary Maternal and Perinatal Australasian Collaborative Trials (IMPACT) Network and Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of the newly established New Zealand-wide ON TRACK Network for Better Health for Mothers and Babies. She has been an elected board member of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA).
Katie Groom is Associate Professor of Maternal and Perinatal Health and the Hugo Charitable Trust Fellow at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland. She is a Subspecialist in Maternal and Fetal Medicine at National Women’s Health, Auckland City Hospital.
She is the Clinical Lead for the NWH Preterm Birth Clinic and provides regional and national guidance on issues relating to the care of women at high risk of preterm birth. Her PhD thesis examined the potential of a novel therapy (COX-2 inhibitor) for the prevention of preterm labour. Her research now focuses on clinical trials of therapies and interventions for the prevention and treatment of the major complications of pregnancy.
Katie is passionate about improving health outcomes for mothers and babies through effective clinical trials research integrated into clinical practice as part of a learning healthcare system. She is an ANZ leader in clinical trials networks as current Chairperson of the Perinatal Society or Australia and New Zealand Interdisciplinary Maternal and Perinatal Australasian Collaborative Trials (IMPACT) Network and Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of the newly established New Zealand-wide ON TRACK Network for Better Health for Mothers and Babies. She has been an elected board member of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA).
Dr Tommy Hamilton
Tommy Hamilton is a narrative therapist who works as a contract counsellor at OUTline NZ, working with clients from across the rainbow communities as well as supporting peers and people engaging with trans health navigation, community and social peer support networks or groups and consulting with national and regional mental / physical health related inquiries, submissions or projects. Tommy has worked within the SOGISC communities since the early 2000s in Aotearoa, with a focus on trans and non-binary communities as well as youth development. Tommy’s work is very focused on grassroots organizing and raising marginal voices and perspectives, with key relationships and mentoring work within most of the SOGISC NGOs and peer support networks nationally. His community work also focuses on collaborative practices. Tommy works alongside colleagues in a small hub called re.frame which helps to host projects and generate greater complexity in understanding the needs of SOGISC communities.
Tommy Hamilton is a narrative therapist who works as a contract counsellor at OUTline NZ, working with clients from across the rainbow communities as well as supporting peers and people engaging with trans health navigation, community and social peer support networks or groups and consulting with national and regional mental / physical health related inquiries, submissions or projects. Tommy has worked within the SOGISC communities since the early 2000s in Aotearoa, with a focus on trans and non-binary communities as well as youth development. Tommy’s work is very focused on grassroots organizing and raising marginal voices and perspectives, with key relationships and mentoring work within most of the SOGISC NGOs and peer support networks nationally. His community work also focuses on collaborative practices. Tommy works alongside colleagues in a small hub called re.frame which helps to host projects and generate greater complexity in understanding the needs of SOGISC communities.
Professor Neil Johnson
Neil holds an honorary position as professor in reproductive health at the Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia, and holds an honorary academic position at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is a CREI, a subspecialist with Repromed Auckland and also with Auckland Gynaecology Group, Auckland, New Zealand. Neil is president of the World Endometriosis Society, past chairperson of the RANZCOG CREI training committee, current New Zealand representative to ASPIRE and inaugural chairperson of the ASPIRE endometriosis special interest group.
Neil holds an honorary position as professor in reproductive health at the Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia, and holds an honorary academic position at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is a CREI, a subspecialist with Repromed Auckland and also with Auckland Gynaecology Group, Auckland, New Zealand. Neil is president of the World Endometriosis Society, past chairperson of the RANZCOG CREI training committee, current New Zealand representative to ASPIRE and inaugural chairperson of the ASPIRE endometriosis special interest group.
Dr Alison Knowles
Vocationally trained in general practice, Alison became involved in abortion care as a certifying consultant at EDU in the early 1990s and then trained as a first trimester operating doctor at AMAC in 1995. Since 2000, she has been a full time abortion provider with experience at EDU, AMAC, Waikato, Tokoroa, Thames, and Rotorua hospitals. She helped establish the medical abortion service at AMAC and Waikato DHB and last year assisted Lakes DHB with the establishment of their first trimester medical and surgical service up to 14 weeks.
Dr Jeannie Olifant
Dr Jeannie Oliphant is a Sexual Health Physician currently working at Auckland Sexual Health Service. She works across a range of services including sexual health medicine, sexual assault medicine and trans health. Jeannie is involved in the provision of gender affirming healthcare for young people and adults both in her role at Auckland Sexual Health Service and at the Centre for Youth Health. Both are regional services providing care across Auckland. Jeannie was also the clinical lead for a two year project to improve trans health services across the Northland DHBs from 2017-2018. In addition she was the lead author in the development of a New Zealand guideline for gender affirming healthcare published in 2018.
Dr Jeannie Oliphant is a Sexual Health Physician currently working at Auckland Sexual Health Service. She works across a range of services including sexual health medicine, sexual assault medicine and trans health. Jeannie is involved in the provision of gender affirming healthcare for young people and adults both in her role at Auckland Sexual Health Service and at the Centre for Youth Health. Both are regional services providing care across Auckland. Jeannie was also the clinical lead for a two year project to improve trans health services across the Northland DHBs from 2017-2018. In addition she was the lead author in the development of a New Zealand guideline for gender affirming healthcare published in 2018.
Dr Judy Ormandy
Judy is an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist who works at Christchurch Women’s Hospital and as a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago. Judy has completed a Masters Degree in Clinical Education which was awarded with First Class Honours. Her thesis investigated medical student and midwifery interactions in the birthing suite in the New Zealand environment. Judy’s clinical interests are maternal mental health and clinical education. Outside of work she is a keen scuba diver.
Judy is an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist who works at Christchurch Women’s Hospital and as a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago. Judy has completed a Masters Degree in Clinical Education which was awarded with First Class Honours. Her thesis investigated medical student and midwifery interactions in the birthing suite in the New Zealand environment. Judy’s clinical interests are maternal mental health and clinical education. Outside of work she is a keen scuba diver.
Dr Karaponi Okesene-Gafa
O&G specialist, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
Dr Nina Scott
Nina is a Public Health Physician from the Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua and Waikato iwi who works on a range of fronts to improve Maori health and has been involved in a variety of Maori governance, strategy and research activity. Having had an interest in maternity care since she was an O&G SHO, she is involved in a DHB level review of the maternity system for Māori women and their whānau and is principal investigator of two research projects that include a whānau focus. Nina has 3 teenage daughters and lives with them in Hamilton.
Nina is a Public Health Physician from the Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua and Waikato iwi who works on a range of fronts to improve Maori health and has been involved in a variety of Maori governance, strategy and research activity. Having had an interest in maternity care since she was an O&G SHO, she is involved in a DHB level review of the maternity system for Māori women and their whānau and is principal investigator of two research projects that include a whānau focus. Nina has 3 teenage daughters and lives with them in Hamilton.
Nina is a Public Health Physician from the Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua and Waikato iwi who works on a range of fronts to improve Maori health and has been involved in a variety of Maori governance, strategy and research activity. Having had an interest in maternity care since she was an O&G SHO, she is involved in a DHB level review of the maternity system for Māori women and their whānau and is principal investigator of two research projects that include a whānau focus. Nina has 3 teenage daughters and lives with them in Hamilton.
Dr Vedprakash Singh
Dr Vedprakash Singh is a graduate of University of Bombay. His did his residency in the unit credited with first IVF baby in India and was awarded MD in 1991. He worked as a Lecturer at LTM Medical College,Mumbai for 4 yrs. He moved to NZ in 1995 and worked at National Women’s till 1997 and then joined Waikato Hospital. He got his FRANZCOG in 2000 and was appointed a Consultant at Waikato Hospital Hamilton and subsequently also at Fertility Associates Hamilton. He also has a busy private practice specialising in laparoscopic surgery and endometriosis which he shares with Dr L Ravikanti at Anglesea Gynaecology . Dr Singh helped establish advanced laparoscopic unit at Waikato Hospital. He is Training Director for AGES Laparoscopic Training Programme that is run jointly between Waikato Hospital and Anglesea Gynaecology. This total immersion 2 year programme has produced a number of highly trained and successful fellows.
Dr Singh has deep interest in the subject of endometriosis. He and his Fellows have presented and published papers on endometriosis at National and International level.
Dr Vedprakash Singh is a graduate of University of Bombay. His did his residency in the unit credited with first IVF baby in India and was awarded MD in 1991. He worked as a Lecturer at LTM Medical College,Mumbai for 4 yrs. He moved to NZ in 1995 and worked at National Women’s till 1997 and then joined Waikato Hospital. He got his FRANZCOG in 2000 and was appointed a Consultant at Waikato Hospital Hamilton and subsequently also at Fertility Associates Hamilton. He also has a busy private practice specialising in laparoscopic surgery and endometriosis which he shares with Dr L Ravikanti at Anglesea Gynaecology . Dr Singh helped establish advanced laparoscopic unit at Waikato Hospital. He is Training Director for AGES Laparoscopic Training Programme that is run jointly between Waikato Hospital and Anglesea Gynaecology. This total immersion 2 year programme has produced a number of highly trained and successful fellows.
Dr Singh has deep interest in the subject of endometriosis. He and his Fellows have presented and published papers on endometriosis at National and International level.
Dr Vedprakash Singh is a graduate of University of Bombay. His did his residency in the unit credited with first IVF baby in India and was awarded MD in 1991. He worked as a Lecturer at LTM Medical College,Mumbai for 4 yrs. He moved to NZ in 1995 and worked at National Women’s till 1997 and then joined Waikato Hospital. He got his FRANZCOG in 2000 and was appointed a Consultant at Waikato Hospital Hamilton and subsequently also at Fertility Associates Hamilton. He also has a busy private practice specialising in laparoscopic surgery and endometriosis which he shares with Dr L Ravikanti at Anglesea Gynaecology . Dr Singh helped establish advanced laparoscopic unit at Waikato Hospital. He is Training Director for AGES Laparoscopic Training Programme that is run jointly between Waikato Hospital and Anglesea Gynaecology. This total immersion 2 year programme has produced a number of highly trained and successful fellows.
Dr Singh has deep interest in the subject of endometriosis. He and his Fellows have presented and published papers on endometriosis at National and International level.
Dr Juliet Taylor
Dr Tanya Wright
Dr Wright is an Auckland-based psychiatrist with over 15 years experience working in perinatal and infant mental health services in Australia and New Zealand. She has published both qualitative and quantitative research and is interested collaborative care and in research which employs participatory action research principles to determine which interventions and approaches are effective in the New Zealand health context.
Dr Rita (Yun-Tai) Yung Yang
Plastic surgeon, Auckland, New Zealand
Dr Jason Waugh
Associate Professor, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Dr Pip Walker
Pip is a RANZCOG trainee currently working as a Senior Obstetrics and Gynaecology Registrar at Waikato District Health Board where she is also undertaking an AGES fellowship. She has a strong interest in the management of endometriosis and laparoscopic surgery.
Dr Michelle Wise
Dr Michelle Wise
Dr Michelle Wise is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, and a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Auckland DHB. Her leadership roles at ADHB include Labour and Birth, and Teaching and Training, clinical governance groups. Dr Wise is Principal Investigator for the OBLIGE multi-centre trial on induction of labour (www.oblige.auckland.ac.nz) and is Chair of the guideline development group for a national clinical practice guideline on induction of labour.
Dr Michelle Wise is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, and a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Auckland DHB. Her leadership roles at ADHB include Labour and Birth, and Teaching and Training, clinical governance groups. Dr Wise is Principal Investigator for the OBLIGE multi-centre trial on induction of labour (www.oblige.auckland.ac.nz) and is Chair of the guideline development group for a national clinical practice guideline on induction of labour.
Dr Michelle Wise is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, and a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Auckland DHB. Her leadership roles at ADHB include Labour and Birth, and Teaching and Training, clinical governance groups. Dr Wise is Principal Investigator for the OBLIGE multi-centre trial on induction of labour (www.oblige.auckland.ac.nz) and is Chair of the guideline development group for a national clinical practice guideline on induction of labour.