Programme Overview

The programme is current as of 20.01.2026, and is subject to change.

DAY PROGRAMME SOCIAL PROGRAMME
Wednesday, 29 April 2026

6.00pm - 7.30pm Welcome Reception
Thursday, 30 April 2026
7.30am Light Breakfast & Registration
8.30am Conference Open
8.50am Keynote Speaker: Dr Michelle Dickinson - 'AI, Ethics, and the Human Touch'
9.55am Invited Speaker: Ryan Radecki - 'AI 101'
10.45am Morning Tea in association with Hallmark Surgical
11.15am Invited Speakers: Prudence Thomson - 'Attract, Interview, Relocate and retain: A Practical Guide to International Healthcare recruitment'
11.45am Invited Speaker: Jacinda King & Becky Hickmott  - 'The Future of Nursing'
12.15pm Invited Speaker: Katrina Walsh - 'From Reflection to Reflexivity: Deepening Awareness and Practice in Healthcare Teams' 
1.10pm Lunch
2.10pm Invited Speakers: Ted Felbrugge - 'Lead Yourself First - Who We Are is How We Lead'
Carol Kirk - 'Mastering Difficult Conversations - Avoidance is Not a Strategy for Anything'
3.30pm Afternoon Tea in association with Multigate
4.00pm Invited Speaker: Suran Dickson - 'Building High Performing Teams Through Psychological Safety'
5.00pm Day Closes
6.45pm - 10.30pm Theatre Managers Conference dinner, sponsored by KARL STORZ Endoscopy Conference Dinner
Friday, 1 May 2026
7.30am Light Breakfast
8:30am Welcome back 8.35am Invited Speaker: Maira Patu - 'He Ara Tika: Leading Equitable Care in Specialist Services'
9.20am Invited Speakers: Julie Hedley & Waimarama Durie - 'Ngā Pou, Ngā Ara: The Pillars and Pathways of Nursing in Aotearoa'
10.10am Morning Tea in association with Stryker
10.40am Invited Speaker: Quinlan Buchlak (Virtual) - 'The Future of Spine Surgery: Innovation, Integration, and Impact in Spine Robotics and AI' 
11.15am Invited Speaker: Nick Lash - 'MAKO Robot'
11.50am Invited Speaker: Craig Lynch - 'Perspective on the Da Vinci robot'
12.20pm Keynote Speaker: Hayden Paddon - 'Leading at Full Throttle: Innovation from the Rally Stage to the Real World' 
1.05pm Conference Close
1.10pm Lunch in association with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
2.00pm - 3pm Workshop One 
  • Showcasing oVRcome technology and how it can help patients Adam Hutchinson
  • HCA's in the Operating Theatre Marie Lory 
  • FPH Workshop: Optiflow & New Technology Chriselle Murzello & Charlie Glover
3.20pm - 4.20pm Workshop Two (Afternoon tea in your room)
  • HCA's in the Operating Theatre (repeat) Marie Lory
  • Stryker Synergy Workshop - 'Limited Numbers': Robotics :  Power - Vision - Efficiency Jane Renwick