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 - 'Expansion of Practice - RN's and AT's'
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 8.35am Invited Speaker: Rachelle Love - 'Cultural Safety Awareness/equity in healthcare and what we, as leaders can do to improve'
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) - 'Innovation in spine surgery: A medtech perspective - AI, machine learning, robotics etc
11.15am Invited Speaker: Nick Lash - 'MAKO Robot'
11.50am Invited Speaker: Craig Lynch - 'Perspective on the Da Vinci robot'
12.15pm Keynote Speaker: Hayden Paddon - Leading at Full Throttle: Innovation from the Rally Stage to the Real World 
1.00pm 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
3.20pm - 4.20pm Workshop Two (Afternoon tea in your room)
  • Showcasing oVRcome technology and how it can help patients (repeat) Adam Hutchinson 
  • HCA's in the Operating Theatre (repeat) Marie Lory
  • Stryker Synergy Workshop - 'Limited Numbers': Robotics :  Power - Vision - Efficiency Jane Renwick