Keynote & Invited Speakers

Nursing Keynote Speaker - Dr Fintan Sheerin Fintan Sheerin is currently a Lecturer in General Nursing. He originally trained as an intellectual disability nurse and then completed post-registration general nurse training. He completed a bachelor degree in nursing at University College Dublin and then successfully obtained his post-graduate diploma in education for nurses, at the University of Ulster. This also conferred regsitration as a nurse teacher. He completed a PhD in Life and Health Sciences at University of Ulster in 2005.

He is a member of the Board of the Association for Common European Nursing Diagnoses, Interventions and Outcomes and is a member of the Scientific Committee of that association. Fintan has a particular interest in researching the contribution of professional caring for persons with intellectual disability. He is working on a 5-10 year plan of research into inclusion as experienced by persons with intellectual disability who have taken up mainstream employment, on a local, national and European level. Funding to support this research will be sought from the start-up scheme as well as from the National Disability Authority.

Dr Robin Youngson Dr Robin Youngson is a former engineer, a practising anaesthetist, a systems thinker, and for six years was Clinical Leader for the development of the new Waitakere Hospital in Auckland. Robin is the founder of the Centre for Compassion in Healthcare. Robin has presented widely on issues of clinical service redesign, patient-centred reform, clinical leadership, patient safety, open disclosure, and compassion in healthcare.

Dr Susie Charlifue Kindly sponsored by the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation and Health Research Council of New Zealand Dr. Charlifue is a highly qualified researcher, with 30 years of experience in SCI research and quality assurance.  She completed her doctorate in Health and Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado, Denver in 2004.  She has successfully managed and completed six major investigations of the long-term consequences of SCI in the US and Great Britain, and is Co-Principal Investigator of  US

Prof Michael Fehlings Kindly sponsored by The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust Dr. Fehlings is the Medical Director of the Krembil Neuroscience Center and heads the Spinal Program at the Toronto Western Hospital. Dr. Fehlings is also a Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto. He holds the Krembil Chair in Neural Repair and Regeneration, is a Senior Scientist in the Division of Genetics and Development at the Toronto Western Research Institute, a Scientist at the McEwen Centre for

Dr Pat Dorsett Kindly sponsored by the New Zealand Spinal Trust Dr Dorsett is Lecturer and Convenor (Master of Human Services) at Griffith University, Australia.  She has particular interest in social work practice, rehabilitation, disability, health and programme evaluation.

Prof Richard Faull Kindly sponsored by Heads Trust Please click here for an overview of the Heads trust Richard Faull is Professor of Anatomy at the University of Auckland. Over his 30 years at the University of Auckland he has established an international reputation for his research studies on the normal and diseased human brain (Huntington's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and Epilepsy), has established an internationally recognized Human Brain Bank to support worldwide research on human neurodegenerative diseases, and his innovative research on stem cells and neurogenesis in the human brain have

Liz Cairns, ACC Liz Cairns is the Manager of ACC’s National Serious Injury Service.  Established nationally in March 2008, the service is made up of staff who specialise in working with people affected by a serious injury. Liz has a social work background and 22 years’ experience in the health and disability sector.  She started working for ACC in 1992 in a variety of roles dealing with rehabilitation and serious injury management.  She had a three-year stint as Manager of the MidCentral DHB Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination agency before returning to ACC in 2004.  Liz was appointed Manager of the National Serious Injury Service in July 2007.