Welcome to Queenstown 2010

We would like to welcome you to the first Combined Meeting of SPANZA and ASPA. Children’s Anaesthetists from almost half the globe will be meeting in the beautiful environment of Queenstown, New Zealand. There have been two previous meetings of SPANZA in Queenstown, in 2001 and 2006 and traditionally they have had a different format from other SPANZA meetings. An academic morning is followed by the chance to ski or do other winter activities together with newfound friends in the afternoon. The friendships formed outside of meeting rooms are the basis of the important network that is a special part of paediatric anaesthesia around the world. For those who would prefer to gain from them there will also be workshops on some of the afternoons so that you can enjoy the small group master class experience that is becoming a very popular part of recent SPANZA.

Dr Niall Wilton, Head of Anaesthesia at Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland and Dr Josephine Tan, Head of Anaesthesia at KK Children’s Hospital, Singapore are convening the scientific program. These two heads, lead an illustrious team to create an academic program that will reflect differences and similarities of approach to various issues in paediatric anaesthesia.

Queenstown is the premier resort in the South Island of New Zealand. The format will be similar to its successful predecessors, with morning academia followed by a chance to meet up with colleagues and build the Paediatric Anaesthetic network while having fun on the snow slopes or enjoying other adventures that abound in this beautiful and exciting place. One of the advantages of this meeting over the usual format is that with activity-filled afternoons, accompanying partners and/or family can have a winter holiday in Queenstown. The partner and family of the delegate disappear into science for only the few hours of the morning. So it is possible to bring the family for a winter holiday in Queenstown the adventure capital and not suffer a tired and entirely absent delegate partner.

We look forward to meeting you in Queenstown.

Peter Kempthorne	Manoj Karmakar