Topics:

Keynote Speech: 'An introduction to blood cancers and their treatment'

'When doing nothing is best: coping with watch and wait'

Biography:

Bart Baker began his haematology career as a registrar in the Haematology Department at Christchurch Hospital before completing his training as a Research Fellow in the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research at the Christie Hospital in Manchester. He was appointed to his current position as a General Haematologist for the Regional Cancer Treatment Service based at Palmerston North Hospital in 1992. Bart has a particular interest in malignant haematology.

Topic:

'Aggressive Lymphomas'

Biography:

Oliver is an advanced trainee in Haematology based in Auckland. He is half way through the training programme and yet to sit Haematology pathology examinations, having progressed through physician basic training and examinations 3 years ago.
Currently he is busy with family life with his wife of 2 years and 1 year old daughter. He grew up in Devonport on the North Shore and went to The University of Auckland. He enjoys water sports, golf and cycling and likes commuting to work on 2 wheels. His goal is to be a recognised haematologist with expertise in Lymphoma.

Topic:

'Secondary cancers: what you need to know'

Biography:

Henry graduated from the University of Auckland in 2007 and subsequently began his haematology training in 2011. Following completion of his training, he went to Toronto and completed a clinical fellowship in myeloma and lymphoma at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. He is currently working as a clinical and laboratory haematologist at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, and his interest includes myeloma, lymphoma, clinical research, biostatistics and teaching.

Topic:

'MDS/MPN'

Biography:

Bio: Dr Alwyn D’Souza is a consultant haematologist at Capital & Coast District Health Board. He graduated from Otago School of medicine in 1993. He did the majority of his post-graduate training in Wellington, before completing his training in Melbourne at the Royal Melbourne hospital and Peter MacCallum cancer centre. He has worked at Wellington hospital as a consultant since 2006. His special areas of interest are haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (“bone marrow transplantation”), and lymphomas. He also has an interest in medical education and is the current chair of the NZ Joint training committee in haematology.

Topic:

'Practical Mindfulness sessions'

Biography:

Sue is a Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Mindfulness Auckland, which has provided 8 week Mindfulness-based courses for Stress reduction (MBSR)since 2003, and Cognitive Therapy for depression and anxiety (MBCT) starting in 2016. These courses , developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn and others, have been at the cutting edge of research-based mindfulness approaches in western health practice for nearly 40 years. Sue has been practising and teaching mindfulness in a therapeutic context since the early 2000’s. From 2013-2016 Sue taught the popular MBSR-based courses for LBCF clients and family/ caregivers throughout the country with Rebecca Weeks. People who participated in these courses discovered various benefits of mindfulness practice, including better sleep, greater body awareness, decreased anxiety/agitation, and better ways of accessing stillness and calm in navigating whatever was happening in their lives. A major emphasis of mindfulness is on learning to be kind and non-judging towards ourselves, which in turn has a calming effect, and encourages us to take the time to care for ourselves in whatever ways are best. Sue values bringing people together in groups, and harnessing the powerful support and learning we can experience with others who truly understand what we are going through.

Topic:

'The power of language' - we use words every day to express how we feel, what we’re doing and what we’re experiencing. Those words have become so familiar that we don’t question what they mean or how they might affect us, we simply use them. But what we think and say matters, and it matters a lot.The words and phrases that are part of our everyday vocabulary have the power to influence everything about our life including our health. Drawing on her own experience with Hodgkin lymphoma and background as a NLP trained life coach, Tracey Hancock will share insights about the power of words and how to use them to live well.

Biography:

Tracey Hancock is a NLP coach and mentor passionately committed to helping people live well. Drawing on her own experiences, including being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2015, and the lessons she's learnt trying to be and do what she should thought was expected of her, Tracey guides people to reconnect with their true self and to live their real life. “I believe that when we put ourselves and our health at the heart of everything we do in life and business, we can achieve real success.”

Topic:

'Complementary therapies for cancer - what works, what doesn't and how to tell the difference'

Biography:

Dr. Shaun Holt is an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University of Wellington, has started two clinical trials organizations and formed Research Review, a company that produce reviews of medical research. Shaun holds Pharmacy and Medicine degrees, has been the Principal Investigator in over 50 clinical trials and has over 200 publications in the medical literature. He is the Scientific Director and a founder of HoneyLab and an advisor to several pharmaceutical companies. Shaun has been a regular contributor on TV1's Breakfast programme and national radio shows and is the author of 8 books including the bestseller "Natural Remedies That Really Work". He was a finalist in the 2015 New Zealander of the Year Awards in the Innovator category.

Topics:

'Caring: Riding the highs and lows'

'Stress - friend and foe'

Biography:

Juliet is a Health Psychologist with vast experience working with individuals, groups and health professionals. She has worked for the past 10 years with people with cancer and their whanau and currently is the National Clinical Lead for the Cancer Psychological and Social Support Initiative, a Ministry of Health funded Initiative to improve access to psychological and social support across New Zealand. Juliet has an interest in people’s responses to a diagnosis and treatment of cancer, both the experience of the person with cancer but also the experience of whanau/carers. She is also interested in how these experiences can influence outcomes. Juliet is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland where she teaches and supports training health psychologists and she also has a small private practice.

Topic:

'Unveiling the hidden wonder drug - exercise'

Biography:

Lou James has dedicated the last 14 years to helping improve the lives of people affected by cancer. Lou, an experienced physiotherapist, is responsible for the introduction of the PINC Program: an individualised rehabilitation and exercise program, which focuses on the physical and mental wellbeing of females affected by cancer. Its male equivalent – The STEEL Program– has been subsequently introduced. The programmes are now available in 6 counties and have supported thousands of people. She has also developed Next Steps, which is a group exercise programme for after cancer treatments have finished and PaddleOn, a group stand up paddling rehabilitation programme. In 2006, Lou founded the PINC & STEEL cancer rehabilitation Trust to help make rehabilitation more accessible and affordable for all New Zealander as there is no health system or ACC funding for cancer rehabilitation in New Zealand. Lou still serves as a Trustee. In 2008, Lou started training other physiotherapists across Australasia in cancer rehabilitation. Pinc and Steel is now the largest cancer rehabilitation program in Australasia and is extending into other counties including the UK, US and Canada. Lou has been recognised for her pioneering work in this field, most recently being appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queens New Years Honours List for services to cancer. 

Topic:

'Blood Test Results'

Biography:

Dr Sean A. Macpherson is a haematologist and senior clinical lecturer with Canterbury District Health Board and the University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. He graduated with honours from Glasgow University in 1998. Dr MacPherson was a haematology trainee in the South West of England and a consultant in Gloucester for 3 years before moving to Christchurch. He is now part of the UOC Haematology Research Group, currently investigating immunosuppression in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Dr MacPherson is enthusiastic about education and employs innovative techniques including song, poetry, drama and even prison visits to get his message across. He received the Christchurch Medical Students Association Award for Best Teacher in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

Topic:

'Positioning your health history in the market and job search tips'

Biography:

Ian is lucky enough to be able to combine his love of recruitment, leadership, and technology within his role as General Manager of Randstad Technologies. He joined the recruitment industry direct from University and after enjoying successful roles in the industrial, commercial, and engineering sectors, he found his passion for technology recruitment in 2008. Ian is inspired to support IT companies and teams in high growth mode. He is truly curious and enthusiastic about how technology is shaping the world around us. At the heart of that technology change is people. Earlier in his career, as Programme Manager for a non-for-profit organisation called OMEGA, Ian helped develop a mentoring programme for new migrants in Auckland to better connect them to the labour market. He is looking to bring that knowledge and experience to serve those who have survived a blood cancer, who are thriving and who now wish to return to the workforce. Ian was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in December 2016 so has some personal appreciation for the issues that people face in retaining their current roles, retraining into new sectors or role types and in returning to work.  

Topic:

'Diet and Cancer – how to spot a hoax'

Biography:

Associate Professor Clare Wall is the Head of the Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics at The University of Auckland, Medical School and Director of the MHSc Nutrition and Dietetic Programme. After qualifying as a dietitian in the UK in 1984, she specialised in paediatric dietetics, working in both the UK and Australia. She has had many years of practical experience assisting parents, children and adolescents with nutrition advice and support. Clare is an active member of the nutrition community in New Zealand and serves on a number of national review panels and committees.

Topic:

'Young Adults Workshop'

Biography:

Heidi is the national clinical leader of the AYA Cancer Network Aotearoa. She is a passionate and experienced health professional with a strong clinical, education and leadership background. Her enthusiasm for, and commitment to youth health has focused on improving the outcomes of youth with cancer and chronic health conditions. Previously, Heidi held the position of AYA Cancer Nurse Specialist for Auckland District Health Board. Alongside her AYA clinical leadership role she holds a youth health academic position at the University of Auckland.

Topic:

'Building resilience into your day, your week, your life'

Biography:

Erica is a qualified counsellor working in the areas of change, loss and grief associated with ill health & bereavement. She is a member of NZAC (the NZ Assoc of Counsellors); RNRM; BA(Nsing); MHPEd; PGCert Prof Sup; MNZAC. She is committed to supporting others through times of great stress in their lives, and has worked all her career in the areas if ill health, hospice and palliative care – firstly as a registered nurse (trained at Waikato Hospital), later in palliative care education (at St Vincent’s Hospice, Sydney and with the NSW Cancer Society) and for the last 15 years as a counsellor (in Sri Lanka & Hamilton). Erica grew up on a farm in Te Pahu in the Waikato. She studied Nursing, Anthropology and Counselling at Massey University, moved to Sydney mid- career and for more study, then went off with her husband to Sri Lanka to be with family. During her 12 years in Sri Lanka Erica worked voluntarily as educator and counsellor with the Sri Lanka Cancer Society. She also founded a NGO Cancer Care Service, which provides free counselling and psychosocial care for people and their families living with mouth cancer. Erica continues to work with this organisation, going back to Sri Lanka at least twice a year. Two areas of special interest for Erica in her life and her work of supporting others is exploring and encouraging self-care and the interconnectedness we have with each other and with nature. To nourish her mind, body and spirit, Erica enjoys down to earth mindfulness practice, restoring their gully, and relaxing with family & friends.