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Speakers

Matty McDonnell

Matty is a Nurse Practitioner specialising in Infectious Diseases and Vascular Access in Brisbane. He previously led the Vascular Access and Surveillance Team at Princess Alexandra Hospital, where he established Queensland’s second nurse-led bedside PICC insertion service, improving timely access to care and patient outcomes.

As the primary author of the Queensland Wide Vascular Access Guidelines, Matty has helped shape vascular access practice across the state and continues to consult with the Queensland Infection Prevention and Control Unit (QIPCU) as a subject matter expert.

Passionate about patient-centred care, Matty is a strong advocate for nurses working to the full extent of their scope of practice. He is committed to advancing evidence-based practice, supporting clinical education, and driving quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient safety and outcomes. Through his leadership, education, and clinical expertise, Matty continues to contribute to excellence in vascular access and infectious diseases practice.

Tara Lines

Care Without Judgment: A Peer–Nurse Conversation on Harm Reduction and Safer Care

Tara brings over 30 years of lived experience with addiction and mental health, including 20 years of injecting experience, which shapes the way she connects with and supports people as a peer. Originally from the West Coast, she is working towards a Level 4 Health and Wellbeing Peer Support qualification and works as the Peer Navigator within the Rodger Wright Community Clinic, supporting people to access hepatitis C and other blood-borne virus screening and care. Tara is also a trained Harm Reduction Advisor, using her experience to build trust, reduce stigma, and connect meaningfully with her community.

Outside of work, she is a proud mum to three adult sons and has two cats.

Kay Eddy

Care Without Judgment: A Peer–Nurse Conversation on Harm Reduction and Safer Care

Kay started her nursing in Australia, working across mental health, acquired brain injury, and with adolescents affected by trauma. Since returning to Christchurch 10 years ago, Kay has specialised in sexual health and blood‑borne virus care, with a strong commitment to harm reduction and equitable access to healthcare.

Kay is passionate about community education and empowering people with practical, accurate information about sexual health and blood‑borne viruses, helping to reduce stigma and support informed choice. Her approach is grounded in compassion, respect, and an understanding of the real‑world challenges people face.

Outside of work, Kay enjoys spending time with family and making the most of time at the beach.

 

Nicky Collins

Cannula believe we do this in the community? IV Nursing @ Nurse Maude District Nursing

Nicky is the Registered Nurse Co-ordinator for the IV Service at Nurse Maude District Nursing Organisation. Over her eight-year tenure with the organisation, she has developed a deep expertise and passion for intravenous therapy, managing complex clinical needs including central venous access devices (CVADs), Portacaths, venepuncture, and cannulation., where she has specialized in advanced intravenous therapy for eight years. Known among her colleagues as the “human ultrasound” for her exceptional clinical accuracy, Nicky is dedicated to optimizing patient outcomes in outpatient and community settings.  Nicky’s diverse nursing background also includes experience within the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service at Burwood Hospital. Professionally driven and community-minded, Nicky balances her rigorous clinical leadership with her family life alongside her husband, Antz, and their two teenage foster daughters who have been with them since infancy.

Mark Eastwood 

I have lived rurally near Waiau in North Canterbury for the past 32 years where I have enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle. In partnership with my wife, Caroline, we have raised two fabulous daughters and operated a number of businesses from home, including mechanical engineering, jet boating & fishing tours and a hazelnut orchard & tree nursery.

At 65 I have been living with chronic illness for much of my adult life with frequent hospitalizations and numerous visits with various health professionals.  I consider myself to have been fortunate along the way to have strong support from my family and key Dr`s and nurses who have helped me navigate the tough times and enabled me to take control of my own health and treatment.

In recent years my treatment options have diminished, and constant infections and long-term medications have taken their toll. My life expectancy has shortened, and my quality of life has been affected as I am no longer as physically able as I would like to be.  I have been able to manage much of my treatment at home, administering antibiotics via portocath, and staying out of hospital as much as possible, so that I can make the most of the time that I have. This is important to me and has made a huge difference to my overall wellbeing and my  independence.

I am happy to share my personal experiences in the hope that my insights may be helpful.

Christopher Corkery

Christopher Corkery has lived in Hamilton Kirikiriroa for many years but still calls himself a Southlander. He has a very supportive wife and two children and a tired old dog that earns his keep by keeping the cats off the property. He’s about halfway through his science degree which he started 10 years ago but he feels like he may have to retire before he completes it.

Chris became a Registered CpRN in 1987 following a less than enthusiastic career as an electrician. Working with people was his aim and not fixing machines and crawling in roof spaces.

By accident rather than good planning he drifted towards medicine. His initial years were in general medicine, but then extended periods in oncology and haematology followed. Work experience included a year in Saudia Arabia on a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit followed by five years in Germany (Frankfurt and Cologne) in an Oncology and Haematology Unit at the University of Cologne.

Chris returned to New Zealand and commenced work again in haematology for approximately 3 years and then became interested in a new role established by the NZ Blood Service: the Transfusion Nurse Specialist role. He has been involved in this role almost from inception and has enjoyed developing it.

His job description can be concentrated down to a few themes: education, policy development, auditing/research and most importantly…Haemovigilance.

Haemovigilance for Chris is the critical programme that ensures safe blood gets to the NZ patient. Without it we would not have a modern efficient blood service. Chris’s presentation should convince you how important Haemovigilance is to a modern health system and where you can fit in.

Peggy Yip

Peggy has been a Paediatric Anaesthetist at Starship children’s Hospital since 2009, currently Deputy Service Clinical Director of Department of Paediatric Anaesthesia.

Her special interest areas are Anaesthesia for scoliosis and liver transplant. She developed a passion for vascular access in children since 2016 and spent her sabbatical time visiting international vascular access team in 2019. She’s the medical lead in our vascular access service at Starship, working closely with the vascular access nurse specialist. Peggy is looking forward to collaborating with other multidisciplinary teams within Starship and hopefully extending this work nationally.

Jackie Clappteron

Jackie Clappteron is lucky enough to hold a dual qualification as a Nurse Practitioner and a Critical Care Paramedic.

Her nursing care began in 1992 beginning in Orthopaedics and then the emergency department. She has been a Nurse Practitioner for nearly ten years. In 2000, Jackie commenced her Ambulance career.

She works in a front-line ECHO unit for St John and utilises both skill sets in Gisborne – Tairawhiti.

Jackie was the first recipient of the NZ Primary Health Care Awards – Nurse Practitioner of the year in 2020 and then in 2023 she received the Council of Ambulance Authorities – Women in Ambulance award.

Evan Alexandrou

Evan Alexandrou is a Clinical Associate Professor with the School of Nursing at the University of Wollongong as well as a Clinical Nurse Consultant in the Intensive Care Unit at Liverpool Hospital where he coordinates the Central Venous Access Service which is internationally renowned for its clinical expertise in vascular access procedures and research. Evan was one of the first nurses in Australia to place central venous catheters and one of the first clinicians (medical or nursing) in the world to insert chronic catheters (tunnelled dialysis catheters and implanted ports) at the bedside using non radiological confirmation.

Evan is involved in clinical education at an undergraduate and postgraduate level for Nursing and Medical training programs and is a conjoint senior lecturer with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales. Evan is also an adjunct Associate Professor with the alliance for vascular access teaching and research (AVATAR) group at Griffith University. Evan has co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications that include the highest ranked medical and nursing journals and in 2021, was ranked in the top 2% of nursing scientists’ worldwide. He is a foundation member of the Australian Vascular Access Society, an international faculty member and scientific committee member for the World Congress on Vascular Access.

Tasneem Mussa

Tasneem is a Vascular Access Nurse Specialist at Starship Children’s Health. Her interest in paediatric vascular access stems from her years working at the Starship Blood and Cancer Centre. 

She completed her Master of Nursing in 2021 and has been working towards establishing a Vascular Access Service and standardisation of care in Child Health. Her passions within vascular access include Clabsi prevention, longevity of catheters and ensuring the right catheter is selected for the right child.