Get to know the new Executive for 2021 - 2024. This year is important because members have taken the time to nominate the new executive for the period 2021- 2024. The process is complete and we are now able to introduce you to the new executive. Take time to read the bio’s for the incoming executive. You will also have the opportunity to meet the new executive at the conference and ratify the new executive at the Annual General Meeting, Friday 24 September, 7.30am, Christchurch Town Hall.
President: Shelagh Thomas Thank you for electing me as President of the Association. I am greatly honoured and humbled. Since entering the world of sterile sciences in 2006, it has become my passion. I quickly realised, that the technicians were the underdogs of the perioperative arena. My focus is to ensure that you have all been recognised for your knowledge and skills. I want to see that you are all afforded the same opportunities for professional development and progress as other health professionals. I started my career as a registered nurse and have had many fantastic opportunities with my nursing qualification. Nursing took me to amazing places to work and I met amazing people. Ultimately, it led me to Sterile Sciences. When I am not at work, I have seven grandchildren vying for my attention. I love to travel, though now my wings have been clipped and it is travel around NZ. Last year I achieved the Diploma In Sterilising Technology. I say no more study but who knows what might take my interest. There is still work to do, however this will be my last term of office as president of the association. For the next three years’ I will be seeking to grow someone into the role to lead you into the future.
Secretary: June Isted I have enjoyed working on the executive for the past two terms and very excited to represent all the NZSSA members once again for the next term. As an executive member, I have had the pleasure of organising the satchels and goodies for the past five conferences and have just finished organising these for our upcoming conference in September. I stepped in as Secretary last year when Jenny stood down and still learning this role with the help from Shelagh and Alison. I am looking forward to the next term and the knowledge I will learn in the role as
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secretary. As one of your executive members, I am more than happy for you to contact me direct at work if you require some advice or help. A little about my work history and myself for those who do not know me. I have worked in the Sterile Service Unit at Hawkes Bay hospital for the past 13 years. Four of these years as Team Leader, twenty months as Acting Manager and the past four years as Manager. I completed the Certificate in Sterilising Technology Level 3 in 2010 and went on to do my Certificate in Advanced Sterilising Technology Level 5 in 2013/14. At some stage I will be doing the diploma but have been too busy to even consider this at the moment. Our perioperative unit is currently undergoing expansion, with our unit changes starting in September through to March 2022.
Executive Member: Maureen Scott Hi my name is Maureen Scott and I am the Manager of the Sterilising Unit at Waikato Hospital. I have held this position since late 2015. I am also the Professional lead for the sterilising unit at Thames Hospital on the Coromandel Coast. I have worked in the sterilising unit for around 32 years. Over this time I have seen many changes and feel it is now an exciting time to be working in this profession. I have been on two visits to Fiji with the Cardiac team to help with Cardiac Surgery on behalf of the Friends of Fiji. This was an amazing experience where I got to meet and make new friends. I play golf as much as I can but find that work gets in the way on occasions, but I guess we can’t have everything. I also enjoy playing tennis even though I know I shouldn’t be after having a Knee replacement, but hey life is for living and enjoyment. I have four beautiful grandchildren with two of them living in Australia, hopefully all going well, I will get to visit them later in the year. I thoroughly enjoy my role in the unit and the staff that I work with are an amazing team, without them I couldn’t be the manager that I am today.
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