There are six members of the EAG (with two on sabbatical)
Name: Kate O'Dywer 
Job title: Nurse Practitioner
Employer: Cicada Health Ltd., Bay of Plenty
Professional Qualifications: Master of Nursing - University of Auckland
Bio: I am a Nurse Practitioner, employed by Cicada Health Ltd, a practice that provides medical care for 17 Aged Care facilities in the Bay of Plenty. In my day-to-day role, I provide medical clinics at several facilities. Under the NP scope of practice, I provide clinical assessment of residents, medical diagnosis, order tests, prescribe and much more, overall contributing to the quality of care and health of the older person.
My wound care experience and passion has evolved from many years of working in the Vascular and District Nursing fields, and the aged care sector. Combined with a strong education focus I am well placed to support the aged care facilities I attend in assessment and management of wounds. I am honoured to be a member of the NZWCS Education Advisory Group, providing a fantastic opportunity to represent the aged care sector and work with an experienced and passionate EAG team.
Name: Maria ten Hove
Job title: Plastics Surgical Unit Nurse Educator/Wound Nurse Consultant
Professional Qualifications: RN, BN, PGCert Wound Care, PGCert Tertiary teaching, MSc Skin Integrity and Skills management.
Bio: I am currently employed as Nurse Educator in the Plastics Surgical Unit/ Plastics Outpatient Dept. with CDHB which is also a Regional Burns Unit. With over 40 years of experience, I have occupied senior positions both in New Zealand and in the Middle East. My current role is to facilitate teaching and provide In-service and clinical coaching. I support staff in Wound Assessment and management across a wide spectrum of wounds, trauma and burns.
I have sat on various wound care committees and boards, one of which is the Education Advisory Group.
Name: Sasha Drennan
Professional Qualifications: Post graduate diploma nursing science. Masters in Health Science
Employer: Nurse Educator Primary Health Care
Sasha has 20 + years clinical experience in both the UK and NZ in several areas of nursing including perioperative care, plastics, general, breast and ENT surgery, district nursing and clinical education. She is presently completing her masters in digital health and has a passion for nursing development that encourages best patient care and is vocal in her belief of how digital education and innovation can create care equity. Having gained post graduate qualifications in nurse education, perioperative care and palliation in the UK and emigrating to NZ in 2010, she has continued her post-graduate journey to ensure evidence based care. Sasha is Vice President of the NZWCS 2023.
Name: Katie Cunard
Job Title: Registered Nurse
Professional Qualifications: RN, BN
Bio: I have 10+ years clinical experience as a nurse, I have worked in several areas including plastics and ENT surgery, District Nursing, community care and education.
I am currently employed by a medical device company as a clinical educator and training lead. In my day-to-day role I provide education to aged residential care facilities across New Zealand about pressure injuries and how our equipment can help with prevention and treatment of pressure injuries. My wound care experience and passion begun in plastic surgery and community nursing.
Currently on Sabbatical
Name: Dr Althea Page-Carruth
Job title: Podiatrist
Professional qualifications: PhD, MBA, BSc (Hons), DPod M
Bio: I am currently working in Central Otago and have a podiatry practice in Cromwell and Alexandra.
I have a background in education and ran the podiatry course in Wellington many years ago when I first arrived from London, where I was teaching. My time in Wellington was focused on developing the podiatry degree course and the end on degree course for those podiatrists who had previously gained a diploma in Podiatry and needed to upgrade.
My specialised interests were in diabetic foot care and therefore pressure injuries – their treatment and prevention. I also ran the biomechanics and orthotics lab at the University of Westminster where my interests lay in the treatment and prevention of foot pathologies in those with neurological conditions, autoimmune disorders and also children.
My area of research more recently was in Diabetes and the experiences of people with diabetes, particularly in rural areas. This combined a passion of mine which is the delivery of equitable health care across all environments and the reduction of barriers to that care either from institutional biases or from personal barriers to care.
I have been a member of the New Zealand Wound Care Society (NZWCS) since 2019. I am currently a member of the Education Advisory Group, the Pressure Injury Advisory Group and the Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. I shall be representing the NZWCS on the Guideline Development Group for the 4th Edition of the International Guidelines following the footsteps of Pam Mitchel.
Name: Dr Lea Whittington
Job title: Clinical Lead High Risk foot service for the Midcentral Region
Professional Qualifications: PhD MSc BSc DPodM PGCE-PCET
Bio: Lea is a highly qualified and experienced educator and clinician with a career spanning over 25 years, in a number of countries, comprising clinical, academic, research and leadership roles. She has maintained a passion and commitment to managing the high risk foot throughout her career completing a Doctorate (PhD) at Canterbury University UK - complex wound healing, and a period at the McIndoe unit-regional treatment centre for burns in the UK - if you want complex this is a good place to start. Before this spent a period of residency as a surgical registrar in a Podiatric surgery unit She is a qualified podiatry prescriber POMs UK & experienced in joint and soft tissue injection therapy UK.
Currently, she is the Clinical Lead High Risk foot service for the Midcentral Region, combining this with sessional lecturing and independent consultancy. She has contributed to the International Pressure Injury Guidelines 2019, (Infection and Biofilms as she also has a Masters majoring in Microbiology/Parasitology) and is currently working on the 2025 guideline (heel pressure injuries). She served as Chair of Podiatry Medical Practitioners CPD Network 2018-2023 and is a member of the Advanced Practicing Podiatrist Group in Australia and the Educational Advisory Group -NZWCS.
