A senior clinician and innovator, Michael is a leader within research and commercial spaces in advocating for staff safety in healthcare. Michael has more than 35 years’ experience in clinical medicine, where he engaged in the education of more than 4,000 junior doctors, 200 registrars, and innumerable medical students.
In the field of research, Michael promotes an evidence-based approach to emergency medicine research and practice, and the development of a culture which generates and supports research findings.
He continues to have an active role in the development of safety guidelines and standards in the USA and Australia, and speaks at healthcare conferences around the world including the AORN Surgical Conference (USA), Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law (Australia), and the WHO World Patient Safety Day (Malaysia).
Dr Neville Henry, AM was a Senior medical officer accident and emergency dept. Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane.
His past roles include working with Red Cross in the Pacific; as a health delegate for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) in Goma, Zaire during the Rwanda emergency; Lecturer in Public Health and Child Health Specialist in Papua New Guinea; Medical Coordinator with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kabul, Afghanistan; Medical delegate for the IFRCS in Malaysia; and a multitude of other roles with the Red Cross.
His work has awarded him a designation of Member of the Order (AM) of Australia.
He has invented the multi-awarded Qlicksmart Single-handed blade remover, and continues to help improve staff and patient safety for healthcare institutions worldwide.
Dr Chamindika Konara received her Doctorate in Biotechnology from University of Queensland and her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the National University of Singapore. As an ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 accredited auditor, Dr Konara has strong experience in implementing systems for quality improvement and change control.
Dr Konara works within the biomedical sector to translate research and product concepts into practical solutions for healthcare facilities She has contributed to the education of perioperative staff through StaffandPatientSafety org, and provides ongoing education to medical students as well as medical industry professionals. In 2022, Dr Konara presented at the AORN and ACORN virtual conferences and she will be presenting at the AORN Global Surgical Conference Expo 2023.
Mairin Monteath is a passionate advocate for workplace safety. Since receiving their Bachelor of Communications (Mass Communications) from the University of Queensland, Mairin has worked with healthcare professionals and medical device innovators to streamline how safety solutions can be effectively implemented into healthcare facilities’ existing processes.
Within the StaffandPatientSafety.org team, Mairin develops Continuing Professional Development resources based on the latest research into staff and patient safety initiatives, including publications for the European Operating Room Nurses Association and Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union. They also provide ongoing education and product training to Australian perioperative nurses, and specialised workshops for medical industry professionals globally. Mairin is currently studying Educational Design at Monash University to further develop their expertise in providing quality learning experiences, and is presenting at the AORN Global Surgical Conference Expo 2023.
Amanda Heitman BSN, RN, CNOR has been a nurse for over twenty years and a perioperative nurse for nineteen of those years. She has established Periop Anew, which provides educational consulting for perioperative services highlighting quality and safety for the operating room. She has been sharing her knowledge at WakeMed Cary Hospital in surgical services education twelve years and is currently a supervisor. She has successfully taught their perioperative residency/new to the OR program with her own specialized curriculum for the last ten years. She is a clinical resource for several services and remains active in the circulating and scrub roles, providing quality patient care. She is a lifetime member of AORN and current president elect for the NC State AORN Council. She has been a past AORN chapter president, board member, and active leader of the Capital AORN Chapter in Raleigh, NC. She has provided education sessions, webinars and podcasts on the importance of educators dedicated to the OR and safety initiatives. She also has been featured in OR Today magazine, providing insight on important topics related to safe surgery, and a spotlight article. She is also the proud mother of three children, raised together with her husband of over twenty years.
