The New Zealand Wound Care Society Inc is run by dedicated volunteers across the country who offer their time and expertise free of charge.
The Society pays an Administrator who works, on average 27 hours a week, and also an Education Coordinator, 8 hours per week.
President - Rebecca Aburn
Nurse Practitioner - Vascular
Employer: Southern DHB
Professional Qualifications: Master of Nursing - Clinical
Rebecca has a 25-year history of clinical experience in neurosciences, intensive care, vascular, diabetic foot, wound care, clinical education and district nursing. She completed her Master of Nursing in 2006 and has a great passion for nursing practice development. As past Treasurer, Vice President and now President for the New Zealand Wound Care Society, Rebecca is involved at a national and international level in practice and guideline developments.
In 2010 Rebecca completed an advanced postgraduate certificate in clinical nursing. In 2017 she completed her Nurse Practitioner training and works as the Nurse Practitioner for vascular. Rebecca has presented at both national and international conferences. Her areas of professional interest are innovation to improve a patient's journey, lymphoedema, pyoderma gangrenosum, surgical site infection prevention and care of the complex vascular patient.
Vice President - Sasha Drennan
Professional Qualifications: Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Science
Employer: Charge Nurse Manager district nursing
Sasha has 20 + years of 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 has a Master’s 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.
Treasurer - Kate O'Dwyer
Job title: Nurse Practitioner
Employer: Cicada Health Ltd., Bay of Plenty
Professional Qualifications: Master of Nursing - University of Auckland
Bio: Kate brings over 20 years of clinical experience and is a qualified Nurse Practitioner employed by Cicada Health Ltd, a practice providing medical care to 18 aged care facilities across the Bay of Plenty. In her day-to-day role, she delivers medical clinics at several of these facilities, working within the Nurse Practitioner scope of practice. This includes conducting clinical assessments, making medical diagnoses, ordering tests and investigations, prescribing treatments, and supporting the overall health and wellbeing of older adults.
Kate’s passion for wound care has been shaped by years of experience in vascular services, district nursing, and the aged care sector. With a strong focus on education, she is well-positioned to support aged care facilities in delivering best-practice wound care to optimise resident outcomes.
National Education Coordinator - Sasha Drennan
