Jade Sophia Le Grice
(Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi)
Jade works as an Associate Professor in Psychology and Associate Dean Māori in Science at the University of Auckland. Her research explores the sociocultural contexts of Indigenous lives informed by colonial pressures, and the vibrancy of Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
Dr Lauren Abern (she/her)
Lauren Abern, MD (she/her) is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University/Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Abern completed her medical degree at the University of Miami and residency at Abington Memorial Hospital, and is board certified in obstetrics, gynecology, and complex family planning. She specializes in LGBTQIA+ health care including gender affirming hormone therapy for transgender and nonbinary individuals. Her research interests include family planning, cancer screening, reproductive advocacy, and breast/chestfeeding for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Maritza Farrant
Maritza is an endocrinologist at Te Whatu Ora, National Women’s Health. She works in a dedicated clinic for women with complex menopause and female reproductive endocrinology issues. Maritza is a Senior Lecturer at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, with a clinical research interest in the role of testosterone in women’s sexual and reproductive health.
Nikki Denholm (she/her)
Nikki Denholm is the Director of The Light Project, which equips the health and FVSV workforce to better understand online youth sexual ecosystems and strengthen prevention and response to online harm. She has a background in emerging sexual health issues, including FGM and HIV/AIDS, and holds several board roles in the counter–child sex trafficking sector.
Victoria Egli (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor Victoria Egli is a mixed‑methods public health researcher focused on children’s and families’ health. Her work examines how unhealthy commodity marketing in physical and digital environments affects children and families, and how mis‑ and disinformation and predatory interests undermine health equity.
Chelsea Harris (she/her)
Kia ora, ko Chelsea Harris tōku ingoa. I am a doctor training in Urgent Care in Christchurch, a Teaching Fellow, and a PhD student. My first love in medicine was Women's Health. For my first research project I interviewed wāhine Māori about their experiences accessing healthcare related to sexual and reproductive health.
Te Aniwa Makoare
Ngāti Whātua/Niue
Te Aniwa is a nurse at the Well Women and Family Trust clinic in Auckland, specialising in LARC services and cervical screening education to nurses within NZ.
Te Aniwa is passionate about improving health outcomes for Māori and Pacific women and whānau, working to reduce barriers and increase equitable access to sexual and reproductive health care.
Sathana Ponnampalam (she/her)
Sathan is an obstetrician and gynaecologist working at Te Toka Tumai and was the chair of the Aotearoa national AUB working group..
Hon A/Prof Helen Roberts (she)
Helen has been the consultant at the Menopause Clinic for the last 30 years. During her time as Associate Professor Women's Health at Auckland University she authored articles on menopause in journals such as BMJ and Menopause and was involved with Cochrane reviews on MHT.
Jo Robertson
Jo Robertson, a sex therapist with a Masters of Science in Medicine, specializes in sexuality, relationships, and the cultural influences shaping sexual norms. In private practice she has worked in sexual trauma, sexual dysfunction, relationship trauma, and compulsive sexual behaviours.
Beyond private practice, she works in advocacy and education on the effects of technology and sexualised media on young people.
Fern Smith
Fern Smith (Ngati Hau, Ngapuhi) is a PhD student at the University of Auckland. Her PhD explores taitamawahine experiences of abortion in Te Tai Tokerau. She has been involved in kaupapa Māori research relating to Māori women's sexual and reproductive health, youth sexualities, mahi tūkino, and Māori experiences with ACC.
Sue Tutty (she/her)
Sue is a fellow of RNZCGP and has worked in South Auckland for over 25 years. Her other roles include GP Liaison at Counties Manukau and Clinical Advisor for Northern Region Planning, Funding and Outcomes.
She is passionate about health equity and promoting whaanau-centred culturally appropriate quality evidence-based care.
Coleen Caldwell (she/her)
Col is a clinical lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Otago, Christchurch | Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, Ōtautahi , and a medical officer at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha, predominantly working within abortion care. She is the past chair of the Abortion Providers Group Aotearoa New Zealand, and a former board member of the New Zealand College of Sexual & Reproductive Health.
Phoebe Hunt (she/her)
Phoebe is a Medical Officer in Sexual and Reproductive Health based in Whangārei. She is passionate about equitable access to contraception. Phoebe has been providing vasectomies with the Snip Clinic, since 2021 and has completed over 1000 procedures. Her other work includes abortion services, minor gynaecological procedures and working in the acute sexual assault service in Northland.
Katie McCullough (she/her/ia)
Katie is a Nurse Practitioner with a passion for sexual and reproductive health. She is the Acting Deputy Director and NP Consultant at the Goodfellow Unit, works across gynaecology, menopause, and sexual wellbeing services, and is the Clinical Lead for STIEF.
Helen Paterson (she/they)
Helen Paterson is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago in
obstetrics and gynaecology.
She is director of the woman’s health bus and
deputy chair of NZCSRH.
Amanda Oakley
Amanda Oakley has recently retired from Waikato Hospital, where she held a vulval clinic for 39 years.
Amanda is an Honorary Professor for the Universities of Auckland and Waikato. Best known for creating DermNet, she has numerous publications.
Current academic interests focus on teledermatology and artificial intelligence.
Dr Rachel Rapkin (she/her)
Dr. Rachel Rapkin, FRANZCOG, completed her training, including in advanced surgical abortion, in the US. She started an abortion training program, expanding surgical abortion access and training in the hospital and community settings in Florida before immigrating in 2023. She is the Clinical Lead of Te Mahoe Unit in Wellington.
Ryan Sunde (he/him)
Ryan is a Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of primary care experience across diverse patient populations. Currently practicing at Te Hau Awhiowhio o Otangarei in Whangārei, Ryan combines advanced clinical training with a passion for evidence-based, relationship-centered care across the lifespan. His clinical interests span across youth health, LGBTQIA+ health and chronic disease management.
Born and raised in Te Tai Tokerau, Ryan brings expertise in addressing sexual and reproductive health needs within underserved populations.
Maggie Walker Mendez (she/her)
Maggie Walker Mendez works as a Midwife Specialist of Sexual and Reproductive Health and has experience providing medical abortion at all gestations. She believes in the importance of spaces for clinicians to learn and reflect on challenging areas of practice to create resilience and improve patient care.
When not at work, Maggie can be found having coffee with her wife or practicing Olympic Weightlifting.
Dr Luke Wee (he/him)
Luke is a General Practitioner with a special interest in men's health and family planning. Having treated many men from different walks of life, Luke has developed a nuanced understanding of common men's sexual health presentations including erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and other sexual dysfunctions - while holistically addressing men's physical and mental health.
Luke is passionate about bridging emerging evidence into best practice, to empower more clinicians to address the elephant in the room.
More speakers to be announced soon.
For all conference enquiries please contact:
Melanie Robinson
Project Coordinator
melanie@fp2.co.nz
+64 21 113 0289