Meet our speakers and chairs for Transforming lives: 100 years of insulin, a symposium being held on Thursday 24 November 2022 at Parliament, Wellington, New Zealand.
Speakers and chairs
Brianna Veale and Shelley McLaughlan
Ms Brianna Veale is a teenager living with type 1 diabetes. She describes herself as “a 16-year old type 1 diabetic warrior”. She is passionate about helping others manage their diabetes, and wants to see continuous glucose monitors funded for all those living with type 1 diabetes in New Zealand because “it shouldn't just be a luxury, it is a necessity.” Brianna will talk about her experiences managing type 1 diabetes, and will be joined by her mum Shelley McLaughan to discuss the role that technologies have played in their journey as a family.
Neil Stockdill
Mr Neil Stockdill has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1953. In 2021, he received the Sir Charles Burns award from Diabetes New Zealand for managing his diabetes with insulin for over 50 years. During this time, he has had first-hand experience of the advances in the treatment and management of type 1 diabetes. Neil continues to contribute to the diabetes community through modelling the long term benefits of achieving well-managed type 1 diabetes, and advocating for access to diabetes technologies for all who need them.
Jennifer Couper
Professor Jenny Couper is a paediatric endocrinologist. She is Head of the Discipline of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide and was Head of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Department, Women's and Children's Hospital, South Australia from 2001 to 2021. Her clinical research focuses on the prevention of type 1 diabetes, and the prevention of cardiovascular complications in children with type 1 diabetes. She leads investigations into the prenatal and early origins of childhood type 1 diabetes, is a member of the Advisory Council of the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) and a co–author of national and international guidelines for the management of type 1 diabetes.
Renza Scibilia
Ms Renza Scibilia has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1988, and has years of experience using diabetes technologies. She is a strong voice for people living with type 1 diabetes and has contributed to a number of international forums as she strives to ensure that the lived experience of people living with type 1 diabetes is considered in all aspects of diabetes management and research. Renza is the author of Diabetogenic, a blog about the real experiences of people living with type 1 diabetes. She plays an active role in the Diabetes online community and works as an advocate for Diabetes Australia.
Rosemary Hall
Dr Rosemary Hall is the current President of the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes. She is an endocrinologist and diabetes physician in Wellington and Tairāwhiti, and Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago, Wellington. Her research interests include the relationship between energy balance, nutrition and metabolic disease, diabetes in pregnancy, and diabetes technology.
Jim Mann
Professor Jim Mann has been Professor in Medicine and Human Nutrition at the University of Otago for the past 30 years and was consultant physician (endocrinology) in Dunedin Hospital for most of that time. He is Patron of Diabetes New Zealand, co-Director of the Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre (EDOR), and Director of the Healthier Lives–He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge. He is also Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Human Nutrition, and the New Zealand-China Non-Communicable Diseases Research Collaboration Centre. His research has principally been related to epidemiological and nutritional aspects of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with a special interest in diabetes prevention.
Ryan Paul
Dr Ryan Paul (Ngāti Maru, Hauraki) is an endocrinologist at Te Whatu Ora Waikato and the University of Waikato, an honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland and a Clinical Associate at the Maurice Wilkins Centre. He is the Immediate Past-President of the New Zealand Society of Endocrinology (NZSE) and is an Executive Member of the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD). He recently convened the development of the national guidance on the management of type 2 diabetes and was a member of the Diabetes Expert Advisory Group to the Ministry of Health. His research has a particular focus on reducing inequities in access to diabetes therapeutics and technologies in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Ben Wheeler
Associate Professor Ben Wheeler is a paediatric endocrinologist and paediatrician working for the University of Otago and Te Whatu Ora Southern. He is head of child health at the Dunedin School of Medicine and a member of the Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre. His research focuses on access to, and use of, new technologies for children, young people, and adults affected by diabetes, as well as factors that impact on glycaemic control in diabetes. His work has a greater aim of reducing the burden and improving the quality of life for those living with diabetes worldwide.
Catherine Taylor
Ms Catherine Taylor is chair of the Diabetes New Zealand Board and has been a board member for six years, after serving on the national executive some 30 years ago. She has a daughter with type 1 diabetes and is committed to increasing the awareness, management and treatment for those living with diabetes in New Zealand. Catherine has extensive senior management and governance experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Now that she is retired, she is committed to making Diabetes New Zealand more visible and enhancing the services we provide for all people with diabetes. Catherine is also a trustee of the newly established Diabetes New Zealand Research Foundation.
Damian Wiseman
Dr Damian Wiseman is a cycling coach for Paralympics NZ and is living with type 1 diabetes. He has coached athletes from a variety of sports and has contributed to multiple World Championship, Commonwealth and Olympic medal winning performances. He has an important role in delivering sports science support to the NZ Paralympic cycling programme, and has a vast understanding of the management of type 1 diabetes within sport and exercise. Damian has represented New Zealand in track cycling and, while no longer cycling, trains in multiple martial arts. Damian strongly advocates for the equitable access to diabetes technologies, to improve the quality of life for all people who are living with type 1 diabetes.
Jeremy Krebs
Professor Jeremy Krebs is an endocrinologist with a particular interest in obesity and diabetes. He trained in endocrinology at Wellington Hospital, New Zealand, and then undertook a doctorate with the Medical Research Council—Human Nutrition Research Unit in Cambridge, England. Jeremy returned to New Zealand in 2002 to take up a consultant endocrinology post at Wellington Hospital. As well as clinical and teaching activities, he maintains active research through the University of Otago, Wellington, in the area of obesity and diabetes, with a focus on nutrition, and diabetes service delivery.
