plenary sessions
Ashley Bloomfield
Learning through times of disruption: navigating AI | 8.10am, Tuesday 23 June
Sir Ashley Bloomfield is one of New Zealand’s most respected public health leaders. Best known for guiding the nation through the COVID-19 pandemic, he brings calm authority, clarity under pressure, and a deep commitment to wellbeing. With over 25 years’ experience in health leadership—both locally and globally, including with the WHO—he now serves as Chief Executive of the NZ Institute of Public Health and Forensic Science and is a Professor at the University of Auckland. Sir Ashley speaks to leadership, trust, crisis communication, and public service with humility, insight, and impact.
Charlotte Cantley
Thriving in veterinary clinical practice: insights into the benefits of pursuing a clinical career | 8am, Wednesday 24 June
Lotte Cantley graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1992. After a large-animal internship at University College Dublin, she moved to New Zealand as an equine resident at Massey University, then spent around 15 years in equine practice in the Waikato. Balancing a demanding clinical career with raising a family in a two-vet household eventually led her to transition into non-clinical veterinary roles, first in industry and then with the NZVA. These roles gave her work-life balance and a broader perspective on the profession. Through her varied career, Lotte recognised that many veterinarians face similar challenges, prompting a shift in her purpose from caring for animals to supporting the people who care for them. She has recently completed a PhD exploring what enables veterinarians to thrive in clinical practice. Her research identified the “three Ps” of thriving: positive leadership, psychological safety, and purpose - highlighting that thriving in clinical practice is a shared responsibility between individuals, practices, and the broader profession.