He Tipua Conference Speaker Bios
He Tipua – Nurse-to-patient ratios, a new direction for Aotearoa New Zealand
2-3 July 2024
Takina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre
About the speakers
Bonnie Castillo
Bonnie has spent her career in the labour movement as a nurse advocate, working her way up from registered nurse to Executive Director of National Nurses United (NNU) and California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), an all-RN professional organisation and union with a membership of more than 225,000 throughout California and nationwide.
She has held the positions of CNA/NNOC Director of Government Relations and NNU Director of Health and Safety and has been with CNA/NNOC for almost two decades in a number of capacities, working her way up into the leadership of the organization from her early days as a registered nurse member who helped unionise her facility.
Professor Linda Aiken
Linda is Researcher and Director for the Centre for Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. She is an international authority on the causes and consequences of nurse shortages in the USA and globally.
Linda has conducted a vast number of studies globally (RN4CAST) on the impact of nursing on the health outcomes of patients including ageing patients. She has led widely respected research both pre (Published BMJ) and post (published in the Lancet) implementation of the Queensland Health nurse to patient ratios.
Sarah Beaman, Secretary, Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU)
Sarah has an extensive history as a registered Nurse across the public, private and aged care sectors, as well as a long history of activism as a member. Her experience as a grassroots activist has given her a strong interest in nurturing local leadership and she also a keen advocate for safe workplaces and safe staffing.
Within her employment at the QNMU, Sarah has held the roles of Organiser, SEQ Public Sector Organising Team Leader, Professional Officer, Director of Organising and Professional Services and the Assistant Secretary of the QNMU. Sarah is also part of the Queensland Council of Union’s Executive.
Shelley Nowlan, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Queensland Health
Adjunct Professor Nowlan has been a registered nurse in Australia for more than 34 years. She has been widely recognised for her leadership and contribution to nursing. She is also Australia’s Government Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner for Nursing and Midwifery.
Shelley holds a longstanding interest in the health outcomes of rural and remote Australian and has worked for decades to ensure nurses and midwives were supported to meet the needs of people living in rural and regional Australia.
Dr Rhonda McKelvie
Rhonda is a Doctor of Philosophy having completed her research using institutional ethnography to investigate the Nurse Safe Staffing Project and CCDM in New Zealand. Previously she was lecturer for the school of nursing, Massey University New Zealand, and spent eight years as Programme Consultant for the Safe Staffing Healthy Workplaces Unit.
Rhonda was also a member of the Nursing Advisory Group which was supported by the Ministry of Heath 2017 as an independent body of four subject matter experts to conduct a review the CCDM programme.
Kerri Nuku, Kaiwhakahaere, NZNO
Raised in Napier and of Ngāti Kahungunu and Tainui descent, Kerri's professional career started as an enrolled nurse before completing her registered comprehensive nurse training through the Hawke's Bay Polytechnic. Having worked in the maternity area after graduating, Kerri went on to complete her midwifery training in Wellington and eventually took on senior leadership positions including a role as a clinical nurse specialist/team leader.
Kerri believes nursing is an exciting profession which offers multiple opportunities for every member to contribute towards achieving optimal health outcomes for individuals, families’ whānau, communities and populations, while also providing nurses with the best opportunity to advocate for their populations.
Anne Daniels, President, NZNO
Early in her nursing journey Anne’s strong sense of justice led her to become an NZNO delegate, then Convenor for Thames Hospital/Hauraki Plains NZNO members, leading nurses through strikes and restructuring. Anne completed her Masters in Health Science (Hons) in 2005 which focused on why nurses were leaving the profession.
Supporting nurses (and midwives/health care assistants), to take up nursing as a career and stay nursing in New Zealand has been a lifelong commitment for Anne. Her commitment to nursing, was always in collaboration with NZNO in its many facets, including working on the Nurses and Midwifery Advisory Committee and the Nursing Research Group as a member, Conference Convenor then Chair.
Since moving to Dunedin Anne became an ED delegate in the Te Whatu Ora Southern district.
Keelan Ransfield, Kaumātua, NZNO
Keelan is of Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Porou decent. His educational background has been with Te Wananga o Aotearoa and Te Wananga o Raukawa where he has gained several qualifications in Mātauranga Māori, Te Reo Māori and in Business Management.
Keelan spent 18 years working for his iwi ‘Te Runanga O Raukawa’ aka ‘Raukawa Whanau Ora’ in positions such as Māori Mental Health Community Support Worker, Family Start Worker, AOD Community Support Worker and Kairaranga-a-Whanau. Keelan started with E Tū Whānau in 2020 as a Senior Advisor and is now the Team Leader for E Tu Whānau at the Ministry of Social Development.
Keelan is passionate about giving back to the community and undertakes an array of community roles.