Upcoming Aotearoa New Zealand activities and events
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Louis Barnett Prize 2025
Join us for the online presentation of the Louis Barnett Prize 2025 on Thursday 2 October at 7 pm NZST.
The award finalists will present their research at this standalone online event before one is chosen as the 2025 winner and awarded the $2500 prize.
The Louis Barnett Prize commemorates Sir Louis Barnett CMG, a pioneering surgical researcher, a founder of RACS and the first surgeon from Aotearoa New Zealand to become president of the College. The prize was established in 1962 by the then New Zealand Committee (now the Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee) and is open to Trainees and Younger Fellows from Aotearoa New Zealand involved in advanced academic research.
Details on registration to come soon. We hope you can join us for a night celebrating surgical academic research excellence by New Zealanders.
Annual Surgeons' Meeting
Join us in September 2025
It’s the highlight of RACS’ Aotearoa New Zealand calendar and you’re invited!
Surgery 2025: Enhancing quality and compassion in surgery
Thursday 4 & Friday 5 September
Parliament, Wellington
This two-day event presents an opportunity for connection, reflection and the sharing of knowledge bringing together surgeons from across RACS nine specialties and around the motu (country).
Planning is well and truly underway. Here is a sneak peek of what to look forward to:
On Thursday, we’ll explore big-picture topics that are shaping the future of surgery including consent, registries (pelvic mesh, prostate cancer, breast implants, joint implants), and workforce planning, with key insights from health leaders across Aotearoa.
Confirmed keynote speakers for Thursday include:
- Michael Webster (Privacy Commissioner)
- Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard (Chief Medical Officer at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora)
- Dr Andrew Connolly
- Tom de Koning (Group Manager, Future of Health Workforce HNZ | TWO).
On Friday, our focus turns to delivering thoughtful sessions on compassionate leadership, cultural safety, and dealing with mistakes. Speakers will include Heather McKenzie – Coroner, Adam Holloway – Lawyer, and Theo Baker from the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
And a highlight of the whole event, a special presentation by Dr Jo Prendergast, a comedian and psychiatrist, on the Friday.
Registrations will open soon. In the meantime, enquiries can be made to [email protected].
We can’t wait to share more developments and details with you.