Meet Our Expert Speakers
Expert talks affecting day to day nursing practice
TOPIC Welcome & house rules
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 08:40 – 08:50
TOPIC Q&A with session speakers
DATE Friday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 10:15 – 10:30
TOPIC Q&A with session speakers
DATE Friday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 12:15 – 12:30
Dr Sue Armstrong
Senior Lecturer at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Sue Armstrong trained as a nurse at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, England. On her return to South Africa she completed her midwifery course and worked at both Barberton Hospital and the Johannesburg Hospital before commencing her Diploma in Nursing Education at the University of the Witwatersrand. She holds a BA Cur degree, a B Ed degree, an MSc Nursing and a Doctorate in Nursing.
After many years in nursing education both at college and provincial level, Sue was appointed the Director of Quality Assurance at the Gauteng Department of Health where she worked for seven years before moving to the University of the Witwatersrand where she is supervising post-graduate nursing students in the fields of nursing education and nursing management and supporting the department to implement the new curricula.
She is a reviewer for several academic journals and a contributor to publications on nursing. She advises on quality assurance and nursing matters and is the Chairperson of the Nursing Education Association.
TOPIC Housekeeping
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 08:40 – 08:50
TOPIC Close – Wrap-Up
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 15:45 – 15:50
TOPIC Closure
DATE Friday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 15:55 – 16:00
TOPIC Close – Wrap-Up
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 12:25 – 12:30
Dr Elizabeth Mokoka
CEO of FUNDISA
Dr Mokoka is the CEO of FUNDISA. She is a qualified professional nurse, midwife, nurse educator, community health nurse, nurse manager and ophthalmic nurse. She also completed certificate courses in HIV/TB management, HIV Mainstreaming, Labour Law, Corporate Governance, M &E and holds a PhD in Health Studies.
She is has held positions in nursing and healthcare as nurse manager, educator, technical adviser and mentor. One of her strengths is in programme management, where she managed large donor- funded projects in nursing education, practice, research and health systems strengthening nationally and in various African countries including Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, Zambia, DRC and Ethiopia.
Dr Mokoka also acts as external examiner, and moderator, has published in various journals, contributed chapters in three nursing textbooks and serves on editorial boards of 3 accredited journals. She has received numerous awards, including Citizen’s award for the care of the visually impaired, Fellow of the Everyday Leadership Program from ITECH and the Dorothy Buschmann Presidential Award from Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI). Her affiliations include membership of STTI, Fellow of the Academy of Nursing in South Africa (ANSA) and member of the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA). An ardent reader, she is also active in her community.
TOPIC Dare to Lead
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 09:15 – 09:45
TOPIC Panel discussion – The Future is Now!
DATE Thursday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 13:50 – 15:20
Dr Sharon Vasuthevan
Education Executive at Life Healthcare, Midrand
Dr Sharon Vasuthevan is the Nursing & Quality Executive at Life Healthcare. She holds a PhD from the University of Pretoria (2005) and a Master of Science degree from Texas Woman’s University achieved through a Fulbright Scholarship in 1995. She joined the Life Healthcare Group in 2001 as National Training and Development Manager and in 2010 was appointed as Nursing & Quality Executive. Her responsibilities include managing nursing practice, nursing education, infection prevention and quality outcomes, safety, patient experience and legal compliance. She has served on several Committees and Societies and is the past Chairperson of the Nursing Education Association (NEA). She served on the SANC for two terms until she resigned in 2016. She is author and editor of articles and books which are currently used by both post-graduate and undergraduate nurses in South Africa.
TOPIC Nurses: Guardians of Healthcare Sustainability
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 09:50 – 10:20
Mr James Waterson
Lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland
James Waterson has been a registered nurse for over 30 years in the United States and the United Kingdom. He has worked primarily in critical care pediatrics and in organ transplantation, and received his master’s degree in Medical Education from the University of Dundee in 2009.
He worked and taught in the United States, the Middle East, China, and Switzerland for a number of years, and was director of nursing education for Dubai Health Authority before taking up his current position of Medical Affairs Manager for the Middle East and Africa with Becton Dickinson.
He was awarded a master’s degree in Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics by the University Pompeu Fabra of Barcelona in 2021.
His special interests are the development of Real-World Evidence of the impact of healthcare solutions, developing health-technology assessment tools, and collaboration with healthcare facilities and technology vendors to create integrated medication safety systems.
He has written and presented extensively on healthcare automation and closed-loop safety systems for medication compounding, administration, and dispensing, on the use of robotics in healthcare, and on the analysis of data to improve quality of care. He continues to research clinician alarm fatigue, the interaction of clinicians with healthcare technology and on tools that add safety and value to healthcare at the bedside.
He is a reviewer for several clinical and informatics journals, and an invited lecturer of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland for quality and risk management.
TOPIC Close and Wrap-Up
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 12:25 – 12:30
TOPIC Q&A with session speakers
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 10:40 – 10:55
TOPIC Q&A with session speakers
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 10:20 – 10:30
TOPIC Q&A with session speakers
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 15:35 – 15:45
Sr Jenny Olfsen
FPNL Chairperson & Nurse Manager, LHC
Jenny Olfsen Nurse Manager, LHC. Living in EL with retired husband. I have 2 children, Chanel in Cape Town and Darryn in Qatar. Nursing career commenced at Addington Hospital in 1978- General nurse and Midwife. Early career was Critical care units after completing Diploma in critical care. Since 2000 I have been in nursing management after completing Diploma nursing admin at UKZN.
I have been a member of FPNL since early 2000 and currently serve as Chairperson Border-Kei and the Exec committees. I have a passion for leadership development.
TOPIC Management of Ports in clinical practice
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 11:00 – 13:00
Dr Wilhelm van Zijl
MBChB, MMed (Rad Onc) FC RadOnc (SA), MBA – Clinical Radiation Oncologist
Dr Wilhelm van Zijl qualified in 1992 with MBChB from the University of Pretoria. For many years he spent his time on the management of healthcare systems during which he obtained an MMed Community Health and Master of Business Science. Oncology lured him back into clinical work and he went back to the Free State University to obtain an M Med Radiation Oncology degree and College of Medicine qualification in 2013.
He immediately joined the group of Dr Alberts, Bouwer & Jordaan based at the Wilgers hospital and became a partner in 2015. His primary interest is urogenital and in particular prostate cancer – as such he consults at the Pretoria Urology Hospital.
With a focus on community service, he renders an outreach clinic service in Witbank on a weekly basis.
TOPIC Management of Ports in clinical practice
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 11:00 – 13:00
TOPIC Lucky draws
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 12:05 – 12:25
Sr Zelna Visagie
Nurse Manager, ABJ Oncology
I first studied classical music at NWU but decided to pursue a career in Nursing at the age of 24. During my 2nd year of studies, I already decided that I wanted to specialize in Oncology. In 1997 I completed the 4year Comprehensive Nursing Diploma with Psychiatric, Community and General Nursing as well as Midwifery and during this time received the Henrietta Stockdale Award for the most professionally developed nursing student. I went on to complete the B-Tech Oncology Degree with Nursing Management in 2000 at TUT.
Consequently, I’ve been working in Oncology for 25years and have experience in paediatric and adult oncology as well as haematology and stem-cell transplantation (a long time ago though) and I’ve worked in both the government and private sector as well as the inpatient and the outpatient setting across North-West and Gauteng.
I’ve been with ABJ Oncology since July 2006 and joined the main practice in Pretoria in December 2015 in the role of Nursing Manager at the Wilgers branch where I am still functioning in as well as Authorizations Manager.
I am a co-opted EXCO member of the FPNL where I mainly assist with the organizing of the annual Nursing Conference. I am also a member of the EE committee and was deeply involved in the company COVID team.
Nursing interests include research and developing the nursing team.
Other interests include nature in whatever form, traveling, music, cuisine, reading and being the best mother to my 3 cats that I can possibly be.
My work ethic is: “Perseverance Towards Excellence”.
TOPIC Motivation to change the world around you
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 14:15 – 14:45
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman
Chairman & Founder, Gift of the Givers Foundation
Dr Sooliman was born in Potchefstroom, in South Africa’s North West Province, on 07 March 1962.
He attended Sastri College in Durban and matriculated in 1978, going on to study medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Medical School, qualifying as a medical doctor in 1984.
Dr Sooliman commenced private practice in Pietermaritzburg in 1986, but chose to close his flourishing practice in mid-1994, choosing instead to focus his attention on Gift of the Givers Foundation, which he had founded in early August 1992. His establishment of Gift of the Givers Foundation was the consequence of a message Dr Sooliman, then aged 30, received from Sufi Sheikh Muhammed Saffer Effendi al Jerrahi, his spiritual leader in Istanbul, Turkey, who called on him to serve all people of all races, of all religions, of all colours, of all classes, of all political affiliations and of any geographical location… a calling he honoured then and continues to honour today.
His endeavour in this regard has seen Gift of the Givers Foundation emerge as one of the most respected humanitarian organisations in the world and is today the largest disaster response agency of African origin anywhere on the continent.
TOPIC How to use IPC audits to improve quality of care
DATE Thursday, 17 Aug 2023
TIME 14:50 – 15:30
Ms Briëtte du Toit Ludick
Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN) as the Programme Manager
Briëtte currently works for the Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN) as the Programme Manager and Training Coordinator of the International Post Graduate Diploma in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) presented by ICAN and the University of Radboud, Netherland as well as the Fundamentals in IPC programmes. Briëtte is experienced in the development and implementation of IPC strategy, the development of IPC training curricula and e-learning modules, clinical risk management, clinical audits, quality improvement,surveillance, electronic surveillance systems, project management, hospital design and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes.
Briëtte is part of the South African Ministerial Advisory IPC subcommittee and assisted with the COVID-19 National Guideline development as well as the National IPC Strategic Framework and Implementation Guide. Briëtte is the vice chair of the Infection Control Society of Southern Africa (ICSSA). Briëtte is a Professional nurse with a post graduate diploma and Masters degree in IPC and has completed a certificate course at Harvard University in Airborne Infection Control. Briëtte presented at several national and international conferences and co-authored a number of papers and guidelines.
TOPIC Dare, Dream, Deliver
DATE Friday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 08:30 – 09:00
Prof Hester Klopper
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs at Stellenbosch University
Hester Klopper (PhD; MBA) is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs at Stellenbosch University, ZA. Prior to this position, she was the CEO of FUNDISA (2013-2016) and Past President of Sigma (2013-2015). In addition, Hester is a Professor of Global Health in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. As DVC she is responsible for five divisions, i.e. Strategic Initiatives inclusive of the oversight of the university’s strategic fund; SU-International responsible for the management and support of all international strategy and activities; Information Governance that includes Data and Analytics, Institutional Research and Planning, Business Intelligence, and Protection of Private Information; Corporate Communication and Marketing (institutional communication, marketing, branding) and Student recruitment.
Her expert and research fields include higher education, strategy, leadership development, systems theory, organisational excellence, and agility. Hester has been the research supervisor of 35+ PhD students and 45+ master’s students; she has published 85+ peer-reviewed publications and several books or chapters. She has been the keynote speaker at more than 150 international events/conferences. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Nursing of South Africa (FANSA), a Member of the South African Academy for Science and Art, an inductee into the International Hall of Fame for Research Excellence (Sigma) and a member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa (IODSA). Hester was the 1st South African to be inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) and is also a Fellow of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). In 2016, she was recognised by Oxford Brookes University (UK) with an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of her contribution to nursing education and research globally. In 2020, the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland awarded her the Fellowship Ad Eundem in the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery.
TOPIC Changing landscape of nursing
DATE Friday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 09:05 – 09:35
Prof Ntombifikile G Mtshali
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, South African Nursing Council
Professor Ntombifikile Mtshali is a recognised Nurse leader, academic and researcher. She holds a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She has extensive leadership experience in higher education. Prior to the current position she served as the Head of the Nursing Department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for Nursing and Midwifery at UKZN, Dean of Teaching and Learning in the College of Health at UKZN, Senior Manager Education and Training at SANC, lecturer and associate professor at UKZN.
TOPIC Update on health matters
DATE Friday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 09:40 – 10:10
Dr Geraldine Timothy
Head of Quality of Care at Discovery Health
Geraldine is a medical doctor who has specialised in Public Health Medicine. She has a master’s degree in Medicine (Community Health) and a diploma in Anesthetics additionally. She worked for 3 years in the UK managing patients with chronic diseases before returning to SA to further her interest in health care management. She has worked in the Managed Care Health insurance industry for 12 years and is currently Head of Quality of Care at Discovery Health.
TOPIC Advocacy & whistleblowing
DATE Friday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 11:05 – 11:35
Mr Mark Heywood
Social Justice Activist, Co-founder of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)
Mark Heywood is a social justice activist and former Executive Director and co-founder of SECTION27 as well as a co-founder of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). He sits on the Boards of several health and human rights NGOs in South Africa and internationally. In 2022 he was recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Public Health Association of SA (PHASA). He is currently editor of Maverick Citizen, a section of the Daily Maverick that focuses on activism, human rights and social justice. He is also adjunct Professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town; a distinguished visitor at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center; and a visiting scholar at the Bonavero Institute for Human Rights, Oxford University. He has written numerous articles on law, human rights, HIV/AIDS, health and literature and edited and written several books, including a book of poetry I Write What I Fight (2015) and a memoir, Get Up! Stand Up! Personal Journeys Towards Social Justice (2017).
TOPIC Nurses & litigation
DATE Friday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 11:40 – 12:10
Ms Elsabė Klinck
Managing Director of Elsabe Klinck & Associates
Elsabė Klinck, the Managing Director of Elsabe Klinck & Associates, specialises in health law, -policy and -ethics. She holds degrees in law, German and applied psychology.
Elsabė has worked in the health sector since 2001:
- first at the SA Medical Association as legal advisor;
- at the Foundation for Professional Development as Director of Compliance and Consulting;
- in the pharmaceutical sector at a trade association;
- and at a prominent healthcare consultancy.
Prior to her health sector involvement, Elsabė was a senior lecturer in the Department of Constitutional Law at the Free State University, where she worked for 8 years.
She now owns a successful healthcare consulting firm (Elsabe Klinck & Associates), serving clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare professional and health facility markets all over South Africa.
Elsabė has published- and spoken widely on topics relating to constitutional law, human rights, health law, ethics and social security. She is co-author of, amongst others, the books Employment Equity Law and International Human Rights Standards and has published chapters in Social Security Law. She has undertaken research for, amongst others, the Taylor Committee of Enquiry into Social Security and the SA Business Coalition on HIV & Aids.
TOPIC The importance of stories in the work you do – Professionals & Patients
DATE Friday, 18 Aug 2023
TIME 15:25 – 15:55
Mr Dorian Haarhoff
Past-Professor of English Literature (Namibia – UNAM), Dorien Haarhoff Creative Wordshops
Dorian Haarhoff, a former Professor of English Literature (UNAM), is a storyteller, poet, wordshop facilitator and mentor. He met Carl Schlettwein in the mid-1990s, and the BAB subsequently published two edited volumes by him with poetry from a new generation of Namibian poets, ‘Personal Memories’ (1996) and ‘The Inner Eye’ (1997). He also edited the volume ‘Seven Letters. HIV/AIDS Stories from Namibian Children’ (2007) and the manual ‘Mirror, Lens and Window. A Workbook on Journaling for Namibian Teachers in Training’ (2014), both published by the BAB Publishing House. With the support of the Carl Schlettwein Foundation, he conducted many creative writing workshops throughout southern Africa, and one in Basel.
TOPIC Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive – an overview
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 08:00 – 08:25
Dr Careni Spencer
Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town & Groote Schuur Hospital
I am a Medical Geneticist working as a consultant in the Division of Human Genetics at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur hospital.
After completing my medical degree, I came to UCT to complete my specialty in Medical Genetics. I received my MMED (med genet) and FCMG in 2014. Since then I have worked at genetic units in Pretoria and Johannesburg before returning to UCT again in 2018.
My research interests include skeletal dysplasia, connective tissue disorders and investigating the clinical utility of genetic testing.
My passion is in clinical work and the majority of my time is spent in clinics seeing patients.
TOPIC Through the looking glass into the mirror
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 08:30 – 09:00
Ms Lizette de Villiers
Qualified teacher and Co-Author of through the looking glass
Lizette qualified as a teacher. She is also a professional graphologist and completed her Honours degree in Psychology at the University of Johannesburg in 2005. She participated in designing and developing Shadowmatch (www.shadowmatch.com) and the business design tool NXTmove (www.nxtmove4ir.com). Lizette is the author and co-author of several publications. The latest publication is Through The Looking Glass Into The Mirror (authors Pieter de Villiers, Lizette de Villiers, and Jan Niemand). This is a book about the future perspectives of business, education, parenting, politics, leadership, and more.
She enjoys sport. She completed two Comrades marathons and represented South Africa at the Duathlon World Championships in France. She plays league golf, and enjoys playing the guitar, piano, and cello. She is fluent in English and Afrikaans and speaks and reads basic French and Russian. She is married to Pieter de Villiers.
TOPIC The ABC of D.R.E.A.M. get ready to Dare, Dream, Deliver with Greatness
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 09:05 – 09:35
Dr Charmaine Jacobs
ABJ Benoni Oncology Centre
Dr Charmaine Jacobs completed her medical studies in 1982 at the University of Free State.
She worked in the Academic Hospital in the Department of Paediatrics for 15 years as Medical Officer in the Paediatric Oncology & Haematology Units. She has a special interest in Fanconi Anemia (FA) with several publications and is a member of the American and European collaboration committee for FA.
From 1998 until 2017 she worked in Private Practice at Unitas Hospital in Pretoria in the Paediatric Oncology / Haematology Unit.
In 2005 she did her Narrative and Pastoral Therapy Certification through UNISA.
In 2010 she enrolled in Intensive Coaching Training through the International Neuroleadership Institute and became an International Certified Life Coach.
In 2013 she obtained her Integrative Medicine Certificate through the Medicine Faculty of the University of Stellenbosch.
Dr Charmaine joined the ABJ Benoni Oncology Centre in July 2017. She is responsible for the Oncology Ward patients at Glynnwood hospital.
She has been actively involved in CANSA, reach for a dream, and CHOC for the last 32 years, as Speaker at Institutions and companies on Cancer awareness, Health, and Wellness initiatives.
She is passionate about caring for the cancer child and adult patient within the context of the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual approach.
She has a daughter who is a qualified doctor working at the NHS in the United Kingdom. Her hobbies are toastmasters and public speaking, leadership, writing, ballroom dancing, reading, working out at the gym and passionate about living a life on Purpose with fulfilment.
TOPIC Mammography: Don’t let cancer creep up on you
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 10:05 – 10:35
Dr Heleen Hannekom
Specialist radiologist in private practice at Drs Burger Radiologists Inc
Dr Heleen Hanekom is a specialist radiologist in private practice at Drs Burger Radiologists Inc in Pretoria.
She received her undergraduate medical degree with distinction from the University of Pretoria and her post graduate degree in radiology from The University of the Witwatersrand and The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.
She has a special interest in breast imaging and a passion for women’s health.
Dr Hanekom believes in a multidisciplinary approach to breast pathology and is part of the Breast Care Group, a multispecialist team focussed on providing individualised and compassionate care to patients, specifically those with breast cancer.
She regularly attends local and international courses and conferences to remain up to date with advances in breast imaging and breast cancer. She has several peer reviewed journal publications, presents at local and international meetings and serves on local oncology advisory boards.
TOPIC Best Practices and IP
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 11:00 – 12:00
Sr Annelie Meiring
Nursing Management Consultant, FPNL
Annelie Meiring is a nursing management consultant and is currently leading projects in both local and international hospital development and management ventures. The support to and development of nursing managers is the focus in dealing with the role players in healthcare projects and this includes the mentoring of new nursing managers and team leaders.
Annelie is an executive committee member of the Forum for Professional Nurse Leaders and has been an active member for 26 years. She was elected in 2014 as a Fellow for the Academy of Nursing of South Africa (ANSA) based on her contribution to nursing scholarship and practise. Her keen interests are nursing management, quality care and nursing education, subsequently the dissertation for her Masters degree was on The Perception of the South African Public of the Image of Nurses.
TOPIC Best Practices and IP
DATE Saturday, 19 Aug 2023
TIME 11:00 – 12:00
Dr Nelouise Geyer
Registered Nurse-Midwife, CEO of NEA, Johannesburg
Dr. Nelouise Geyer is a registered nurse-midwife, tutor and nurse administrator specialised in intensive care nursing. Her experience includes clinical nursing, professional officer and deputy director during the transition of the SA Nursing Association to DENOSA, HIV&AIDS project manager at the Public Services International (PSI) following which she was the National Business Development and Project Manager at Charisma Healthcare Solutions. She currently is the CEO of the Nursing Education Association, sessional lecturer at Wits University and Research Fellow, UNISA. Her current professional involvement includes secretary of the Forum for Professional Nurse Leaders (FPNL), member of the Editorial Board of the Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery (AJNM); Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Africa Nursing Science (IJANS); and a fellow of the Academy of Nursing of South Africa (ANSA). She has published widely and has presented papers at local and international conferences.