NZSG Co-opted Executive members have changed for 2025

Changes to our Trainee Representatives

2024 saw Trainee Representatives Dr Erin Horsfall and Dr Michael Chieng step out of the NZSG Gastroenterology Advanced Trainee programme. Erin and Michael have assisted in bringing a well-rounded programme to the Annual Trainees' Day as well as changes to the monthly training meetings. We wish them well in their careers.

The Trainee Representatives for 2025 are:

Dr Catherine Tian

I grew up in Auckland and am currently based in Christchurch for my first year of Gastroenterology Advanced Training. I am excited to join Andrew as a trainee representative in 2025 and I look forward to working with senior colleagues and fellow trainees to advocate for a collaborative and positive training environment. Outside of work I enjoy travelling and trying new restaurants and cuisines. 

Dr Andrew Thushyanthan

Kia ora koutou, I’m Andrew Thushyanthan and currently based at North Shore Hospital as a second year trainee. I’ve had the privilege of training across both regional and larger centres, and deeply committed to improving the training experience for all our registrars, with a particular focus on ensuring equity and accessibility in education. My aim is to help foster a more structured learning schedule for all trainees and be a sounding board to help support our registrar. I look forward to working with Catherine, the other trainee representative, to attain this goal.

Outside of work, I enjoy playing badminton, travelling, and exploring photography—activities that help me maintain balance and creativity in my personal life.

I’m excited to work together with the committee moving forward with a focus on listening and advocating for our trainees.

Changes to the NZgNC Representative

Merrilee Williams stepped down as the NZgNC President at their AGM held in November. Merrilee's voice and nursing insight was appreciated in her two-years at the NZSG Executive table.

Karen Kempin

Karen is a nurse endoscopist and nurse practitioner employed by Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) at the Hutt Hospital in Wellington.  Karen was born and trained/ worked as a nurse in Australia until 2012 when she moved to Dunedin to take up a position as an Endoscopy Unit Charge Nurse Manager.  Karen started in gastroenterology specialty nursing in 1999 at the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and commenced training to do gastrointestinal endoscopy in 2016 and continued with this role part time until 2021, when she accepted a full time nurse endoscopist position at the Hutt.

Karen's main professional interests are endoscopy training for nurses and doctors in New Zealand and the Pacific region, endoscope reprocessing and workplace training in endoscopy skills for newly employed nurses.

Karen is currently the Chairperson for the NZ Gastroenterology Nurses College and has nurse representative roles for NBSP, ColQAG, and EGGNZ.

Karen and her husband Julius live in the Lower Hutt area and have three adult children living in Brisbane and one child in Dunedin.   Spare time is taken up by house renovations and travel.