Passing on the NZSG President's Badge

Posted Sunday December 15, 2024

At our 2024 Annual General meeting we said farewell to Professor Catherine Stedman who stepped down as our President these past two years. Catherine has been a member of the Executive since 2021 and has assisted in the creation of our inaugural Strategic Plan, the creation of Working Groups and Networks, and has focused her last year as President on:

Strengthening Governance with changes to the NZSG Constitution (rules) and inaugural By-Laws in preparation for reapplication as an incorporated society as part of changes to the NZ Incorporated Societies Act 2022. Looking at and mitigating risks by creating set policies and procedures with a focus on cost reductions and better efficiencies where possible.
Ensuring expenditures are in line with the Societies strategic initiatives and contracts do not disadvantage the positive financial position we are in.
Advocating for better medications for the communities we serve through submissions on the Shingrix vaccination funding to Pharmac, and to the NZ Medical Council on a draft proposal about “Treating yourself and those close to you”, with significant changes to the final document. As well as carefully balanced statement provided to media about hyper mobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
Networking with an opportunity to speak at the Internal Medicine Organization of the Pacific (iMOP) Scientific Meeting on Pacific Gut Health in Fiji, hearing firsthand of the impact the ANSGITA team have in the Pacific and considering opportunities for ongoing collaboration.

Catherine will remain on the Executive for 2025 working closely with our new President Professor Andrew Day over the first few months to ensure continuity to our members and assisting with the reapplication to Incorporated Society status.

Andrew has been an active member of the Executive since 2019 and leaves the Office Bearer role of Secretary to take on the President role. Andrew has revised the research portfolio of the Society and is currently helping to convene the Superstars of IOBD to be hosted by NZSG in Aotearoa in 2025.

Andrew will meet with the new Executive in February 2025 to assign leads, consider key initiatives for 2025 and share his plans for his two-year tenure.