National Collaborative for Restorative Initiatives in Healthcare / Heath Quality Safety Commission; New Zealand 

Heather is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years’ experience in the Health Sector. She currently works as a District Nurse at Nelson Marlborough District Health Board. Since the tragic death of her 15year old son 9 years ago following an appendectomy, she has looked towards ways in which our Health System can better deal with and learn from such tragedies from both a family and staff point of view. She continues to share this experience with Hospitals and Nursing Schools to prevent future harm and improve how families are responded to after an adverse event. She is also a member of the Perioperative Medicine Steering Committee for the ANZCA and a consumer voice on the National Collaborative for Restorative Initiatives in Healthcare. It is her passion to create better Health Care through communication and collaboration.