Thanks to long term supporter Mundipharma we are delighted to confirm the three international speakers who will be attending our conference in November.
Donna Wilson is a Registered Nurse, with a full-time tenured (continuing) position as Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. She also works part-time as a casual staff nurse in a large local acute-care hospital to remain current in health care and nursing practice.
Her education includes a 3-year diploma in nursing from the Royal Alexandra Hospital School of Nursing in Edmonton (1976), a Baccalaureate in Nursing degree from the University of Alberta (1981), a Master of Science in Nursing degree majoring in Gerontology and Health Care Management from the University of Texas at Austin (1985), and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Administration from the University of Alberta (1993). She has worked as a staff nurse, nursing supervisor, hospital administrator, nurse educator, and health researcher in Alberta, British Columbia, New Zealand, Texas, and Northern Ireland.
Her program of research focuses on health services utilization and health policy, although primarily in relation to aging, ageism, and end-of-life care. Her research often involves large population databases and increasingly mixed-methods research to incorporate qualitative and quantitative understandings.
Eugene Murray is Chief Executive of The Irish Hospice Foundation and has led the organisation in a number of projects that have had substantial impact on hospice care in Ireland.
They have undertaken major leadership projects in the following areas:
Advocacy and development
Bereavement Services
Paediatric Palliative Care
Creating a sustainable Research and Education infrastructure
Hospice Friendly Hospitals - a major change programme operating in 41 hospitals
Palliative Care for All - extending beyond cancer
Supporting Carers - click here to visit their website
Eugene was formerly a member of the Executive Board of RTE ,(Ireland's Public Service Broadcaster) where he held a number of senior management posts, including Head of Television Current Affairs, Director of Business Planning and Director of Digital Media.
He has worked in consulting in the software and telecommunications sectors and a partner in a property company.
In his earlier career with the national broadcasting service - RTE, Eugene worked as a producer in radio and television. He was Editor of the flagship TV current affairs programme, Today Tonight.
Eugene is a Board Member of the leading national radiotherapy centre St Lukes Hospital, where he also serves on the internal audit committee. He is a member of the Medical Consultants Appointments Advisory Committee. He previously served as Chairman of the Governing Body of Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology - the National Film School. He is a former Chairman of both Arthouse and The Broadband Factory. Eugene also served as a Member of the Information Society Commission, where chaired the sub-group on Telecommunications Infrastructure.
Dr Bee Wee, originally from Malaysia, qualified at Trinity College, Dublin. She trained in general practice and palliative medicine in Ireland, and spent three years as Medical Officer at Bradbury Hospice, Hong Kong.
In 1995 she returned to UK where she became Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Palliative Medicine at Southampton and Deputy Director of Education at Southampton University Medical School.
In 2003, she moved to Oxford as Consultant and Senior Clinical Lecturer in Palliative Medicine, Head of WHO Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care, and Associate Director of Clinical Studies (Medical School) and Fellow of Harris Manchester College, Oxford University. She was elected Honorary MRCGP in 2002, Honorary MRCP in 2006 and FRCP in 2008. In 2007 she was awarded a distinction in her MA Education for her dissertation on educational leadership. She received a Teaching Excellence Award from Oxford University and her book, "Education in Palliative Care: Building a Culture of Learning", was published by Oxford University Press in 2007.
In 2009, the UK Department of Health appointed her as National Clinical Lead for developing e-learning for end-of-life care (e-ELCA). This was launched in January 2010 and provides 132 e-learning sessions, free of charge, to 2.5 million health and social care workers in UK. In 2010, she began her three-year term as President of the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland.
Her academic interests include fatigue, end of life care and educational research. In her spare time, she walks, punts, cooks and enjoys the many pleasures of Oxford!