Symposium Speakers & Presenters

Eva Fong is a New Zealand-trained urologist specialising in female urology and urogynaecology. She has completed advanced surgical training in New Zealand and the United States, including a fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at NYU Medical Center.  

 

Dr Fong is an internationally recognised expert in the management of complications related to pelvic surgical mesh and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for women affected by these complications. She is committed to enhancing patient safety, optimising treatment outcomes, and advancing surgical techniques for urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders.  

 

As the National Co-Lead of the New Zealand Female Pelvic Mesh Service, she plays a pivotal role in developing national frameworks for surgical safety, specialist care, surgeon training and patient-centred care. Dr Fong is also actively involved in research, clinical audit, and medical education and regularly presents at international conferences.

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Presenting:

- The past present and future of mesh removal surgery 

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- Prolapse repair in mesh removal surgery - staged or concomitant repair 

Hazel Ecclestone is a UK-trained consultant urologist with expertise in female, functional, and reconstructive urology. She completed her fellowship at the Institute of Urology at UCL Hospital in London, gaining subspecialist experience in complex female pelvic reconstruction and functional urology. She now practices in Taranaki at both Taranaki Base Hospital and in private practice, as well as in Auckland with the New Zealand Female Pelvic Mesh Service (NZFPMS). 

  

Dr Ecclestone was credentialled in 2023 as a Tier 3 surgeon under the New Zealand Credentialling Framework for complex mesh removal and was an integral working group member in the operational design of the National Mesh Service, where she has been a foundation member since its inception. She also serves as the Chair of the NZFPMS multidisciplinary meeting (MDM) and the mesh exception MDM, contributing to clinical governance and decision-making for complex cases. 

With a strong academic background, she has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Dedicated to improving outcomes for women with pelvic mesh complications, Miss Ecclestone is committed to advancing surgical techniques and delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. 

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Presenting:

- Urodynamics in pre sling insertion versus in mesh complications 

Dr Haudebert is a urologist in specialist training with a focus on women’s health. She completed her medical education and training in France, earning her degree from Université de Tours Faculté de Médecine and completed her residency in Rennes. Dr Haudebert’s primary areas of interest include urinary incontinence and prolapse in women, for which she is gaining expertise in both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. 

  

Dr Haudebert is concentrating on developing advanced skills in female reconstructive urology, with a particular focus on surgical treatment of vesico-vaginal fistulas and ureteral strictures. Currently, Dr Haudebert is undertaking a surgical fellowship under the mentorship of Dr Eva Fong, specialising in the management of female pelvic mesh complications. 

During her training, Dr Haudebert had the opportunity to work with Professor Benoit Peyronnet, a leading European expert in the management of complications related to synthetic slings, further refining her skills in complex urological care. 

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Presenting:

-  SNM: Use in primary OAB vs mesh related OAB 

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- Robotic AUS in non-mesh vs mesh injured women 

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Holly Stewart holds an MSc in Psychology from the University of Otago. She has experience facilitating Cognitive Stimulation Therapy groups at Alzheimer’s Otago. Previously, she worked as a Pastoral Support Teaching Fellow at the University. Holly is currently a Surgical Mesh Navigator at the New Zealand Female Pelvic Mesh Service in the Southern Hub. 

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Presenting:

- Sexual morbidity in mesh injured women 

Professor Judith Goh is interested in all aspects of female urinary incontinence and pelvic organ/vaginal prolapse. Professor Goh offers women a wide range of surgical and non-surgical options for the management of pelvic dysfunctions including mesh complications. 

Professor Goh has medical qualifications from The University of Queensland and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). She has completed the three-year subspecialty in Urogynaecology (RANZCOG).  

 

Professor Goh has spent a considerable amount of time overseas in developing countries treating women with genital tract fistulae and pelvic floor related problems. She continues to do volunteer work in developing countries. Professor Goh was awarded the AO (Officer of the Order of Australia) for distinguished service to gynaecological medicine, particularly in the field of fistula surgery, and the promotion of rights of women and children in developing countries 

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Presenting:

- How my experience of  fistula repair helps my work managing complex mesh injuries 

Miss Tamsin Greenwell was appointed as a Consultant Urological Surgeon at University College London Hospital (UCLH) in 2002 and has led the 7 Consultant Female, Functional, Reconstructive and Adolescent Urology Unit since 2011. She has been: Postgraduate Tutor in Urology for University College London (UCL), Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS Eng) Raven Tutor in Urology, the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Director of Education, a member of the Intercollegiate Urology SAC (Speciality Advisory Committee), Chair of the Functional, Neuro-Urology and Urodynamics (FNUU) section of BAUS  and a member of the Board of Directors of the AUA Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons (GURS) Section.   

  

Miss Greenwell is currently President of the United Kingdom Continence Society, an examiner for the FRCS (Urol), a member of the EAU Genitourinary Reconstruction Section, the EAU Video-congress Committee, a member of the EAU Urethral Stricture Guidelines Committee and a faculty member of EUREP. 

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Miss Greenwell’s clinical practice is in complex male and female urinary incontinence, male and female urethral stricture, female urethral diverticulum, lower urinary tract reconstruction, urinary tract fistulae and ureteric injury. She continues to have a significant interest in surgical education - in particular skills acquisition. She is a strong proponent of MDT (multi-disciplinary team) working and encourages all team members to maximise their potential. She has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.  

  

In her spare time, she has been married to a Consultant Orthopedic surgeon for more years than she would like to admit and has 2 teenage children – who, by some miracle, remain alive and well. She has a minor shoe addiction. 

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Presenting:

- Fundamental principles of fistula repair for new surgeons - where do I start? 

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- Female Urethral Diverticulum, Female urethroplasty and Female BOO 

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- Bladder augment or cystectomy in neurogenic and mesh patients? 

Dr Janelle Brennan is a highly regarded urological surgeon with subspecialist expertise in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS), incontinence and prolapse, and uro-oncology, including laparoscopic surgery. 

She graduated with honours from the University of Melbourne in 1997 and completed general surgical training at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in General Surgery in 2003. Janelle subsequently undertook two years of dedicated research in the molecular biology of metastatic bladder cancer before commencing urology training in 2006. She became a qualified urological surgeon in 2009, completing a further fellowship in uro-oncology and FPMRS at North Shore Hospital, Auckland. 

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Janelle undertook observerships with internationally recognised leaders in pelvic medicine, Dr Victor Nitti (New York) and Dr Roger Dmochowski (Vanderbilt, Tennessee), deepening her subspecialist knowledge in pelvic floor dysfunction and neuromodulation. 

Since relocating to Bendigo in 2010, Janelle has worked across both public and private sectors in Bendigo Health and maintains a surgical and teaching role at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, where she provides advanced training in sacral neuromodulation. 

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At Bendigo Health, she has led the development of a multidisciplinary FPMRS service and established a recognised fellowship in the field. She has supervised the training of a uro-oncology nurse practitioner and is currently mentoring a nurse practitioner candidate in FPMRS and a GP with a special interest in continence care. 

Outside of her clinical work, Janelle is an enthusiastic golfer and a keen student of food and wine. 

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Presenting:

- The future of primary SUI & POP management in regional centres 

Dr Tse is a consultant urologist based at Concord and Macquarie University Hospitals and is Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney.  

He undertook subspecialty training in Urodynamics, Incontinence and Female urology at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, USA in 2002-2003. His clinical interests include incontinence, sling and artificial urinary sphincter surgery, female pelvic prolapse, robotic surgery, and urethral strictures.  

 

Dr Tse is actively involved in research and teaching and is frequently an invited speaker at national and international meetings on incontinence. He was the scientific co-chair for ICS Melbourne 2021 and for his many years of service in urology and other health jurisdictions, particularly in the field of functional and female urology, he was awarded the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand Medal in 2023, and an Honorary membership by the Urological Association of Asia.

 

Presenting:

- Update on current surgical management of SUI 

Shelley Solomon is a dedicated pelvic health physiotherapist with over 20 years' experience both in New Zealand and internationally. She owns a thriving private practice in Northland, leading a talented team that provides clinics in Whangarei and Kerikeri.  Currently completing a Master’s degree at the University of Otago, Shelley has also completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy from the University of Melbourne. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, both from the University of Otago, and is also a certified Lymphoedema Therapist.  Alongside colleague Sian Beattie, Shelley co-facilitates advanced pelvic health physiotherapy courses through Sands Training NZ, delivering professional development opportunities across the country.  Shelley has been an active committee member of the Pelvic, Women’s, and Men’s Health Special Interest Group of Physiotherapy New Zealand for over 11 years, contributing significantly as the pelvic health physiotherapy representative on much of the surgical mesh initiatives in recent years. 

 

Presenting:

- Physiotherapy for mesh injured patients  

Dr Louise Tomlinson is a specialist gynaecologist with a particular focus in urogynaecology, including the management of maternal birth injury, pelvic floor dysfunction, prolapse, and incontinence. Since graduating from the University of Auckland School of Medicine in 1998, Louise has provided compassionate, expert care to women across a wide range of reproductive health concerns.

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She completed her specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRANZCOG). Louise has worked as a consultant in urogynaecology for over 15 years and currently practises part time at Waitematā Health and in private practice at One Six One Gillies Avenue. 

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In addition to her local clinical work, Louise is committed to global women’s health, contributing annually to outreach programmes in the Pacific and supporting a fistula camp in Uganda.

 

 

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Sally is an inspiring dedicated advocate for women, whose remarkable efforts have driven fundamental changes in the health care sector - raising awareness around the impact of severe surgical mesh injuries. After suffering enormous, significant complications due to her own surgical mesh implants, Sally has influenced health professionals, government entities, and NGOs to prioritise patient safety and wellbeing.  

Her courage in sharing her own story has helped prevent others from suffering similar experiences. In Addition to her advocacy work, she voluntarily manages a health and disability support network comprising 92 women who, like her, have faced similar challenges. Sally's relentless determination and the positive impact she has made on patient care have earned her numerous accolades, to a point where in August 2023 it was announced that all mesh surgeries would be halted in New Zealand because of safety concerns.  

Even now, Sally's impactful work continues to leave its mark, resonating with women worldwide who seek her assistance. 

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Presenting:

- The mesh-injured patient experience: When cystectomy becomes inevitable 

Professor Hannah Krause AO is a specialist Urogynaecologist based in Brisbane, practising at Greenslopes Private Hospital, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital and the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service on the Gold Coast. 

Her clinical expertise includes the management of pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, and recurrent urinary tract infections.  

Professor Krause is also an experienced medical volunteer, regularly undertaking self-funded surgical outreach in low-resource settings across Africa and Asia. Her volunteer work focuses on the treatment of genital tract fistula and pelvic organ prolapse, as well as capacity-building through the training of local gynaecologists. 

She holds a PhD from Griffith University, where her research explored pelvic floor dysfunction and its social and mental health impacts following childbirth-related injuries in women from Eastern and Central Africa. A widely published clinician-researcher, Professor Krause brings both global insight and local expertise to her work. 

She is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care and advancing the field of pelvic reconstructive surgery through clinical practice, research, and education.

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Presenting:

- Complex Fistula repair - What is complex and when should I refer to an expert? 

Dr Bahren is a urology registrar at Taranaki DHB and is medical school graduate from the University of Auckland. Dr Bahren’s current clinical and research interests focus on urinary morbidity following pelvic mesh removal, particularly in the context of mesh-related injuries in women.

 

Dr Bahre has published on the diagnostic utility of flexible cystoscopy in microscopic haematuria and is contributing to broader discussions on urological outcomes in complex pelvic reconstructive care.

 

Originally from Malaysia, Dr Bahren balances his clinical and academic commitments with creative outlets, including baking and learning to crochet.

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Presenting:

-Urinary morbidity in mesh injured women 

Dr Buzz Burrell is a highly experienced general practitioner and pain medicine specialist whose career spans diverse rural, remote, and urban health settings across New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. 

Originally trained as a general physician in Derbyshire after graduating from St George's Hospital Medical School in London in 1986, Dr Burrell emigrated to New Zealand as a respiratory research fellow and lecturer for the University of Otago, where he was voted Lecturer of the Year in 1993. His one-year sabbatical in rural hospital medicine evolved into eight years based in Reefton on the West Coast, with periodic service in the Chatham Islands. This was followed by four years in remote Western Australia as a solo ‘bush doctor’ serving a mining town and two Aboriginal communities. 

Dr Burrell established a semi-rural general practice in Renwick near Blenheim and served as the GP with a special interest in chronic pain for Nelson. He was also a regional coordinator and senior lecturer for the University of Otago’s Rural Medical Immersion Programme before relocating to Auckland full time in 2020. 

He is a Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners examiner, former Chair of the College’s Rural Chapter, and currently serves as interim Chair of General Practitioners Aotearoa. He completed his training in pain medicine in Auckland and now practices part time as a Senior Medical Officer with the Auckland Regional Pain Service. 

Dr Burrell has published on asthma, COPD, and a broad range of primary care topics, and has served as an advisor to the Ministry of Health on multiple committees. His clinical approach is thorough, evidence-informed, and supported by a trusted professional network, ensuring the delivery of contemporary and comprehensive care. 

Outside of medicine, Dr Burrell is a father to three daughters, an enthusiastic but self-confessed slow ocean swimmer, a Harley-Davidson rider, and a recent half-marathon finisher. He enjoys good company and the occasional glass of Shiraz. He was named Runner-Up New Zealander of the Year in 1997.

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Presenting:

- Drugs & Chronic pain - Why they don’t work and what we should do instead?