Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference (ACPIC25)
ACPIC 2025 delivered a wide range of clinical and research sessions from experts and leaders in paramedicine. Hosted in Brisbane (September 2025) the program was designed to inspire, educate and broaden horizons.
Conference theme: Foundations to future: Advancing paramedicine
Opening Keynote Presentation - From Response to Responsibility: The journey to Chief Paramedic and Beyond
Join Chief Paramedic Shell Piercy as she shares her inspiring journey from ships medic to a leading voice in paramedicine. Shell will reflect on the pivotal lessons learned throughout her career and how they shape her leadership today. She will touch on her current role and how it is involved in shaping the future of paramedicine by building on the fundamentals of paramedic practice.. This keynote promises valuable insights into resilience, innovation, and the evolving scope of paramedicine.
Biography: Shell Piercy
Shell Piercy serves as the Chief Paramedic Officer for the Northern Territory - only the second such position established in Australasia. She is also notably the second female to hold this prestigious role. With a distinguished career spanning paramedicine and nursing, Shell’s leadership is shaped by decades of hands-on clinical experience in pre-hospital, emergency, military, wilderness, remote, and urgent care settings across Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. Her expertise includes rural and remote healthcare, trauma, and resuscitation, developing nation ambulance and rescue, disaster medicine, complemented by significant roles as an executive, educator, clinical leader, research assistant, and consultant.
Shell’s academic achievements include a Bachelor of Nursing from Massey University, a Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedicine from Auckland University of Technology, and postgraduate study in research, emergency nursing, paramedicine, and business. Her commitment to advancing the profession is evident in her strategic vision for integrating paramedics into multidisciplinary healthcare teams and expanding their scope beyond traditional ambulance services, particularly in remote communities.
Personally, Shell is the sole parent to two adult sons, each following their passions in the world. Her passions include travel, outdoor pursuits, and adventures to distant lands, often at the intersection of remote work, adventure, and spending time with the kids. Family holidays often involve taking on volunteer work in developing nations.
Shell is driven by a passion to make meaningful change and improve patient outcomes, drawing on her dual backgrounds in nursing and paramedicine. She is recognized for her collaborative approach, dedication to professional development, and advocacy for qualitative, patient-centred care.
Moderator: Sherlyn Hii, Conference MC and Paramedic, Ambulance Victoria and Registered Nurse, Grampians Health
The College is the peak professional body representing and supporting paramedics and student paramedics across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand since 1973.
The College acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land and sea in which we live and work, we recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and culture and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.
We recognise the unique role of Māori as Tangata Whenua and embrace Te Tiriti o Waitangi, recognising Māori as tino rangatiratanga of Aotearoa New Zealand while supporting the guiding principles of Te Tiriti – Tino rangatiratanga, Equality, Active protection, Options, and Partnership.
