In October 2020, ACP was pleased to deliver our first fully online and interactive paramedic conference. The conference attracted over 1100 attendees, 60 speakers and 36 sessions.

Panel Members: Assoc. Prof. Alan Eade, Paul Gowens & David Waters

Join our panel session and hear the experts discuss:

• What is, or is there a plan for accreditation of ambulance services against the NSQHS?

• Is there a need for a Commonwealth chief paramedic (similar to the chief medical officer and chief nursing and midwifery officer)?

• Paramedicine in Australia has undergone considerable change in the last decade. What are some of the lessons learned from the UK, and what do you see paramedics doing in the next decade?

Biographies:

Assoc. Prof. Alan Eade - Whilst he is the senior paramedic professional voice for government, he is also part of the chief clinical officers leading quality and safety activities across the health system. Alan was an active proponent of registration and has a passion for the profession and its advancement across the spectrum of healthcare. His professional interest is around substance use and the provision of person centred out of hospital care.  Alan holds an adjunct Associate Professor appointment at Monash University, is a Fellow of Australasian College of Paramedicine, and received the Ambulance Service Medal (2009) for his work around substance use and education of clinicians about acute management of substance use harms.

Paul Gowens - With almost 30 years’ experience within a national ambulance, Paul has fulfilled several key roles from an operational paramedic through to his current strategic leadership role.  Most recently within the Scottish Ambulance Service, he operates as Lead Consultant Paramedic, the most senior paramedic in the service and the Innovation Development Programme Director. As well as being a Fellow of the College of Paramedics he also takes up post as non-doctor Vice Chair, of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh in October this year. A visiting professor at Robert Gordon University and PhD scholar at Monash university, he passionately maintains his clinical practice and is a RAF Medic (Paramedic) with 612 Sqd RAFAAF. In 2019 Paul was honoured in the New Year’s honours list with the Queens Ambulance Medal.

David Waters - David is a Registered Nurse and a graduate of the Victoria University Business School in Wellington and Darden University in Virginia. David is an experienced Chief Executive and Director. He is passionate about health and education and growing the skills of the workforce. Having worked in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, David has wide senior commercial and NGO not-for-profit experience and extensive experience in the management of associations and health services including the public, private and aged care sectors. David also has key strengths in quality and risk management, education philosophy and pedagogy, 21st century learning practices and developing authentic learning experiences. David lives in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand with his wife Cathy and three sons.