NZ RACDS Annual Scientific Meeting

Dr Erin Mahoney is a Specialist Paediatric Dental Consultant at Te Whatu Ora Hutt Valley in Wellington, New Zealand. Erin was awarded her FRACDS(GDP) in 2002 and MRACDS (Paed) in 2008. Erin has worked as a specialist for many years in NZ and Australia and is involved in research and clinical practice. Erin has examined in the Fellowship and Membership for the college for over 9 years, was the Chair of the RACDS NZ Committee for 5 years and served on numerous committees in her role as a board member.

Dr Hadleigh Clark is an Oral Medicine Specialist has worked in varied roles in public hospital dentistry for 20 years in New Zealand and Australia, having been a specialist consultant in Auckland for 7 years and more recently residing in Perth, Western Australia. Hadleigh has clinical interests in oral immune-mediated diseases, oral potentially malignant diseases, neuropathic orofacial pain and the intersection of general and oral health. He holds positions with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (Principal examiner FRACDS (GDP) OSOMOP elective stream; Oral Medicine advisory Consultant and Curriculum Sub-committee Chair), was a previous North Island representative of the New Zealand Society for Hospital & Community Dentistry and was recently inducted as Fellow of the International College of Dentists in May 2025.

Oliver Dugeña is an oral and maxillofacial surgical trainee who has been privileged with a rich career in dentistry and medicine through the University of Otago. His surgical experience has included placements in leading orthognathic and oncology units in the United Kingdom. Oliver has delivered nine presentations at conferences in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and New Zealand, and received an award for his research examining surgeons’ heart-rate responses during operating. Beyond the operating theatre, Oliver is passionate about education, communication and empowering communities in New Zealand and internationally. He has received awards for medical student teaching, dermatology, palliative care, junior doctor awards, contributed to health initiatives in Samoa, served on the National Medical Students Association and authored the Wellington Medical School Guide. Oliver’s ultimate goal is to empower our specialty to serve Aotearoa better and more efficiently.

Dr Suzi Hamilton is an Emergency Medicine Physician with post-graduate certification in professional supervision, currently serving as Clinical Director of medical workforce development in Canterbury, New Zealand. She sits on the executive of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicines workforce wellbeing network and brings hands-on expertise as a trained coach, mediator and debriefer. Suzi teaches on the Emergency Trauma Management and Rural Interdisciplinary Simulation courses and has spoken at multiple medical conferences on wellbeing and leadership development topics. She coaches clinicians across all career stages using a strengths-based, solution-focused approach – and believes that helping someone reach a goal, face a fear, or have that lightbulb moment is one of the best feelings in medicine.

Dr Justine Anderson BDS, DClinDent(Ortho), MOrthRCSEd, MRACDS(Ortho) is a specialist orthodontist from Napier. She completed her orthodontic training in Brisbane, Australia. She works in private practice and consults regularly at Hawkes Bay hospital. She is part of the Cleft Plate team, and her clinical areas of interest are Clear Aligner treatment, orthognathic surgery and management of hypomineralised molars.

Dr Derek Goodisson subspecialised in head and neck oncology and has been actively involved with the National Guidelines Committee for Head and Neck Cancer. He is also an expert adviser to ACC, the Medical Council and the Health and Disability Commissioner. Over the years, he has served as the New Zealand representative on the Asia-Pacific Board, as Chair of the New Zealand Branch of ANZAOMS, and as Junior Councillor and New Zealand representative at board level.

Dr Thomas (Tom) Butchard is a Senior Dental Officer for Te Toka Tumai Auckland. He is a graduate of the University of Otago and completed FRACDS (GDP) in 2012. His main case load is the general dental care of medically complex inpatients/outpatients, and minor oral surgery including treatment under general anaesthesia. Prior to Auckland hospital-based practice, he has worked in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. This included time as a house surgeon in maxillofacial surgery, and work in community and private dental clinics.