Board of Directors

Belinda Gabbe – President

I am the Head of the Prehospital, Emergency and Trauma Research Unit in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University and hold an Honorary Professorial appointment in the Health Data Research UK Institute at Swansea University (UK). My research focuses on evaluating trauma care, trauma systems research, and improving understanding of how well people recover from their injuries, and how we measure the burden of injury. I have published extensively in trauma research, injury prevention, and road safety, with more than 340 published peer-review papers, which have been cited >29,000 times. I have an exceptional track record in research leading to change in practice and policy.

Melissa Webb – Treasurer

Melissa has over 20 years of clinical practice in Trauma Physiotherapy at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where she currently works as the Allied Health Team Leader in Trauma and Orthopaedics. She has been integral in the development of a specialised trauma physiotherapy service at the Alfred and has provided consultation to other services who wish to develop a similar model of care. Within her current role she has assisted in the development and co-ordination of a specialised allied health workforce providing an intensive therapy model of care for acute trauma and orthopaedic patients. Melissa has completed a Masters in Health Science, Graduate Certificate in Burn and Trauma Rehabilitation and a number of dedicated trauma professional development courses. She has also completed a clinical fellowship analysing the practice of physiotherapists in major trauma centres in the US, Germany and Switzerland. Her special interests include chest trauma management, trauma models of care and the role of physiotherapy and allied health within the acute trauma multidisciplinary team.

Kat Quick – Secretary

Kat is a physiotherapist and is the major trauma rehabilitation clinical lead at Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission in Aotearoa New Zealand. She leads the national-level work programme that focuses on optimising early rehabilitation, improving the transition to home for people with major trauma, and integrating allied health expertise into trauma services. Kat has over 19 years of clinical experience in trauma rehabilitation, ranging across the patient journey from acute to community settings.

Tim Andrews

I have been a paramedic with Ambulance Victoria for nearly 20 years, gaining extensive experience across both regional and metropolitan Victoria. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD with Monash University, focusing on improving metropolitan trauma systems to enhance the quality of prehospital care for major trauma patients. My research aims to identify more effective strategies for managing trauma in the critical early phases. Additionally, as the Course Director for the Master of Critical Care Paramedicine, I have the privilege of teaching and mentoring the next generation of critical care paramedics, imparting essential knowledge and skills in trauma care, grounded in both clinical practice and contemporary research.

Clare Collins

I have been the Trauma Program Manager at the Royal Hobart Hospital since its infancy in 2018. I have worked collaboratively to establish the Tasmania’s trauma service and feel passionate about clinical redesign.

I have 20-years’ experience in intensive care setting, organ donation and trauma care and hold a post graduate certificate in critical care, a graduate diploma of teaching and a master’s in nursing.

I enjoy change management and feel passionate about creating system change for Tasmania and its community. As a leader, I enjoy working with others and inspiring them to achieve excellence in trauma care.

Zsolt Balogh

I am a Trauma Surgeon and scientist with broad based clinical skills after my training in top trauma centres of the world and I practiced trauma care in Europe, United States of America and Australia. I have over 16 years of experience as the Director of Trauma at John Hunter Hospital, which is the highest volume trauma centre in NSW. My academic appointment is at the University of Newcastle as Professor of Surgery and Traumatology. I am a leading trauma researcher (Google scholar H-index: 60, citations: 19,500) and based on The Australian’s “Report of Science” I am the top scientist in “Emergency Medicine” category in 2020. Fifteen years ago I established the trauma curriculum at University of Newcastle and during the last 6 years I have been running the Master of Traumatology postgraduate program for trauma interested clinicians from paramedics, nurses, defence force personnel, allied health professions, critical care physicians, and surgeons through to rehabilitation experts with 120 enrolments per year.

Savitha Bhagvan

Dr Savitha Bhagvan is a Trauma, Acute care and General Surgeon working at Auckland City hospital since 2018. Savitha has completed her post Fellowship training in trauma Surgery at Westmead Hospital, Sydney. She is a committee member of Northern Regional Trauma network and a board member of Australian & New Zealand Trauma Society. Her special interest is in management of chest trauma and is actively involved in the Surgical Stabilization of Rib fracture programme at ACH. She is instructor for EMST & DSTC.

Jenny Santosh

As Acting Nursing Director of National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre’s (NCCTRC) Trauma Service based at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital (RDPH)- NT Health, I bring over 24 years of diverse nursing experience, advanced leadership in trauma care, and a deep commitment to advancing trauma systems across Australia and New Zealand. With expertise in clinical governance, quality improvement, and stakeholder engagement, I have played a pivotal role in shaping NT-wide trauma services and contributing to national trauma networks. My active involvement in research, injury prevention, and professional development underscores my dedication to improving trauma care standards and fostering a culture of safety and innovation

Grant Christey

BSc(Hons) MBChB FRACS FACS

General Surgeon and Trauma Specialist. Head of Trauma Department, Waikato Hospital. Director of Te Manawa Taki Trauma System (TMTTS). Honorary Associate Professor in Surgery, University of Auckland. NZ National Delegate of International Surgical Society

Grant is a general surgeon and trauma specialist in Hamilton New Zealand. His primary roles are Head of Trauma Department at Waikato Hospital, A level one trauma facility in New Zealand, and clinical lead of the Te Manawa Taki, formerly Midland Trauma System. He is an Honorary Associate Professor in Surgery at the University of Auckland, Waikato Clinical Campus. He leads the Te Manawa Taki Trauma Research Centre and has commitments to a range of internal and external agencies dedicated to the welfare of the community.

Clare Swanson

Clare Swanson is a Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist at Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty, bringing more than 30 years of emergency nursing experience across New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Originally from a farm in rural Taranaki, on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Clare’s career has taken her around the world. She has worked in emergency departments in New Zealand and the UK and spent time as a nurse on cruise ships based out of the United States. Her personal travels have also taken her through the UK, Europe, the Middle East, India, Indonesia, South Africa and many more countries, broadening her appreciation for diversity.

After returning to New Zealand in 2002, Clare settled in Bay of Plenty with its beautiful beaches and worked as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator in the Tauranga Emergency Department. Since 2018, she has been in her current role as a Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist, who, along with the team has been leading and supporting trauma service development for the region. Her work focuses on improving trauma systems, trauma education, enhancing patient follow-up and ensuring equitable access to high-quality care for all trauma patients.

Michael Handy

Michael Handy is an Endorsed Nurse Practitioner currently working as the Assistant Nursing Director within the Trauma Service at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. He obtained his undergraduate degree in nursing at Queensland University of Technology and has subsequently completed his Graduate Certificate in Critical Care and a Masters of Nursing Science (Nurse Practitioner). Michael comes from a back ground of Emergency and Trauma Nursing from the United Kingdom, Brunei and Australia.

Adam Mahoney

Adam Mahoney has been a member of the board since 2021. Adam is an anaesthetist in the Australian Defence Force and also serves as Director of Trauma at Royal Hobart Hospital. He currently chairs the ATS Registry Committee and he has research interests in trauma epidemiology, trauma system evaluation and medical education.

Michael Steenson

28 years as Emergency RN, CNS & CNE at Lismore Base Hospital.
NNSW LHD Trauma CNC since October 2020 to present.
ITIM Education Committee 2016-2023
ITIM Clinical Review Committee 2023 to present.
CENA Member
ANZTS Member.
CENA Trauma Nurse Program Instructor

Kate Dale

Kate is a Trauma and Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) with 28 years of experience spanning
remote-area, emergency, and trauma nursing. She serves as the Nursing Lead for the Trauma
Service at Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) and played a pivotal role in establishing the
service in 2013. Under her leadership, the service has achieved two successful RACS verifications.
Kate also implemented the NP-led Trauma Connect Clinic at GCUH —the first clinic of its kind in
Queensland — and has published outcomes demonstrating its impact. She is deeply committed to
advancing the Trauma NP role and supporting its development at a national level.