Dr Bryony Simcock

Bryony is a gynae oncologist and clinical researcher, and has worked in Otautahi for the hospital and University for 17 years. She also works in the Pacific as part of a programme establishing gynae oncology. Bryony is involved in many trials nationally, internationally and locally and believes that research and inspiring others is the key to improving care and outcomes for all of us.

Dr Kate Eggleston

Kate is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch. She works clinically as a Consultation Liaison Psychiatrist. Kate's research interests include biological, hormonal and cognitive aspects of mood disorders, women's mental health and consultation liaison psychiatry. 

Dr Giovanni Losco

Giovanni is an adult and paediatric urologist from Christchurch, New Zealand. He completed fellowship training in paediatric urology at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and gained extensive experience in reconstructive urology, female urology, pelvic organ prolapse, mesh complications, urethroplasty and urological care of spinal injuries while working at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and the Institute of Urology, University College Hospital, London. Prior to that, he worked at Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Sydney where he focussed on bladder dysfunction with a particular interest in male and female incontinence as well as mesh removal surgery.

In 2018 he was awarded a Travelling Fellowship where he spent time in the USA operating with world-leading surgeons in erectile dysfunction: Dean Knoll (Nashville, Tennessee) and Brian Christine (Birmingham, Alabama). Before leaving New Zealand, Giovanni undertook his post-graduate training in Christchurch, Wellington and Palmerston North.

Alongside maintaining an interest in general urology in both adults and children, Giovanni holds a number of leadership positions: National Co-lead, New Zealand Female Pelvic Mesh Service; Clinical Director of Urology, Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury; Chair, NZ Urology Clinical Directors’ Group; Director, Urology Associates; Trustee, Canterbury Urology Research Trust; Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Otago, Christchurch; Examiner in Urology, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons; Prevocational Educational Supervisor, Medical Council of New Zealand; Clinical Lead for Urology, Te Whatu Ora South Canterbury; Consultant Urologist, Burwood Spinal Unit; and sits on a number of ACC and Ministry of Health committees concerning reducing harm from surgical mesh.

Speakers: Men's health in mid-life

Professor Mark Richards

Cardiologist. Founder and co-director, Christchurch Heart Institute, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. Professor in Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch. Chair of Cardiovascular Studies for the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand. 

Interests - neurohumoral circulatory control. Pioneered the application of natriuretic peptide tests in management of heart failure. Leader of observational and interventional clinical studies in coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and heart failure. Author of over 900 peer-reviewed articles published in cardiovascular, general medicine, hypertension, clinical chemistry and endocrinology journals since 1983.