Guest Speakers
Dr Tony Fernando MD, PHD
Psychiatrist, sleep specialist, and former Buddhist monk, Dr. Tony Fernando’s life journey is anything but ordinary.
Born in the Philippines, he began his medical career at the University of the Philippines before training in psychiatry and sleep medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Now based in Aotearoa, Tony has long held dual roles as a consultant psychiatrist and sleep physician, while becoming a beloved senior lecturer at the University of Auckland, where his teaching excellence has earned more than a dozen student-nominated awards.
Tony is uniquely qualified as Australasia’s only psychiatrist formally trained in insomnia, and he has developed a strong reputation as a medico-legal advisor in sleep-related violence. His contributions to the medical profession have been recognised internationally. In 2012, he was honoured by the President of the Philippines for services to sleep medicine and education, and in 2015 received the Chair’s Award from the New Zealand Medical Association for his groundbreaking work on physician wellbeing.
His fascination with compassion led to a PhD focused on why doctors lose empathy, and he has since become a leader in the field, publishing widely and organising national conferences on the role of compassion in healthcare. His research is deeply informed by his lived experience—Tony has been ordained as a Buddhist monk in both Myanmar and New Zealand, practices that shaped his understanding of kindness, presence, and human connection.
That lived wisdom inspired his bestselling book Life Hacks from the Buddha (HarperCollins, 2024), a modern guide to Buddhist psychology. Off the page, Tony walks his talk—he spent three years volunteering weekly at Mt Eden Correctional Facility, teaching mindfulness and emotional resilience, and continues this work with inmates in Manila. During New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdowns, he recorded meditations for prisoners locked in their cells for 23 hours a day.
Beyond his professional world, Tony has faced personal fears with trademark humility and humour. Terrified of deep water, he learned to ocean swim and has crossed Auckland Harbour multiple times, even participating in Ironman relay events. His stories, whether from hospitals, monasteries, or prisons, are filled with heart and humour, always pointing toward a simple truth: a more compassionate, balanced, and joyful life is possible.
Dr Kate Stannage
Dr Kate Stannage is a consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Perth Children’s Hospital, specializing in neuromuscular conditions and 3D gait analysis. With over a decade of leadership experience, she has served as Head of the Orthopaedic Department and is currently director of the Cerebral Palsy Mobility Service.
Kate has made significant contributions to the Australian orthopaedic community through her numerous leadership roles. She is a former President of the Australian Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (APOS) and has held key positions on the AOA WA Executive Committee, the WA Regional Training Committee, and the AOA Accreditation Committee. Currently, she chairs the AOA Orthopaedic Women’s Link (OWL) and serves on both the AOA Board and Federal Training Committee. Additionally, she is a member of the Court of Examiners for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).
A strong advocate for global health, Kate is the coordinator of the Australian Doctors for Africa clubfoot programme. Since 2014, she has been instrumental in establishing Ponseti treatment clinics in Madagascar and Somaliland.
Kate’s leadership extends beyond clinical practice. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she has served as a non-Executive Director at Curtin University and supported several not-for-profit organizations, including Orthopaedic Outreach. Her outstanding contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades such as the Women and Leadership Australia Excellence in Women’s Leadership Award (WA), the AOA Leadership Award, and the RACS Outstanding Service to the Community Award.
Kyla Matenga
Kyla Matenga is an orthopaedic trainee who is passionate about physical health, her strong Māori and Pasifika roots, and supporting women to take up space and step into leadership.
She believes that maintaining physical fitness and a strong sense of personal identity is essential for long-term performance and wellbeing in medicine. Through her own experience balancing early-morning training with the demands of busy hospital life, Kyla enjoys sharing practical strategies to help junior doctors stay healthy, motivated, and grounded throughout surgical training.
Dr Sarah Hunter
Dr Sarah Hunter is an orthopaedic trainee and clinical training fellow with the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC).
She blends academics and surgery with a strong focus on paediatric orthopaedic infection, aiming to lessen the inequitable burden of disease experienced by Māori and Pacific children in NZ. In addition, she enjoys teaching and mentorship of junior doctors, demystifying the research process for those who are keen to get involved.
