2025 Speakers

Jenny Cavanagh

MACN CNC

Jenny is an experienced wound care specialist with a background in generalist nursing from the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney. Her passion for wound care began during a rotation in the Burns Unit, leading her to attend the first-ever H.E.M.I intensive wound care course.

She has held leadership roles with Wounds Australia (NSW), the Wound Care Association of NSW, and the Australian & New Zealand Burns Association. A sought-after speaker, Jenny has presented nationally and internationally and won the first ever British Burns Nurses Prize. She has contributed to published books and industry guidelines and led award-winning healthcare innovations.

For 23 years, Jenny has worked in community healthcare, advocating for best-practice wound care. Outside of work, she enjoys skiing and volunteering with the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Jake Abbott

Clinical Psychology Registrar

Jake adopts a holistic perspective, recognising the profound impact that physical health can have on mental health, and vice versa.

With a specific interest in trauma, Jake is interested in the intricate relationship between physical and mental well-being and has extensive experience working with diverse demographics, including young people, families facing significant crises, and adults dealing with various presenting problems.

Jake has completed advanced training in EMDR, contributed to ACU’s Undergraduate Psychology program through various teaching roles and has a particular interest in working with first responders.

Dr Joanne Lawrence

RN PhD

Dr Joanne Lawrence is the Director of NCAAS a private provider of Continence, Wound, Stoma and HEN Services. She has a diverse clinical and academic work history, strongly influenced by her interest in Autism, Global Intellectual Delay and Neurological Disabilities.

Joanne holds two post graduate degrees the first, A research master’s in Rehabilitation Education which explored the provision of community-based healthcare to women with intellectual and physical disabilities. The second, a PhD from the University of Sydney’s School of Medicine which explored neurological bowel and bladder dysfunction experienced by people with a degenerative neurological disease.

Joanne’s research has been recognised by the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Association’s as “Excellence in Clinical Nursing Research”. She has authoured four Nursing textbooks, is an active Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and has served as the NSW President and National Vice-President of the Continence Nurse Society Australia.