Wounds Australia at EWMA 2024
Wednesday, 8 May 2024
This month, our CEO Jeff Antcliff travelled to London to represent Wounds Australia at the European Wound Management Association Conference, and here he shares an update.

It was a great pleasure to attend EWMA this year, to meet with our international counterparts, industry partners and – most importantly – so many of our valued members.

I was delighted to be invited to update the EWMA Executive Committee on recent developments in our organisation, including: 
  • Recent Board and Executive appointments, including my own
  • Our soon-to-be-published Strategic Plan
  • The Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme grant win to run a consumer awareness campaign
  • Plans for a supercharged Wound Awareness Week 2024
  • The Wounds Australia 2024 Conference, at which EWMA President-elect Prof Dr Dimitri Beeckman, and immediate past President Prof Dr Sebastian Probst, are keynote speakers.
I also attended a meeting of representative bodies of the International Wound Infection Institute and was interested to hear very similar challenges and opportunities being expressed, despite significant geographical and cultural differences.

I was pleased to meet senior leaders at so many of our generous industry partners, including Smith + Nephew, Hartmann, Solventum and Mölnlycke, and valued the time I was able to spend with these incredible Wounds Australia members: Cathy Kindness (2024 Conference Committee Member), Assoc Prof Christina Parker (Chair of our Research Committee) and Prof Keryln Carville (Wounds Australia’s representative on the VLUG Committee and PPPIA Chair).

And last but not least, I managed to attend several fascinating conference sessions!

Highlights were:
  • Wounds Australia member Dr Peta Tehan on challenges for healthcare professionals in the aged care context. As well as being a personal highlight, the event was very well attended.
  • 2024 Conference Committee Deputy Chair Hayley Ryan delivering an insightful look at the experience of individuals living with chronic wounds and the profound physical, emotional and social impacts.
  • ‘The Ultimate Patient Outcome Showdown: Live Wound Care “Boxing”’ Championships – Surgeon vs Nurse Finals. Despite the dramatic title, I’m pleased to say no clinicians were wounded during this event – a themed review of the treatment of complex cases by Rebecca Auburn, President of the NZ Wound Care Society, and Vascular Surgeon Mark Portou. I believe Rebecca won the round in what was a very close vote.
It was a privilege to represent Wounds Australia’s dedicated members on an international stage and I learned a great deal, built valuable new connections and strengthened existing bonds.
 
Jeff Antcliff, Wounds Australia CEO