2025: LIONZ roared in Dunedin! 
The pride gathered June 7&8 at the Fable Hotel - again there was over 100 delegates plus approx 30 reps from our 10 industry supporters. CLICK HERE for the blog & CLICK HERE for the full photo gallery.
This year we were able to get 5 student/HO attendance sponsorships  - click the links below for their personal accounts

Mikayla Williams: Te Rau Oranga Fund
Pua Lavulo: Medtronic
Eloise Mowbray: LIONZ + Medtronic
Sydney Clough: LIONZ



1 March 2025 LIONZ & Ngā Rata Kōiwi marked the fellowship of the first two Māori female orthopaedic surgeons in NZ. For blog CLICK HERE
 

LIONZ 2024 in Auckland
And the momentum just keeps growing! This year there were a 100 delegates, 50 of them medical students.
Thank you to all our sponsors & colleagues for your support in making this another memorable meeting.
You can see a gallery of the meeting at this link.
This year industry partners sponsored three med students attendance - click on their names for insights into their experiences & thoughts. Libby Holdaway,  Juliette Newman & Sam Summerfield.
 

LIONZ 2023 in Wellington
There's a gallery of this amazing opportunity to share, learn & catch up at this link 
The number of subscribed male LIONZ Society members is growing rapidly every year. We also need our male colleagues assistance & support at the annual forums...please come to the next one!
Education, teaching & connection combine in an endorphin boosting experience that challenges & engages in a dynamic fun atmosphere.  Student Claire Ma recounts her LIONZ Forum experience at this link 

LIONZ 2022 in Christchurch ( with OWLS!)
Gallery from the LIONZ 2022 meeting at this link 

LIONZ are committed to supporting female surgeons, breaking down barriers, promoting diversity and being advocates for cultural change.

LIONZ events feature practical workshops, support networking and mentoring while also creating opportunities for our female registrars to take a leading role in teaching and inspiring future surgeons.

In 2019 LIONZ became part of the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance (IODA) an international collaboration advocating for gender and cultural diversity in orthopaedics across the globe. It has been a stimulating and thought-provoking entity to be involved with and we look forward to sharing information and ideas with this group & others such as OWL in Australia or WOW.

Orthopaedics is sometimes still regarded as a specialty requiring body bulk, so by sharing our stories and shining a light on the highs & lows - we can be agents for meaningful change and hopefully inspire female medical students, HO's & registrars to explore orthopaedics as a rewarding option. Need a nudge? Check out the insightful blogs - links higher by relevant conference year

LIONZ - Better Than Bond!

Building on the success in Christchurch, in 2023 LIONZ Co-Chairs Nikki Hooper & George Chan hosted the annual forum in Wellington & a highlight was delegates trialing tools designed specifically for smaller hands.
Feedback was again very positive & confirmed LIONZ were fulfilling a need with their interactive format. LIONZ growth has been exponential & the support of their male LIONZ is greatly appreciated 

LIONZ 2023

At the end of the 2023 Forum LIONZ held their AGM & completed the administration needed to become an incorporated society. 
At the 2025 Forum AGM paperwork was signed to comply with updates to society regulations

Industry Sponsored Students

2024 the programme expanded to 1.5 days to give delegates the longer time requested. A pillar of the LIONZ Forum success is the hands on sawbones sessions that are superbly supported by industry & colleagues alike every year.
LIONZ partners with industry & allied health to enable sponsorships for students/HO's/registrars from other locations where circumstances would otherwise make attendance unviable. Links to insights from these delegates are grouped by forum year higher on this page
 

To be added to the LIONZ Newsletter list, please email your details to vanya@nzoa.org.nz 
Request to join LIONZ on Facebook here     LIONZ Instagram here

If you want to know more about LIONZ or to share some thoughts and ideas - please contact the chair(s) or student rep.
Current LIONZ Committee:
Co-Chairs: Emma Lacy & Jillian Lee  (Immediate past Chairs: George Chan & Nikki Hooper)
Secretary & Treasurer: Carrie Lobb
Trainee Rep: Darina Gilroy (Immediate past Rep: Teriana Maheno )

Here's a link to a 8 min animated clip  - diversity and inclusion in action & the future is woven!