SpeakerS
Click on the photos below to read the speaker's biography.
Rene Brent
Rene Brent, RN, is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, instructor and bestselling author with 35 years of nursing experience in intensive care, trauma, emergency and recovery settings. She brings her clinical background and understanding of the mind–body connection to her teaching, writing and private hypnotherapy practice in Orlando, Florida.
Rene shares practical approaches to mindset, stress and the emotional experience of illness and recovery. Her nursing background helps her connect these ideas to the realities of patient care. Her science-based style is straightforward, engaging and delivered with warmth and humour. She currently receives referrals from local MD’s, Pediatricians, Psychiatrist, Therapist, Pain Management MDs and Sleep Specialist to name a few.
She is the author of two bestselling books, How Big Is Your BUT? and Breaking the Worry Agreement, and has made more than 40 appearances across podcasts, radio and television
Prof Keryln Carville
Director of Wound Care Research
Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine
Prof Keryln Carville
RN, PhD, STN, CF, FWA
Keryln Carville is the Professor of Primary Health Care and Community Nursing at Silver Chain Group and Curtin University, Western Australia. She is the immediate past Chair of the Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance for the 2014, 2019 and 2026 International Guidelines. She co-ordinates the Curtin University Postgraduate Program of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Practice in Australia and Singapore. Keryln was appointed a World Union of Wound Healing Societies Fellow of College Wound Care Specialists in 2026 and a Life Achievement Award in 2022; World Council of Enterostomal Therapists Norma N. Gill President Award for Life Achievement in Research in Skin Integrity and Wound Care in 2024; a Fellow Wounds Australia in 2006; and a Life Member of the Australian Association of Stomal Therapy Nurses in 2015. She has over 150 peer reviewed publications and texts.
Dr Windy Cole
Dr Windy Cole is a double board-certified podiatric physician and internationally recognized wound care expert with more than 24 years of clinical experience in limb preservation and advanced wound management. She serves as Adjunct Professor and Director of Wound Care Research at Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine and is Chief Research Officer for Capsicure Clinical Research Organization.
As the founder of Cole Collaborative Consulting, Dr. Cole partners with biotech and medical device companies to develop evidence generation strategies, strengthen market access pathways, and deliver high-quality scientific and medical communications.
A leader in the integration of emerging technologies into wound care, Dr. Cole has directed numerous clinical trials and contributes her expertise to advisory boards across the biotech and device sectors, providing insight on FDA strategy, clinical trial oversight, medical monitoring and protocol development with real world implementation.
A sought-after speaker at national and international symposia, she is dedicated to advancing patient outcomes through evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation in the management of complex, hard-to-heal wounds.
Kylie Elder
Kylie Elder is a clinical leader, educator, and Nurse Wound Specialist who is passionate about improving outcomes for people living with wounds through evidence-based care, education, and strong clinical governance. With extensive experience across community and residential aged care settings, she is dedicated to supporting clinicians, translating evidence into practice, and driving improvements in quality and safety. Her work is underpinned by a strong belief that person-centred care, continuous learning, and collaboration are key to achieving better outcomes for individuals, families, and health services.
Prof Amit Gefen
Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University
Professor Amit Gefen
Professor Amit Gefen, Ph.D. is Chair of the World Council of Biomechanics and a globally recognized leader in biomedical engineering, mechanobiology, and wound research. He is a Full Professor at Tel Aviv University, holding the Herbert J. Berman Chair in Vascular Bioengineering, and an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney, with academic affiliations in Belgium. His research focuses on cell and tissue biomechanics, with applications to wound prevention and treatment. He has published over 320 peer-reviewed journal articles, accumulating more than 28,000 citations, and ranks among the world's 50 most highly cited biomedical engineering scientists. Professor Gefen serves as Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Biomechanics and has received numerous prestigious international awards. A former President of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, he continues to lead international initiatives advancing evidence-based wound prevention and treatment, medical device safety, and clinical standards worldwide.
Karly Norman
Karly Norman is an occupational therapist with lived experience of complex wounds, multiple surgeries, autism and mental health. My own healthcare journey has shaped a strong understanding of what it can mean to experience significant distress while not necessarily expressing that distress in ways healthcare professionals expect. As an autistic person, I have experienced being misunderstood and having the severity of my internal experience questioned or overlooked because of how I presented externally. I brings this lived experience to the AWSA Summer School to explore the psychological impact of wounds, the complexities of the patient experience, and the importance of looking beyond outward emotional presentation when understanding distress.
Dr Laura Prendergast
Senior Psychologist, Northern Health Pain Service, Melbourne; President Elect Australian Pain Society
Dr Laura Prendergast
Dr Laura Prendergast is the President-Elect of the Australian Pain Society and a Senior Health Psychologist with 15 years' experience in persistent pain management across public health and insurance settings in Victoria. She works within multidisciplinary pain services at Northern Health, including the Women's Health Hub Pelvic Pain Service, and provides advice to claims teams and clinicians through the Transport Accident Commission Clinical Panel. Laura has a strong interest in psychologically informed pain care and is committed to advancing pain care at a systems and policy level through collaboration with key stakeholders across Australia.
Kathy Puyk
Kathy Puyk is a Wound Clinical Nurse Consultant and Executive Officer for Pressure Injury Prevention at Alfred Care group, Victoria, Australia, with more than 30 years of experience in wound management, education, and quality improvement. She holds a Master of Nursing (Wound Management) and was involved in developing and delivering postgraduate wound management education at La Trobe University from 2010 to 2024.
Kathy leads strategic pressure injury prevention initiatives at Alfred Care Group, using clinical data and evidence-based approaches to improve patient outcomes and healthcare quality. She has also contributed internationally through Interplast, supporting education and postoperative care in Myanmar.
Kathy is an expert for the sub working group for the International Pressure Injury Prevention and Treatment Clinical Practice Guidelines, participating in both the 2019 and 2025 editions. She is currently undertaking a PhD at Deakin University, where her research focuses on bridging the evidence-practice gap in pressure injury prevention. Her work aims to understand how evidence-based guideline recommendations are translated into organisational policy and implemented in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes and healthcare quality.
Her research includes leading an international Delphi study involving experts from 11 countries to establish consensus on defining hospital-acquired pressure injuries, alongside publications focused on wound care and pressure injury prevention.
Dot Weir
Dot has more than four decades of experience in wound and ostomy care, with the past 25 years dedicated to outpatient wound care. She serves as a consultant and educator in Holland, Michigan, and is a clinician at Holland Hospital Wound and Hyperbaric Medicine.
Dot is Co-Chair of the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC). In 2004, she joined the founding faculty of the Wound Certification Prep Course and continues to teach the program today. She also serves on the International Wound Infection Institute Committee and the Board of Directors for CARS: The Coalition for At-Risk Skin.
A recognized educator and author, Dot has written or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications, including 14 book chapters. She thrives on teaching the basics of wound healing, wound cleansing and wound bed preparation and proper assessment and documentation. She lives in Holland, Michigan, with her husband, Lee, and their two dogs, Maggie and Lexi.
Wendy White
Wendy White is a respected Australian expert, advisor & invited speaker who advocates for the unique rights & needs of those at risk of, or living with wounds. Known for her engaging & conversational presentation style, she promotes best-available evidence to inform & guide everyday practice focused on the person, their skin vulnerability, injury risk & purposeful strategies to improve outcomes for acute, hard-to-heal & non-healable wounds. Wendy has contributed to international advisory & expert consensus groups on wound-related pain, well-being, person-centred care, early intervention for hard-to-heal wounds & skin failure. It is a priviledge for Wendy to be a part of the global wound healing ''village'' - sharing, learning, growing together.
About AWSA
The Australian Wound & Skin Alliance is an alliance of wound clinicians and researchers who are passionate about collaboration, critical inquiry, discussion, debate and learning. The Alliance was formed through a bond of dedication and commitment to foster an environment where clinicians have opportunities for mentorship, understanding of ethical practices and to develop friendships and networks.
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