Executive Committee

Rachael Jones

NZATS President

Rachael qualified 23 years ago in the UK as an ODP, and worked in a role doing 50/50 anaesthetics and scrub. She has a partner, Steve, and a grown-up daughter, Abby. They moved to New Zealand together in 2008, for some life experience, initially for a couple of years; 16 years later they are still here and call New Zealand home.

Rachael initially worked at Middlemore, then moved to Southern Cross for a few years where she became Training Coordinator for the Auckland region. Rachael then went to work at Te Toka Tumai Auckland, firstly, as educator for Level 4 (cardiothoracic and ORL) and level 8 (General, Trauma, Neuro etc), and then as Charge Anaesthetic Technician for level 9 (Women’s Health). Rachael is currently Theatre Manager at Waitemata.

Over the years Rachael’s passion for the professions has led to numerous projects and roles. In 2022 Rachael completed a Master of Health Service Management at Massey University.

Rachael LOVES her job and our profession. She is proud to be an Anaesthetic Technician and feels a sense of pride for what we do, what we can do in the future and our community. She gets immense satisfaction from inspiring others and helping individuals and our profession to grow and develop. To be President of NZATS and able to represent our workforce is a real honour.

Katrina Walsh

NZATS Secretary

Katrina is currently a lecturer for the Bachelor of Health Science (Perioperative Practice) at AUT. She is enjoying teaching students, especially face-to-face.

She has over 30 years experience in the health industry, both as a Registered Nurse and Anaesthetic Technician. Te Whatu Ora Waitemata still employs Katrina in a casual position and she is part of the PICC insertion team there as well. Over the last 5 years the has also been involved with various courses, teaching health care professionals how to use ultrasound to insert IV cannulae.

In her spare time she enjoys being creative, whether it be knitting, baking, or making candles

Nicola Smith-Guerin

Registration Examination Coordinator

Nicola is the Professional Leader for Anaesthetic Technicians, ADHB.
She has been an Anaesthetic Technician for a very long time; some of you would not have been born when she qualified! Over that time she has been an educator, and a charge tech at ADHB for 23 years before moving into her current role.

She has been heavily involved in NZATS for decades and been responsible for the registration exams since 2007.
When describing herself Nicola would say she is warm, friendly and cheerful. She values personal connections and cares about people’s needs, and finds herself wanting to do her best for everyone she meets, including patients, staff and her family.

Jess Barbridge

NZATS Treasurer

I have worked as an Anaesthetic Technician for the past 5 years at Palmerston North Hospital.

I am originally from South Africa, I’ve lived in New Zealand for 13 years now, meeting my now husband while I was on my OE in the UK and then traveling to New Zealand with him. We have two beautiful girls aged 5 and 9. As well as doing my clinical work, I also do all the accounts and admin for my husband’s business, During our free time my love relaxing with a good book.

Aimee Atchison

NZATS CPD Officer

Aimee is currently based as an Anaesthetic Technician at Te Whatu Ora Waitemata where she completed her training at the end of 2022. Prior to this she completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland from which she hopes to achieve further postgraduate study in the future.

Her favourite thing about work is the wide range of specialties technicians are able to apply their skills – whether that be in the operating theatre or elsewhere in the hospital as part of the resus team. Aimee finds great value and pride in the work we all do to help others.

In her spare time, she can be found down at the beach with a coffee in hand or reading a book at home with her two cats.

Catherine Sinclair

Executive Committee Officer