2026 OWL Soiree

The AOA Orthopaedic Women’s Link (OWL) is delighted to invite you to the OWL Soiree being held at the 2026 AOA ASM in Cairns proudly supported by AOA national alliance partner and major sponsor Avant Mutual, and event sponsor MatOrtho.

Following the OWL session, our guest speakers will join us for an evening of drinks, canapés and conversation. It is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, meet new faces and continue the discussions from the afternoon.

When: 5.30–6.30pm, Monday 12 October
Where: Trinity Terrace, Cairns Convention Centre
Dress code: Come as you are

We'd love to see you there and attendance is free, but places are limited.

Convenor

Dr Kate Stannage

Dr Kate Stannage is a consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Perth Children’s Hospital, specialising in neuromuscular conditions and 3D gait analysis. With over a decade of leadership experience, she has led the Orthopaedic Department and currently directs the Cerebral Palsy Mobility Service.

A former president of the Australian Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (APOS), Kate has held key roles on the AOA WA Executive, WA Regional Training, and AOA Accreditation Committees. She now chairs the AOA Orthopaedic Women’s Link (OWL) and serves on the AOA Board and Federal Training Committee as well as the RACS Court of Examiners.

A passionate advocate for global health, she coordinates the Australian Doctors for Africa clubfoot program, establishing Ponseti clinics in Madagascar and Somaliland. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she has been a non-executive director at Curtin University and supported multiple not-for-profits. Her contributions have earned her the Women and Leadership Australia Excellence Award (WA), AOA Leadership Award, and RACS Outstanding Service to the Community Award.

OWL session guest speakers

Sonya Black

Sonya Black, LLB (First Class Honours with University Medal), B. Com (UQ) is the Legal Team Manager – Workplace Law at Avant Law, based in Brisbane. She leads workplace law matters and provides guidance and support to members and colleagues on employment-related legal issues. Sonya is recognised for her collaborative approach, practical advice, and commitment to mentoring and developing team members. She is also actively involved in Avant's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and broader organisational leadership activities.

Ngiare Brown

Professor Ngiare Brown is the first female and first Indigenous Chancellor of James Cook University. A proud Yuin nation woman from the south coast of NSW, Ngiare is a senior Aboriginal medical practitioner with qualifications in medicine, public health and primary care, and has studied bioethics, medical law and human rights.

Ngiare was one of the first Aboriginal medical graduates in Australia, completing her medical degree at the University of Newcastle in 1991. She graduated with a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine from JCU in 2000 and was named an Outstanding Alumna in 2012. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Throughout her career, Ngiare has held a variety of positions in education, mentoring, clinical practice, research and advocacy. She is a founding member and foundation Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association, and a founding member of the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors’ Congress. She is currently Chair of the National Mental Health Commission’s Advisory Council and Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

In addition to her academic and advocacy work, Ngiare is the Founding Director of Ngaoara, a not-for-profit committed to child and adolescent wellbeing. She currently works as a clinician and consultant to develop and deliver sustainable, integrated primary and specialist care for children with complex co-morbidities. Through Ngaoara, she supports communities to develop strength-based approaches to breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma and disparity.

Deborah Eastwood

Deborah Eastwood is the Immediate Past President of the British Orthopaedic Association and holds the position of UCL Associate Professor of Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Great Ormond Street and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospitals. She is fascinated by the processes of growth and development and enjoys making a difference to her patients with simple or complex musculoskeletal problems.

Margaret Fok

Dr Margaret Fok is the Deputy Chief of Service and Consultant in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong. She specialises in the diagnosis and management of complex wrist pathologies and soft-tissue injuries of the elbow, and is internationally recognised for her expertise in wrist and elbow arthroscopy. Dr Fok serves as course director for the wrist and elbow courses at IRCAD Taiwan's International Wrist Centre and is the IRCAD Asia Representative on the Academic Governance Board. She also leads the Musculoskeletal Infection Multidisciplinary Team at Queen Mary Hospital, which received the 2025 Outstanding Team Award for excellence in patient care.

Catherine McDougall

Dr Catherine McDougall is currently the Chief Medical Officer for Queensland Health.

Catherine trained and worked as a physiotherapist prior to undertaking her medical degree at the University of Queensland and went on to train in orthopaedics receiving her Fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) and completing post fellowship training in arthroplasty and revision arthroplasty at the Gold Coast and the Royal Edinburgh Infirmary.

Dr McDougall held leadership roles in Metro North Hospital and Health Service prior to commencing as the Qld Health Chief Medical Officer in March 2023. From July 2025 to December 2025, Dr McDougall served as the Interim Chief Health Officer and Acting Deputy Director General, Population Health Division at Qld Health, before resuming her position as Chief Medical Officer in January 2026.

Dr McDougall is passionate about public health and delivering high quality care to patients within a sustainable environment. She has a particular interest in improving the patient journey through the system, improving efficiencies within the system, and decreasing low value care and unwarranted variation.