About Us

Professor Horne set up to the Trust initially to support the development of research in the Department of Surgery at the Wellington School of Medicine. Today the Trust also supports research in several surgical departments throughout New Zealand.

The aim of the Surgical Research Trust is to give the talented researchers in New Zealand the opportunity to further medical and surgical knowledge. We do this by funding their chosen research projects.

The Trust has funded more than 90 research projects since it was established, including research into areas such as paediatrics, orthopaedics, heart disease, cancer, renal disease, diabetes, brain conditions and obesity.

As we are a charitable trust, the Trust relies on funding through sponsors, bequests, donations from members of the public, and support through the medical supply industry. The Trust also relies on other trusts to support particular research activities.

The Trust is immensely proud of the research we have funded over the years as surgical research benefits all members of the New Zealand community and is of tremendous significance to the international surgical community.

The Trustees hope the level of support for the Surgical Research Trust will continue to grow so that medical practitioners can further develop and advance the medical profession for future generations.

Our Trustees

Grant Kiddle - Chairman

Grant is the Chairman of The Surgical Research Trust. He is an orthopedic surgeon based at wellington hospital and consulting out of Wellington orthopedic and sports surgeons on the Bowen Hospital campus. He has been a Trust member since 2007 and Chairman since 2014, taking over from founder Prof Geoffrey Horne. Grant is a passionate supporter of surgical research, in particular assisting young researchers starting out or in the early stages of their research career.

Dan Ormond

Dan has been a trustee for over twelve years. He is a communications and media relations practitioner with over 25 years experience in helping organisations make sure that what they want to be heard is heard and understood by the people they want to reach. Those organisations range from large multinational corporations to community not-for-profit organisations

David Greenslade

David Greenslade is a partner at the Wellington law firm of Macalister Mazengarb. He has a longstanding interest in medical, and particularly in surgical, research activities and developments generally. David sits on several charitable trusts and organizations. David makes his legal experience freely available to these groups and our Trust.

Derek Fry

Derek, now retired has returned to the Trust with more time to devote to its future. He has strong networks in both government and the private sector after a career in local government in Wellington.

John Groom

John is a Wellington general surgeon with particular interest in Colorectal Surgery, consulting from Wakefield & Boulcott and Hutt Hospitals. John is heavily involved in registrar teaching and training, and being a strong supporter of registrar research led him to join the Trust in 2010

Julie Millar

Julie Millar is the Surgical RMO co-ordinator at Wellington Hospital and has been involved in the Trust since its launch, as the first Trust Secretary and later was appointed a Trustee. Julie played a pivotal role in working with the Trusts sponsors, evolving the Hospital Bear project which initially launched at Wellington Hospital and later expanded to Hutt, Christchurch and Waikato Hospitals. Julie is passionate about the work of the Surgical Research Trust in an environment where funding for research is competitive and in short supply

Rebecca Reed

Rebecca Reed has been involved with the Surgical Research Trust for four years and is passionate about giving the Trust the exposure it deserves. With more than 16 years experience working as a communications and public relations practitioner, Rebecca is well-attuned to getting stories told in all forms of media and has developed strong media relationships over the years.

Alastair Mansell - Honorary Accountant

We would also like to acknowledge Alastair Mansell from Mansell Associates who came on board as the Trusts honorary accountant in 2018.

Emeritus Chair

Geoffrey Horne

Geoffrey Horne is the former Chair and founder of The Surgical Research Trust. Geoffrey set up the Trust initially to support the development of research in the Department of Surgery of the Wellington School of Medicine. Today the Trust also supports research in several surgical departments throughout New Zealand. In 2010 he received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to medicine. He is a qualified orthopaedic surgeon and was Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Wellington School of Medicine and Health Science for more than 20 years - the only orthopaedic surgeon in New Zealand to hold this position. He also was the President of the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association, where he worked to secure extra funding for the Orthopaedic Joint Replacement Initiative. Following his resignation as a Trustee, and due to the importance of his continuing contribution to the Trust, the Trustees elected him as Emeritus Chairman in 2017.