Renata Watene provided a keynote presentation at the prestigious National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference, which was held in May 2023 in Dharug Country, Parramatta, based on her renowned work in indigenous eye health in Aotearoa. Renata is the first international keynote speaker at the conference.
Renata’s presentation “Indigenous Voice from Aotearoa – A kōrero about what we can learn from one another” captivated the audience of over 240 delegates as she looked at similarities and differences between Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander and Māori cultures, and explored essential topics such as Te Tiriti and Renata’s role in New Zealand, Indigenous Leadership, Cultural Awareness and Responsiveness, Elevating Indigenous Voice, and Engagement with the Community.
Renata’s expertise in indigenous health complemented the conference’s objectives regarding learning from our indigenous neighbours, fostering dialogue and initiatives to promote equitable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
For more information about the conference see here and for more about the University of Auckland’s Community Eye Health initiatives, see here.