Our Members

The ICCPG would be nothing without it’s members. Each member of our team provides unique and crucial insights on critical pre-hospital care, too valuable not to share.

Learn about our members, hear their story, and join our next Symposium to find out how you can enhance your own critical care skills, and become a leader in your field.

Christian Wiggin

MSc DipIMC PGCE BSc(Econ)

Professional Roles

Critical Care Paramedic – Great Western Air Ambulance (UK)
Advanced Critical Care Practitioner – In-Hospital Intensive Care Unit 
Chair – International Critical Care Paramedic Group
Clinical Fellow – Queensland University of Technology
Lecturer – Stavanger University – International Critical Care MSc

 

Area of representation 

Pre-hospital critical care paramedicine in the UK

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

I set up this group in 2019 following my Churchill fellowship working with high performing, paramedic led, pre-hospital critical care teams in Australia and New Zealand. On this trip I worked alongside some outstanding clinicians and quickly realised there are many critical care paramedics across the world who are keen to share knowledge and discuss the future of paramedicine. I cant begin to say how exciting it is to work along such high calibre people!

 

Benefits of the group

Without a doubt the primary reason of this group is to connect with like minded clinicians across the world and share knowledge and experiences. 

 

Aspirations for the group 

I would like to support the development of a shared, safe space for paramedics from all over the world to share ideas. Perhaps in the future standards we might even be able to discuss international critical care paramedic exchange programme to truly disseminate knowledge. I would also like to see all regions of the world represented!



Dr. Naseef Abdullah

Professional Role

Lead Paramedic in Clinical Support Services

 

Area of representation 

Western Cape Government Health and Wellness – Emergency Medical Services, South Africa

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

I am the lead paramedic of the Clinical Support Services for the state-funded Emergency Medical Service under the Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness. Additionally, I am the founder of various informal work groups focused on developing social capital among aspiring prehospital learners and researchers. Over the past 15 years, I have worked within the education and operations spheres of public sector EMS, fostering a keen interest in establishing pracademic roles within the prehospital milieu, operationalizing clinical data, and improving clinical practices through the implementation of technology and AI.

The paramedicine profession has evolved significantly over the last three decades. Interprofessional collaboration remains at the forefront of strategic and sustainable development. Membership in this group enables knowledge sharing, international comparability, and networking that supports the development and growth of LMIC (Low- and Middle-Income Country) systems. The knowledge economy era demands that those entrenched in the prehospital setting make meaningful contributions to the body of knowledge. It remains paramount that prehospital providers gain a local and international identity to direct the development of the profession accordingly.

 

Benefits of the group

Being part of this group provides the opportunity for knowledge sharing and networking on an international scale. It fosters interprofessional collaboration, which is essential for the sustainable development of paramedicine. This membership supports the growth of LMIC systems by enabling international comparability and the exchange of best practices.

 

Aspirations for the group 

My hopes for the group include establishing an international prehospital network that facilitates knowledge sharing, professional development, and systems improvement for those of us residing in LMICs.



Ben Meadley

Professional Roles

Director – Paramedicine at Ambulance Victoria
Adjunct Associate Professor – Monash University

 

Area of representation 

Critical care paramedicine in Australia

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

This group is a collective of like-minded, professional, and enthusiastic critical paramedics who are motivated to improve the care we provide. It’s a privilege to be among such company and contribute to professional growth.

 

Benefits of the group

Being a member means the group can share the things we do well, learn how others might do things differently, and then work together to evolve critical care paramedicine across the globe. 

 

Aspirations for the group 

I hope we can continue to collaborate to share our experiences, and in time, work together digitally and in person to become the premier voice for critical care paramedicine. 



Tim Schmidtke

Professional Role

Senior Manager of Clinical and Professional Practice | Ambulance Tasmania

 

Area of representation 

Tasmania, Australia

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

I am an Intensive Care Paramedic who leads clinical practice development across all of Ambulance Tasmania, including critical care practice. I am responsible for leading quality improvement and assurance initiatives that improve service delivery and patient care across the organisation.

I am passionate about inter-service collaboration to improve knowledge sharing, improve clinical practice and assist each other to learn from each other’s mistakes and successes to improve the quality of care provided to patients requiring prehospital critical care.

 

Benefits of the group

My key benefit for being part of this group is to foster an international network of like-minded clinicians and experts, and to gain insight into developments within the industry internationally, and also allow others to likewise gain insight into our systems and organizations.

 

Aspirations for the group 

My hopes for the group are that we can slowly expand to become an international clinical network and reference group for critical care paramedicine.



Matthew Meister

Professional Role

Officer in Charge – Critical Care Paramedic

 

Area of representation 

Queensland, Australia

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

To network and collaborate on the sub speciality within paramedic of critical care and to knowledge share, learn from each other and enhance training and education in this space.

 

Benefits of the group

Learning new and emerging ideas in this space, particularly with education and trials. Most importantly, to learn what is working and doing well locally for other services that may be attractable to our services here.

 

Aspirations for the group 

To advance this subspeciality of paramedicine, as well as make this space approachable, achievable and doable for those that are interested in the role in their clinical futures.



Els Freshwater

Professional Role

I have a professional background in both pre-hospital emergency medicine, in-hospital advanced clinical practice and higher education. I have worked with professional bodies including the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and the College of Paramedics on curriculum design and advanced practice. Other roles have included within allied health professions in government arms-length bodies, leading on paramedic education and training. I will shortly be taking on a new role as Clinical Lead Advanced Practice Critical Care with the Scottish Ambulance Service

 

Area of representation 

Education, advanced and consultant practice, non-traditional roles, UK practice.

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

Having worked in both Australia and the UK as a paramedic, I am keen to continue learning from others across the globe. I hope to foster relationships with colleagues in other countries and to share best practice in providing high quality care to patients.

 

Benefits of the group

We are able to collaborate on projects such as international conferences and sharing of research and quality improvement work. We have much to learn from each other and it is interesting to hear perspectives from countries quite different to our own.

 

Aspirations for the group 

I hope that we continue to grow and not only work together but grow the global voice of our profession.

Kevin Lambert

Professional Roles

Critical Care Paramedic and Paramedic Practice Educator | British Columbia Emergency Health Services

 

Area of representation

I work in British Columbia, Canada.  I am located on Vancouver Island and get to work both locally and provincially depending on the project/tasking

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

I was lucky to fall into the ICCPG a couple of years ago.  It’s been great to stay engaged and watch it start to develop through the hard work of the group leaders.

 

Benefits of the group

It’s important to develop and maintain relationships in any field and critical care paramedicine is no exception.  So often organizations burn a lot of calories trying to solve problems when often it seems the solutions can be found if we just know where to look.  Sharing information, understanding global approaches, and in the end, realizing there are more similarities than difference are all compelling and welcome benefits of the group. 

Aspirations for the group

Hopefully the group develops into a global body that grows in size to the point that advocacy becomes a main focus.  At a certain inflection point the group will have not only the expertise of its members, but also the gravitas to speak on behalf of the profession.  Advocating for the capabilities of critical care paramedics/practitioners, especially outside of a traditional physician stream, is the next evolution of collaborative healthcare.  CCPs bring much to the table that is mostly a blend of some great attributes.  It’s not just about pure knowledge but about medical application that is combined in equal parts with the non-technical skills that are traditionally under-represented in healthcare.  No group is more adept at combining critical care, logistics, complex transfer knowledge, aviation, and human factors and it’s exciting to see that evolve.

 



Aaron Turner

Professional Role

Critical Care Paramedic with specialisations in CBRN and USAR

 

Area of representation 

Ōtautahi (Christchurch), Aotearoa (New Zealand)

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

I was privileged enough to host Chrisitan on his visit to Aotearoa and his enthusiasm for the development of prehospital critical care as a profession is infectious. When I was invited to represent my region on the original steering group, while also taking part in the initial ICCS, I jumped at the chance.

 

Benefits of the group

For the first time, a platform is being provided for international collaboration on prehospital critical care. The interactions, sharing of knowledge, challenges and solutions will help prehospital critical care on a global level. The benefits of this group allows me to link in with old colleagues as well as meet new ones.

 

Aspirations for the group 

Bring on a face-to-face meeting in the next few years. With the loss of SMACC, there has been a significant gap in the critical care environment. With this group coming from a truly international committee of prehospital clinicians, the possibilities for a face to face event will open the door for collaboration and knowledge sharing. I look forward to leading the way with this group and opening the door for clinicians around the world.



Abi Wild

Professional Role

Search and Rescue Winch Paramedic

 

Area of representation 

United Kingdom

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

I am passionate about pre-hospital care and advancing practice so that people and patients can benefit when it matters most. 

 

Benefits of the group

Being a member of a international group of likeminded practitioners facilitates the sharing of knowledge and experience so that innervation, understanding and unity can facilitate the introduction and implementation of evidence based best practice to patients, regardless of their location around the world.

 

Aspirations for the group 

I hope to become part of an inspirational, interoperable, international team of pre-hospital critical care practitioners, who are able to inspire, influence, standardise, and enhance patient care seamlessly around the world. 



Callum Sutton

Professional Role

Specialist Paramedic – Critical Care – Great Western Air Ambulance/South Western Ambulance Service

 

Area of representation

United Kingdom

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

Having moved from Australia to the United Kingdom and travelled across other regions I am a firm believer that there is great learning that we can all take from each other, currently there is not enough cross jurisdictional learning and groups such as the international critical care paramedic group can help to bridge these gaps and move the profession forward internationally.

 

Benefits of the group

Mutual learning from others internationally who all have different exposure and experiences whilst all working towards a similar and common goal of providing the best possible patient care.

 

Aspirations for the group

  • Increased collaboration and a community of practice amongst international colleagues in areas such as education, research and clinical practice
  • Exchange programs between international critical care teams
  • Advocacy of paramedics within the critical care environment internationally



Amaury Hernandez

Professional Role

CAMTS Program Manager/Critical Care Paramedic – LifeFlight/Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

 

Area of representation 

North America/USA

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

I enjoy learning from colleagues that practice in different countries and environments.

 

Benefits of the group

Collaborating in developing international educational and practice guidelines for Critical Care Paramedics. 

 



Wayne Loudon

Professional Role

Discipline Lead and Critical-Care Paramedic

 

Area of representation 

Queensland, Australia

 

I am a member of ICCPG because…

Experience and interest in prehospital critical care and specifically neurocritical care. 

 

Benefits of the group

I am keen to be part of a community of practice with a distinct interest in advancing the delivery of prehospital critical care paramedicine.

 

Aspirations for the group 

It is my hope that as a group we can share knowledge and learnings from across the world that provide benefits to all patients that we care for.



Want to find out more?

Check out the highlights from our last Symposium, or contact us here.