Local Organising Committee
Chairperson: Dr Thomas Kitchen
MBBCh (Hon), FRCA, PgCert (Clin Leadership)
Tom is a consultant anaesthetist and associate clinical director at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. He has a clinical interest in anaesthesia for maxillofacial surgery and major trauma resuscitation. He was appointed to the role of secretary for the All Wales Airway Group in 2018 and has supported the redevelopment of the group as an educational forum in Wales.
He is passionate about human factors, communication and how our psychological and emotional competence relate to personal and team performance, the patient and our self-care; he lectures on the subject internationally and works as Co-Director of Canopi, (Cardiff University) a self-referral mental health support service for all NHS and Social Care staff working in Wales.
Dr Catherine Griffiths
MBBS, MA (Cantab), FRCA, MAcadMEd
Catherine is a Consultant Anaesthetist in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, with a specialist interest in paediatrics, difficult airway anaesthesia and education.
She is a lead organiser for the All Wales Airway Group annual conference, as well as running popular airway workshops for trainees and consultants. She is also a member of the working party developing consensus guidelines for airway management in patients living with obesity.
Dr Thomas Lawson
BM, FRCA
Tom is a consultant anaesthetist at Morriston Hospital in Swansea. His clinical interests include advanced airway management, regional anaesthesia and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. In the field of airway management he is a former airway fellow, has overseen airway fellowships, founded the Shared Airway Rescue Course in Plymouth, taught/lecturer in various regional and national airway courses and is the creator of the online airway educational event #JanuAIRWAY. He is also a board member of the All Wales Airway Group and is one of the co-leads for education at the Difficult Airway Society. When not doctoring, he enjoys spending time with his family, painting and playing tennis badly.
Dr Iwan Roberts
MBBCh, FRCA, MCEM
Iwan is a Consultant Anaesthetist and airway lead at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board with an interest in advanced airway management, human factors and improvement science. He is the chairman of the All-Wales Airway Group and an advisor to the RCoA Welsh board. His specialist interest includes open airways and THRIVE. He is passionate about airway education, developing greater safety culture in theatres and is an avid supporter of trainee-led improvement initiatives.
Dr Anna Williams
MBChB BSc (Hons), FRCA, MRCP, PGDip Periop Medicine
Anna is a consultant anaesthetist in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales. Her interests include airway management, upper GI surgery and sustainability. She is the chair of the Wrexham Maelor Hospital Green Group and was awarded a British Empire Medal in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List for her work on environmentally sustainable healthcare.
Dr Peter Rogers
MBBCh, FRCA
Peter is a Consultant Anaesthetist in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. He works as a district general anaesthetist and has been part of the All Wales Airway Group for a number of years.
He has organised a number of training days on advanced airway techniques, which have included workshops. He recently lead a national survey of eFONA training and provision in Wales on behalf of the All Wales Airway Group. He is a previous chairperson of the Junior Anaesthetist of Wales committee and a member of their conference organising committee for 4 years.
Dr Helen Aoife Iliff
MBBCh, FRCA
Helen is an ST4 trainee in Wales. She is best known for her work chairing the DAS, BAETS and ENT-UK guidelines group on management of haematoma after thyroid surgery. She has served as a DAS trainee representative 2020-2022 and chairperson of the Welsh trainee research network (WAAREN) from 2021-2024.
She has experience in organising big meetings as a coorganiser of the Guy’s Advanced Airway Management Meeting and DAS 2021 ASM (online).
She is a co-author of the multisociety guidelines on airway management in suspected or confirmed cervical spine injuries. She is a member of the DAS intubation and extubation guidelines group. She has been an invited speaker at a number of international meetings including the ANZCA ASM 2024, AoA WSM 2023, DAS ASM (2021 & 2022).
Dr Will Ward
BMBS BMedSci (Hons)
Will is a Core Anaesthetic trainee in Wales, currently working in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Alongside this, Will has sat on the All Wales Airway Group committee as the Core Trainee Representative. During his training so far, Will has an interest in difficult airway anaesthesia as well as regional anaesthesia. Outside of work, Will’s hobbies include cycling, surfing and crossfit.
Dr Nathan Tweed
MBBCh, FRCA
Consultant Anaesthetist in Swansea Bay Health Board. For 8 years as a consultant I’ve had an interest in head an neck cancer surgery, working with both ENT and Maxillofacial surgeons. I also have longstanding involvement in airway teaching with trainees, both for recognised and unexpected difficult airways.