Our
Story
Nursing is a rewarding and challenging career and at the Wesley Institute of Nursing Education, we pride ourselves on providing a supportive environment led by highly qualified and experienced clinical nurse educators. We offer the best opportunity for Internationally and New Zealand qualified nurses to obtain registration through Nursing Council of New Zealand.
At Wesley Institute, we are committed to the success of nurses who enter our programme through real-world experience that combines nursing theory and clinical practice. Our clinical nurse educators are industry professionals with a variety of clinical experience. You will be working in facilities with registered nurse preceptors who will support you along your way to become a New Zealand registered nurse.
We hope that you will choose the Wesley Institute of Nursing Education which is a place where growth, integrity, excellence, and compassion is valued in everything we do.
The Wesley Team
Professor Felix Ram
Professor Felix Ram is a graduate of the University of Otago and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand. He is a clinical pharmacologist specialising in respiratory medicine. Professor Ram also graduated from Massey University, New Zealand with a Master's in Adult Education. He serves on several medical journal editorial boards as well as having more than 140 high quality peer-reviewed medical journal publications, including books on healthcare, professional education and clinical pharmacology. His specialist area of research includes evidence-based practice, older adult health, asthma, COPD, and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. Professor Ram has over 30 years of university teaching experience of healthcare professionals from NZ and the UK.
Colleen Bowring
Colleen Bowring graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) from Auckland University of Technology in 1999. Over the past 24 years, she has worked across various nursing specialties, including primary, urgent care, and commercial health settings. Her career has encompassed leadership and nursing management roles including, Director of Nursing and an active member of a Clinical Governance Committee. Colleen is passionate about nursing and the delivery of quality nursing care for all New Zealanders.
Ayla Blaxall
Ayla is a New Zealand trained nurse with a Master of Nursing from Massey University. Her nursing background stems from acute trauma, surgical nursing, and education. She is particularly passionate about advancing the vibrant and diverse nursing workforce in New Zealand. Ayla has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and her research interests include quality of care and patient experiences for older adults in the acute care setting. In her spare time, she enjoys sailing, going to the gym, photography, and travelling.
Susana Mogol
Susana has over 28 years of nursing experience in New Zealand. Her roles spans across various healthcare settings, including recently being a Charge Nurse Manager at Middlemore Hospital. Susana’s experience also includes medical-surgical nursing, honing her skills in leading nurse lead PICC line insertion as an extended scope of practice from Nursing Council. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Nursing from University of Auckland and a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Adult Teaching from the University of Canterbury.
Alison Cane
Alison Cane is a New Zealand trained nurse with several postgraduate qualifications in nursing, including advanced nursing. Alison has had a varied and interesting career in Canterbury while raising two children with her husband David. Alison continues her postgraduate pathway as she decides on a Master of Nursing. Alison loves to teach, whether she’s educating patients, colleagues or student nurses and she is dedicated in her role as a full-time CNE at Wesley Institute where she encourages and inspires overseas nurses in their journey to becoming NZRNs.
Dr Indu Sudarsan
Dr Indu Sudarsan has over 13 years of experience as a Registered Nurse. Her expertise includes paediatric, cardiac ICU, oncology, aged care, and rehabilitation nursing. Indu completed her postgraduate studies in medical surgical nursing. Indu also holds a PhD in nursing, specialising in child health. Her research interests include immigrant health, cultural safety, acculturation challenges, and child health. Furthermore, Indu is honoured to be an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK). As a CNE, her chief objective revolves around facilitating CAP students' NZ registration journey by providing avenues for growth, indispensable support, timely feedback, and judicious guidance to aid in the attainment of NZ registration.
Minna Vuorinen
Minna Vuorinen was born in Finland and lived and worked in the UK for a few years before settling in New Zealand in 1999. She has over 25 years of nursing experience in a variety of settings such as medical, surgical, occupational health, and aged care. She was a Clinical Manager at Oceania Healthcare for seven years before moving into the role of Clinical Nurse Educator. She is passionate about improving quality in aged care. Minna also holds a Diploma in design and a master’s degree in health.
Harpreet Sharma
Harpreet Sharma completed her BSc nursing in 2009 from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, India. Before moving to New Zealand in 2012, she worked as a CCU nurse and Clinical Instructor. As an NZRN, she worked as a nurse and Clinical Manager in Aged Residential care settings. Following her passion for clinical education, she spent over seven years educating and coaching healthcare staff, which shaped her practice as a CNE at Wesley Institute to promote a positive learning environment and support CAP nurses to achieve their goal of becoming an NZRN. She is passionate about continuous quality improvement in healthcare service delivery through clinical education. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga and spending time with family.
Zyra Marana
Zyra Marana graduated as a nurse in the Philippines and has worked in aged care for 13 years. Zyra calls New Zealand home now and has been an NZRN for 10 years, and she is most passionate about geriatric nursing. Zyra brings vast experience from working in many roles across the aged care sector, including Unit Coordinator and Clinical Manager. She holds special interests in palliative care, wound management, and infection control. Zyra is a passionate educator and enjoys being a part of the future of New Zealand Nursing. She is currently studying towards her certificate in adult and tertiary teaching.
Shahin Hussain
Shahin Hussain obtained her nursing education from Fiji in 2013. She relocated to New Zealand in 2014, working as a Healthcare Assistant for a short period before completing her CAP training. Shahin has worked in aged care setting as an RN in various roles. Currently, Shahin is pursuing her Master's at Massey University. Her unwavering enthusiasm for both learning and teaching drives her aspiration to impart her expertise and skills towards the development of CAP nurses into outstanding NZRNs. In her leisure time, she cherishes quality time with her two active sons. Shahin also has a passion for cooking, baking, and DIY projects.
Rachel Woodcock
Rachel Woodcock graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from Massey University in 2005, and holds a postgraduate diploma in RN prescribing. Rachel has nursing experience in sexual and reproductive health, practice nursing, hospital, and aged care. She is passionate about nurses furthering their education and advancing their scope of practice.
Virpal Mann
Virpal Mann came to New Zealand in 2011 from India, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2012. She has worked in aged care for the last 12 years across various roles from healthcare assistant to Registered Nurse, unit coordinator and then clinical service manager. Virpal is an enthusiastic and passionate educator. She is cheerful, disciplined, organised, energetic and compassionate and her goal is to achieve excellence in aged care by using evidence-based practice. Virpal is excited to be part of the Wesley Institute of Nursing Education team as a Clinical Nurse Educator. Her hobbies include walking, travelling, mindfulness, reading and organizing things.
Emi Giddens
Emi Giddens is a Canadian trained NZRN who holds a Master of Nursing from the University of Toronto. As an educator for over six years, she developed her passion for instructional design, simulation, and game-based learning. She was the Programme Manager in the Planning, Funding & Outcomes department at Waitemata DHB. Her clinical experience includes long-term care, community, and medical-surgical practice. Her research interests include hybrid simulation methodology, equity, and diversity. At Oceania she supports the training and professional development of healthcare staff, the research endeavours of the Centre of Excellence of Person-Centred Aged Care, and the CAP course for IQNs through the Wesley Institute. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her dog Georgie.
Pam Williams
Pam Williams is a RN with almost 20 years of clinical experience. Her specialties include cardiac, anaesthetics, emergency, medicine management, and clinical coaching. She has a PGDip in Nursing from Massey University. Pam discovered her passion for teaching and mentoring whilst working in the nursing professional development unit at Counties Manukau. She joined the Nurse Entry to Practice team guiding and coaching newly graduated nurses. Pam engages her students by creating a positive learning environment and is dedicated to helping them succeed. In her free time, she enjoys singing, music, traveling, 4-wheel driving, and spending quality time with her family.
Lisa Rogers-Owen
Lisa is a UK-trained mental health nurse who has always worked with older adults, specialising in person-centred dementia approaches early in her career. She holds an MSc in Applied Behavioural Sciences. Lisa has extensive experience working in the public sector and has also held roles as a lecturer, student nurse educator, interRAI assessor, mental health educator, clinical nurse specialist in complex dementia, and more recently as a dementia specialist for an aged care provider. She has always had a strong passion for education and training and enjoys supporting learners.
Wendy Exeter
Wendy has over 25 years of nursing experience in various roles including surgical, cardiothoracic intensive care, occupational health, palliative care, and community health. Wendy holds a Postgraduate Diploma in nursing and a Master of Health Science. She is passionate about community nursing, education and the delivery of safe and effective care that is patient-centred, focusing on improving the quality of life for patients using evidenced-based practice.
Anu Baby
Anu Baby came to NZ in 2015, after completing a Bachelor of Nursing in 2008 and a Master's in 2012 from Rajiv Gandhi University, India. Anu worked as an RN & clinical instructor prior to migrating to New Zealand. Anu has completed a graduate certificate in pathophysiology of aging. She has 7 years of experience in aged care, with a passion for palliative care, wound care and mentoring/teaching. She possesses strong leadership skills and is currently working towards her Nurse Practitioner pathway while continuing to work as an RN at an Oceania facility. Anu strongly believes in nurses using critical thinking and evidence-based practice along with ongoing education to improve the quality of healthcare delivery in NZ. Outside of work, Anu enjoys spending quality time with her son and enjoying the NZ nature, long drives, beaches and music.
Annie Tatton
Annie Tatton has been a registered nurse for over 35 years in addition to accommodating family and interests in art and fashion. She has 3 grown sons and 5 grandchildren. Annie’s nursing experience includes medical, surgical, psychology, older person’s health and general practice. Annie has worked as a nurse in Saudi Arabia and London and has taught nursing students at Auckland University of Technology. She has also been a lead practitioner for InterRAI. Annie has been a research gerontology nurse specialist at University of Auckland, researching people living in retirement villages, publishing 17 papers as a team. Annie has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, a Master of Art & Design and Master of Arts Management.
Nicole Wee
Nicole Wee has lived and worked in Singapore, Fiji and Australia before finally settling in beautiful New Zealand. She has experience in business finance, administration, and education. She previously worked at Sky City, Nike, and the School of Nursing at Massey University, where her passion for all things nursing began. Nicole is the Operations Manager at Wesley Institute, responsible for student advice including pastoral care, finance, and marketing. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys creative jewellery, arts and is an accomplished florist.
Viivi Rissanen
Viivi Rissanen moved to New Zealand from the UK in 2022. She has a background in administration, having previously worked for higher education institutions as well as government. She is passionate about helping overseas nurses achieve their goal of working as NZRNs and contribute to better health outcomes across NZ. Viivi also has a Master’s in political communication, and in her spare time she enjoys tramping, kayaking, and making the most of Aotearoa’s beautiful outdoors and scenery.
Liz Walker
Liz Walker grew up in Opotiki, a small town in the Bay of Plenty. She gained a Bachelor of Nursing from Massey University, Auckland. Her nursing background consists of intensive care, paediatrics, emergency nursing, pandemic response, and emergency response manager. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, cooking new foods, fishing, and yoga.
Isabel Ugarte
Isabel Ugarte is originally from Chile and moved with her family to New Zealand in 2016. She has a background in finance and administration. Isabel looks after student enrolments and supports with other administrative tasks that are necessary to make sure students have a smooth journey through their CAP course. Isabel enjoys her role and is here to help support nurses on their journey to become a New Zealand Registered Nurse.
Sarah Ellis
Sarah Ellis is originally from the UK and been in New Zealand for many years, bringing up her five children here. She is a Registered Diversional Therapist, working with the elderly which she thoroughly enjoys. She is a Careerforce assessor, which has led her to the Clinical Education Team where she enjoys teaching. Sarah enjoys seeing CAP nurses undertake the journey to reach their goal of becoming New Zealand Registered Nurses.
Joydee Elizondo
Joydee has lived with her family in New Zealand for 14 years now. She previously worked as an administrator for a Christian humanitarian organisation, government, and in the private sector. Now, as part of the Wesley Institute team, she aims to support nurses in achieving their goal to work in NZ and to succeed in providing quality healthcare to the people of Aotearoa.
MISSION
We are a dedicated team of clinical educators, offering nurses a pathway to New Zealand registration in a supportive environment that involves contemporary theoretical and clinical preparation. Throughout the programme, the nurse is empowered to grow as an individual and a professional while demonstrating highly sought-after core nursing values.
VISION
Our vision is to be the preferred provider of a Competency Assessment Programme by producing highly skilled nurses for the New Zealand health workforce.
