Prof Saleh Abbas MD FRACS FACS studied medicine at Baghdad University, graduating in 1987. He is currently consultant surgeon and A/ Prof in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, at University Hospital Geelong and Deakin University, Australia. Trained as General Surgeon in Auckland, New Zealand (FRACS), where he also gained a doctoral degree (MD) before sub-specialising in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery in Sydney, Australia. He has published more than 30 research papers in peer reviewed journals such as the British Journal of Surgery and Cochrane library, in addition to presentations at international surgical conferences. He has supervised two master’s degrees in surgery, and is heavily engaged in training the next generation of surgeons as a supervisor of training, accredited by the Royal Australian college of Surgeons.
Professor David Watters, AM, OBE, ChM FRCSEd, FCOSECSA FRACS. David Watters is Distinguished Professor of Surgery at Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. He is also Director of Surgery at Safer Care Victoria (SCV) and has just finished a two year role in leading the Perioperative Learning Health Network supporting the Victorian Surgical Recovery and Reform Process post pandemic. He is committed to improving perioperative care before, during and after surgery and is keen to support all disciplines involved across the patient journey. He has published over 250 papers and co-authored 7 books including two on Surgical History.
At the University Hospital Geelong, he specialises in general, colorectal and endocrine surgery. He is a Past President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (2015- 2016), having spent nine years on their Council from 2007. In 2022, he completed a three-year term as Chair of the inaugural Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council (2019 -2022). Internationally, he is also actively engaged in advocating for universal access to safe, affordable and timely surgery having worked previously in South Africa, Zambia, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea.