Helen Heffernan, of Wellington, CNZM, for services to health
Helen Heffernan has worked in the field of antibiotic resistance for more than 40 years, primarily working at the National Health Institute and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research. Her microbiology and surveillance work has been crucial in underpinning the introduction of vaccine programmes against diseases such as haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcus and meningococcus. She developed the national cold chain standards for vaccine management, making vaccines safer for New Zealand recipients. She led a team that studied and reported on the spread of many challenging infections, thus helping medical clinicians reduce the rate of increase in antibiotic resistance in New Zealand. Ms Heffernan has been a member of numerous committees and advisory groups, and has represented New Zealand at World Health Organisation workshops and meetings.