Congratulations to Marsden Old Girl and Hall of Fame Laureate, Dr Catherine Ferguson, on being made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours! 

Dr Ferguson has dedicated more than 30 years as an otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) surgeon in Wellington, becoming a pioneer for women in her field. Her remarkable contributions include developing otolaryngology training in New Zealand and Australia and serving in numerous leadership roles with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), including as its first female Chair of the Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee in 2006 and Vice President in 2018. Her efforts to address discrimination, bullying and harassment within the surgical profession led to the 2022 Building Respect and Improving Patient Safety Action Plan and the development of the "Operate with Respect" course, where she continues to lead as a key facilitator. Among her many accolades, Dr Ferguson was awarded the RACS Colin McRae Medal in 2023 for her outstanding contributions to surgical leadership. 

We are immensely proud of her trailblazing achievements.