SPEAKERS

rAY pOSTUMA, md, FRCSC

Ray Postuma, born in the Netherlands in 1941, emigrated with his family to Canada at age 10. Following medical education and surgical training in Manitoba and England, he became a pediatric surgeon at the Children’s Hospital Winnipeg and educator at the University of Manitoba in 1976. Ray was inspired by Dr. CC Ferguson, pediatric surgeon and Canada’s first full time professor of surgery and department head. Ray was promoted to full professor of surgery in 1986, having contributed to surgical undergraduate education locally and internationally. He helped develop the initial clerkship learning objectives for CUSEC, was an early contributor to the Association for Surgical Education (ASE) meetings and an early adopter of information technology in surgical education.

Other key contributions include establishing intravenous hyperalimentation (TPN) in Manitoba during his surgical training (1969-1973), founding the Manitoba Home Nutrition Program in 1990, and serving as the catalyst and founding medical director for the Manitoba Telehealth Program starting in 1995. He also founded the inner-city Hope Centre Health Clinic in 1982. In 2013, Ray received the Diamond Jubilee award for his community work.

Ray and his wife, Jane, have four married children working in professional fields, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, with two more expected soon. Retired since 2006, they remain busy travelling to and with family, serving on their condo board, doing congregational care visits, and alas, not leaving time for golf!

Hon. Andrew Furey, MD, FRCSC, MSc., MSM., Dip. Org. Leadership

Experienced Executive, Physician, Humanitarian and former Premier of Newfoundland & Labrador

Professional Experience | Key Highlights:

• Leadership of generational initiatives for the province of NL related to Churchill Falls hydro-electrical development - including negotiation of a rate mitigation agreement with the federal government worth $5.2-billion and a new $227-billion MOU with Québec.

• Leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging Masters’ education in Clinical Epidemiology.

• Led negotiations that secured the future of NL’s oil and gas sector.

• Launched new clean energy industry in province of NL based on wind and hydrogen.

• Created strategic fiscal and policy decisions that produced a much-needed credit rating upgrade for NL.

• Deep experience in high-level policy and economic discussions with senior leaders such as Prime Minister Mark Carney and provincial Premiers, with a focus on cross-border and interprovincial trade. Chair Canadian Atlantic Premiers: 2020 and 2024.

• Progressive thinking Liberal with strong relationships across the political spectrum, including close alignment with Prime Minister Carney’s economic and leadership vision.

• International leadership and diplomatic skills – participation in various international trade missions - and successful repatriation of an Unknown NL Solider from France to NL.

• Founded and led Team Broken Earth. Built relationships with foreign professionals, government representatives and NGOs to meet in-country needs. Scaled operations from a single mission to a global initiative, delivering critical medical aid in disaster zones and conflict areas, including Haiti and beyond. Built and managed a multidisciplinary team of over 1,000 volunteers, secured CRA charitable status and funding partners.

• Experienced Orthopaedic Surgeon, having held positions including Chief of Orthopaedics, Eastern Health 2015-2020, Associate Professor of Surgery (Orthopaedics), MUN 2006-2020 and Fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Maryland/Johns Hopkins (2006-2007).

• Published author: Hope in the Balance: A Newfoundland Doctor Meets a World in Crisis, Penguin Random House, 2020.

• Recipient of various awards and recognitions including: Memorial University Alumnus of the year (2012), King’s Coronation Medal (2025) and Honorary Doctorate – Canadian University Dubai (2024) and Humanitarian of the Year, Canadian Red Cross NL (2017).