Joanne Mitchell

Experience

• 

  University of Birmingham

  Oct 1989 - Sept 1999

  Research Technician>Associate>Fellow

  • Studied immune responses to bacteria in chronic lung infection• Presented work at national and international conferences• Sought grant funds for research, travel and equipment• Supervised students at all levels

• 

  Micropathology Ltd

  Oct 1999 - Mar 2012

  Clinical Scientist/Quality Manager

  • Established the company’s Quality Management System, developed the associated documentation and achieved accreditation • Developed audit tools and performed regular quality and safety audits• Recruited and trained staff• Provided a diagnostic service and developed assays for diagnostic and research uses• Authorised pathology reports; provided interpretive advice to clinicians and scientists

• 

  Canterbury Health Laboratories

  Apr 2012 - now

  Canterbury Health Laboratories is a tertiary referral medical diagnostic laboratory, part of Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand, providing a comprehensive pathology service.• Ensuring the laboratory has a fully functioning quality management system which meets ISO 17025 / ISO 15189 and other relevant standards. • Generating, maintaining and ensuring timely review of all required documentation, integrating with DHB-wide protocols and policies as necessary• Maintaining accreditation with IANZ and containment facility approval with Ministry for Primary Industries by organising internal and external quality and technical assessments• Working with the corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing team to enable the laboratory to meet compliance with ISO 15190, AS/NZS 2243.3 and Health & Safety at Work Act.• Investigating and responding to complaints, coordinating serious event reviews, and investigating/responding to enquiries from the Health and Disability Commissioner and OIA requests• Creating/maintaining a culture of continuous improvement in quality and safety matters, providing education and training to support that including creating training resources, supporting users of Sharepoint, the document management library, and incident reporting software Show less • Established safety protocols and documentation in NZ’s first hospital laboratory based Physical Containment Level 3 microbiology facility• Ensured the facility could support routine service and emergency requirements• Provided initial and refresher training in biosafety for all staff using the PC3 facility• Provided advice on biosafety issues to the wider laboratory• Coordinated local, national and international research projects for the laboratory• Honorary Fellow in the Department of Pathology, University of Otago, NZ Show less

  • Quality Manager

    Jan 2017 - now

  • PC3 Facility Manager/Research Co-ordinator

    Apr 2012 - Jan 2017