A Legacy of Inclusion and Insight
Katrina Penney’s Reflection as an Educator
Katrina Penney is a founding trustee of the MSF New Zealand Charitable Trust and a founding member of the Auckland MSF support network group. She currently serves as the President of Médecins Sans Frontières. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to supporting patients—especially those from refugee backgrounds—through midwifery care, refugee health, public health, eCALD education, and many other roles.
She shares with us how her involvement in the eCALD programme has shaped her perspective on cultural competency and how she continues to pass on her knowledge to others.
It’s hard to believe that 20 years have passed since the inception of the eCALD programme—an initiative that began with bold ideas and has since blossomed into a cornerstone of culturally responsive education. For me, this moment is deeply personal, intertwined with the memory of working alongside the eCALD founder - Sue Lim in 2010 during the development of the national Refugee Resettlement Strategy. That chapter marked the beginning of a journey that transformed not only how I saw cultural competency, but how I taught it.
Sue was a woman of conviction. She didn’t just see ideas—she embraced them fully, shaped them into workable pathways, and breathed life into possibilities that were impossible to ignore. Her approach stripped away the jargon and complexity that often surrounds cultural learning. In its place, she introduced accessibility, practicality, and a deep respect for common sense wisdom.
At the heart of the eCALD courses is a simple, yet powerful philosophy: learning happens best in conversation. The curriculum brings together health professionals from all walks of life, creating a space where experience, empathy, and education meet. Participants often tell us how the courses resonate with their own lived realities—how the examples mirror situations they encounter daily, and how those “aha” moments spark ideas for tangible improvements, both big and small, within their work environments.
The magic lies in the stories. While the content reflects knowledge many participants already carry, it’s the shared storytelling—the listening and the telling—that unlocks genuine learning. There’s something profound about watching someone realize that their background isn’t a barrier, but a bridge. That their experience is not just valid, but vital.
Being an educator in this space is a privilege beyond words. Over the years, I’ve met incredible individuals—each bringing their own spark and wisdom into the room. They’ve taught me as much as I’ve ever taught them. It’s these interactions, these micro-moments of insight and connection, that continue to energize the eCALD mission.
Sue’s legacy can still be felt in every module, every discussion, and every participant who leaves the programme equipped with not just skills, but a mindset of openness. She believed in peeling away the layers of fear and unfamiliarity that often surround cultural differences. In their place, she cultivated understanding, practicality, and humanity.
As we celebrate this 20-year milestone, we look back with gratitude—and forward with purpose. eCALD continues to evolve, responding to the shifting landscapes of our communities, while holding true to its foundational values: inclusion, relevance, and compassion. Here's to the next chapter, one story at a time.
