The Airway Leads Network, chaired by Dr Paul Baker, has been established to foster collaboration in airway management across New Zealand.
An Airway Lead has been identified in nearly all hospitals in New Zealand that provide anaesthetic services.  The Airway Lead is an anaesthetist who promotes safe airway management within their hospital.

The Airway Leads Network was initially started in the UK following recommendations from the National Audit Project 4 (NAP 4) on airway complications (and this role was suggested many years prior by the Difficult Airway Society in 1996).  Given the constantly evolving practice of airway management and introduction of new equipment, coordination is required to ensure training is kept up-to-date and that kit is appropriate to ensure optimal patient safety.  Standardisation of kit within a hospital, training and audit/quality assurance are key roles which the Airway Lead will coordinate.