Role Call - People on the move and gaining recognition in the health sector

The RNZCGP has appointed specialist GP Jason Tuhoe as chair of its Māori representative group Te Akoranga a Māui. Dr Tuhoe (Hauraki, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Pikiao) was named deputy chair in August 2020, having been board apprentice from 2019. He replaces Rachel Mackie as chair. He achieved college fellowship in 2016, has worked in general practices in Papakura, Ōtara, Tokoroa and New Plymouth, and is now a virtual GP employed by Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki. Dr Tuhoe also advises Te Aka Whai Ora on primary and community care.

Leadership, education, research, health workforce development and innovation organisation Te Rau Ora has appointed a chief executive to replace Maria Baker. He is Riki Nia Nia (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tonga) and he will join Te Rau Ora late next month. Mr Nia Nia has had 25 years in executive leadership in DHBs. He was interim district co-director of Te Whatu Ora Waikato after being appointed executive director, Māori, equity & health improvement at the Waikato DHB in July 2020. Most recently, he has been interim regional director Te Manawa Taki for Te Aka Whai Ora.

Lisa Williams joined Te Whatu Ora earlier this month as head of strategy, planning & performance after more than 16 years at Pharmac. Ms Williams was the agency’s general counsel, then managed pharmaceutical funding for five years before being promoted to director of operations in February 2018. Prior roles included being a solicitor for the Ministry of Health and GlaxoSmithKline in the UK. In her new role, she is responsible for leading development, planning and performance measurement and monitoring activities nationally across Te Whatu Ora. Ms Williams leads a team in the chief executive’s office helping to support prioritisation and investment decisions.

The national office chief executive at the Cancer Society of New Zealand is Rachael Hart, for a term of two years. Well known to the society, Dr Hart became chief executive of its Otago/Southland division in September 2016. Prior to that, she had postings in Fiji, Afghanistan and Laos with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has also led not-for-profit organisations in Sydney and has a PhD in peace and conflict studies. She replaces Lucy Elwood.

Telehealth provider Emergency Consult has appointed independent board director, advisor, author, speaker and educator Peter Crow to chair its board. Dr Crow has international experience and is a member of the Global Peter Drucker Society, the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management and the International Corporate Governance Network. He holds a doctorate in corporate governance and strategy, and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors. He replaces Myles Whitcher at Emergency Consult.

Former Green Cross Health chief operating officer Alison Van Wyk last month left the company after 13 years to take up the post of executive general manager for pharmaceutical wholesaler ProPharma. While at Green Cross Health, Mrs Van Wyk served as professional services executive and chief executive of Access Community Health. ProPharma is owned by EBOS Group Ltd.