ROLE CALL: Teachers’ boss moves to nurses’ union; Pharmacy Council’s new faces; Right royal research

Key union figure will lead NZNO

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has appointed Paul Goulter as chief executive starting 21 February 2022. NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says Mr Goulter is demonstrably committed to te Tiriti o Waitangi and “eager to assist us in our organisation’s journey towards true biculturalism”. The national secretary of New Zealand's largest education union, NZEI Te Riu Roa, he formerly was general secretary of finance sector union Finsec (now FIRST union) and secretary of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, and is a director of both Co-operative Bank and Air New Zealand. NZNO professional services manager Mairi Lucas is the acting chief executive.

Auckland pharmacy academic Amy Chan, Māori Pharmacists Association – Ngā Kaitiaki o te Puna Rongoā president Mariana Hudson and Auckland pharmacist Natalia Nu'u have been appointed to the Pharmacy Council. The appointments were made by associate minister of health Aupito William Sio following an application process.

The trio replace outgoing council member Jeff Harrison, whose term ended in September; and Emma Salis and Charlotte Schimanski, who resigned in June saying they felt the organisation did not share their values. Council chair Arthur Bauld and deputy chair Michelle Lomax have been reappointed, and Ahmad Zareh, Katrina Azer and Ming-chun Wu are existing members.

Ms Hudson (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou) is a researcher and locum pharmacist based in Ōpōtiki.

Ms Hudson says her first job will be working out the processes of the council. She says she is honoured to be able to give her perspective in discussions affecting the future of the profession.

Ms Nu’u, co-owner at Hillsborough Pharmacy in Auckland, is treasurer of the Pacific Pharmacists’ Association. She says it was a big decision to apply for the role and she is honoured to have been selected. Amy Hai Yan Chan is a senior clinical research fellow who divides her time between the Auckland School of Pharmacy and Auckland DHB.

Dr Chan says she is looking forward to working with council members to deliver a cohesive and robust framework that will ensure health and wellbeing through safe pharmacy practice.

• Pharmacy Today

Distinguished professor Philippa Howden-Chapman and team at the University of Otago, Wellington, have been awarded the 2021 Rutherford Medal, New Zealand’s top research honour, by the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Professor Howden-Chapman, Julian Crane, Michael Keall and Nevil Pierse and colleagues carry out research into the impact of housing interventions on health and wellbeing. In a statement, the society says that, under Professor Howden-Chapman’s inspirational leadership, the research at He Kāinga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme has shown how straightforward housing improvements to cold, damp, and unsafe conditions can significantly reduce rates of infectious, respiratory and cardiovascular disease and deaths, particularly for children and older people.

University of Otago deputy vice-chancellor (research and enterprise) Richard Blaikie says much of the work has “led to material changes in our national housing standards and regulatory framework, and have made positive impacts for many people and communities”. The medal comes with $100,000 in prize money from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The Royal Society Te Apārangi awarded its Liley Medal to a multi-agency team led by the ESR’s Sarah Jefferies for a landmark paper in Lancet Public Health (online 13 October 2020) analysing the impact of New Zealand’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Jefferies says she was delighted to be involved in the study alongside colleagues from ESR and Massey University.