Acting Health and Disability Commissioner announces a new Director of Proceedings

The acting Health and Disability Commissioner is pleased to announce the appointment of Jane Herschell as the new Director of Proceedings | Pouārahi o Ngā Hāmenetanga.

Dr Vanessa Caldwell says Ms Herschell brings 25 years’ experience of practising civil litigation in Aotearoa New Zealand and England, specialising in the medico-legal field. She was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand in 1998, and as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2003. Jane joined the independent bar in New Zealand in 2004.

"The Director of Proceedings is a critical function performed at the end of the continuum of protecting health and disability services consumers’ rights where the most serious of breaches have occurred.

"Jane has the requisite experience required for this hard mahi having ably assisted several DPs as external counsel in a variety of disciplinary and Human Rights Review Tribunal litigation, and she brings a wealth of other litigation and medico-legal experience to the role," said Dr Caldwell.

Ms Herschell says she feels privileged to use her experience to help and empower consumers - especially the vulnerable and voiceless.

"I look forward to being part of a dynamic team which is committed to the important work of the Commissioner's office. I embrace the challenge of promoting and protecting consumers’ rights in an increasingly complex health and disability services environment, while staying true to the independent obligations of a public prosecutor."