The Roster Te Rārangi: Edition 18

Pacific leader joins consultancy
Clinical psychologist Monique Faleafa MNZM has joined private consultancy PwC as a partner and head of the Auckland hauora team. Dr Faleafa, who is of Samoan heritage, undertook a doctorate centred on cultural factors in neuro-rehabilitation. She was for more than seven years chief executive of Le Va (see below). In June, she reported to the Ministry of Health on Core elements of Pacific Primary Mental Health and Addiction Service Provision. She worked in mental health clinical practice for 20 years with an emphasis on Pacific communities, and served as deputy chair of the NZ Psychologists’ Board and the Heath Promotion Agency.

Leading the LifeKeepers
Dr Faleafa’s successor at Le Va is Denise Kingi-Uluave. Le Va specialises in Pacific suicide prevention, mental health and addiction workforce development, disability support, public health, cultural competency and holistic wellbeing. A clinical psychologist of Tongan descent, Ms Kingi-Uluave led development of two suicide prevention programmes, Pasifika for Life and LifeKeepers. She serves on the Suicide Mortality Review Committee. She has worked in Australian and Māori mental health services, and in DHB funding and planning roles. Ms Kingi-Uluave also helped establish a Pacific maternal mental health service.

Public health body reconfigures
A Northlander with a passion for Māori development, former hands-on health manager Maxine Shortland (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Porou) now focuses her career on non-executive directorships. Formerly chief operating officer and then general manager at the Ngāti Hine Health Trust, Ms Shortland has been elected president of the Public Health Association. Her appointment is to be confirmed at a meeting this week. Next year a policy of co-presidents, to include at least one who is Māori, and a council of at least 50 per cent Māori members, will be considered.

Getting help 'as quickly as possible'
Laura Barkwill is the new head of clinical services at ProCare’s mental health and wellbeing service, Fresh Minds. In a media release, Ms Barkwill points to communities’ increasing need for mental healthcare: “I look forward to supporting my team with the important work they do, as well as looking for ways Fresh Minds can evolve and refine its model of care so people get the help they need as quickly as possible.” A clinical psychologist with experience in primary and secondary mental health, Ms Barkwill previously held clinical leadership roles at ProCare.

Rural networkers supreme
GP Kyle Eggleton is among new representatives announced by the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network. Dr Eggleton is rural director of the University of Auckland Medical School. He works part time in the university’s department of general practice and primary health care, and part time as medical officer for Northland provider Ki A Ora Ngātiwai. He becomes North Island representative for the network, alongside Grahame Jelley, Kristi Daniel, Rory Miller and Judith MacDonald. The South Island reps are Rhonda Johnson, Gemma Hutton and James MacMillan-Armstrong.

Clinicians advise cannabis firm
Auckland doctor Mark Hotu is a member of the new clinical advisory board guiding Katikati-based medicinal cannabis firm Eqalis Pharmaceuticals. Dr Hotu graduated in medicine in 2003 and has worked in internal medicine and general practice, with an interest in chronic pain and palliative patients. He started up the cannabis-prescribing Green Doctors in Auckland in 2018. Other Eqalis clinical advisors are: Raimond Jacquemard, Murray Hunt, Mark Wardill, Nigel Gregory and Elizabeth Plant (Eqalis chief medical officer).

A road less travelled
The newest board member at not-for-profit Patients First is Canterbury-based Sarah Clarke, whose career has been a varied one. Dr Clarke is tackling a masters in public health and working as a locum hospital doctor. Qualified in rural hospital medicine and urgent care, she has worked in the Pacific Islands and Antarctica, and spent five years as clinical leader at Kaitaia Hospital. In Northland, she established New Zealand’s first comprehensive training programme in regional rural hospital medicine. Patients First services include programme management, information integration, primary care liaison and information leadership support.

Honouring Te Tiriti
Alex Forsyth, Whanganui DHB’s director of allied health, scientific and technical, is a newly elected board member of Health Informatics NZ (HiNZ), alongside newly appointed board member Scott Arrol, who recently resigned as New Zealand Health IT chief executive to become CEO at Dementia NZ. Ms Forsyth, an experienced speech and language therapist, is working on her doctorate of health science and studying Pākeha health leaders’ role in honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. At the DHB, she is executive lead for telehealth and a member of the digital and data governance group. She co-chairs HiNZ’s clinical informatics leadership network.

Venturing into health
Pinnacle Ventures Ltd has appointed Mark Ingle to chair its board, replacing Craig McFarlane. Mr Ingle became a Ventures independent director in April. He is also an independent director on the board of Pinnacle’s founder, Pinnacle Midlands Health Network (a primary health organisation). He has many business involvements, including chair of technology firms Smooth Sensors Ltd and Fleetcoach Ltd. He chaired WEL Energy Trust for nearly 10 years. Mr McFarlane, meanwhile, remains on the Ventures board, and continues to chair the Midlands Regional Health Network Charitable Trust Board and the combined Pinnacle Inc and Midlands Health Network board.

Human dynamo wanted
Did you see Waikato DHB wants to appoint a new executive director strategy, investment and transformation? The job description lists system transformation, strategy and funding, asset management, capital projects, enterprise portfolio office and locality development as all coming under the ambit of the human dynamo to be appointed (closing date, 5 December). As always, I'd appreciate your forwarding this email to colleagues who may like to subscribe free to The Roster Te Rārangi. Please get in touch with info on changes and appointments for the last edition of the year, with a deadline of 11 December. Thanks all.

– Virginia McMillan, editor; phone 021 914 699;
email vmcmillan@nzdoctor.co.nz