The Roster Te Rārangi: Edition 25

New course proves popular
A new Matatini Ora Diploma (NZQA level 6) qualification was fully subscribed this year as health practitioners look to deepen their Mauri Ora (wellbeing approach) in Māori mental health and addiction practice. Leading the one-year course, which is provided by Māori education, leadership and research body Te Rau Ora, is Lynette Laing (Ngāti Kauwhata, Te Whānau a Apanui). Ms Laing has worked in a variety of settings in mental health, and has leadership and project management experience. A former New Zealand touch player, she was a personal trainer before transitioning to a nurse.

Back in the Bay
The primary health organisation (PHO) Health Hawke’s Bay – Te Oranga o Te Matau-a-Māui has a new chief executive, Phillipa Blakey. Ms Blakey had 10 years with Hawke’s Bay DHB before working as chief executive or chief operating officer for Australian and UK health organisations. In the past year, she has been contracting to the Ministry of Health and Treasury, including work on DHB performance and implementation of the Health and Disability System Review recommendations (The Roster Te Rārangi, Edition 6). She replaces Wayne Woolrich (Edition 20).

Ensuring the advice is right
Digital healthcare expert Ruth Large is the new chief clinical officer at Whakarongorau Aotearoa/National Telehealth Services, provider of 24/7 digital health advice channels and after-hours GP support. Dr Large has chaired the New Zealand Telehealth Leadership Group for three years. She is registered in emergency medicine and rural hospital medicine. Formerly clinical director of Thames Hospital, she recently held clinical health IT roles at Waikato DHB. Whakarongorau Aotearoa was formerly Homecare Medical.

Health data wrangled
Kyle Forde has led data and digital strategy at Dunedin-headquartered primary health network WellSouth for seven years, but recently moved on to partner with Susan Iversen at Karo Data Management. Karo provides solutions to PHOs, DHBs and community health providers developing workflow and data-processing tools. Mr Forde came to health IT after a career consulting in the private sector. A member of the Anglican Family Care board, and the Ministry of Health’s Digital Investment Board, he is also a primary care IT representative on the South Island service level alliance for information services.

Key role in Te Tai Tokerau
Jensen Webber has started as acting chief executive of Northland PHO Mahitahi Hauora, following the resignation of Phillip Balmer. Mr Webber is new to the organisation and is also chief financial officer for Ngāti Hine Health Trust. He was formerly chief executive of Te Tai Tokerau PHO, which merged with Manaia PHO to form Mahitahi Hauora in July 2019. Mr Webber also worked as a portfolio manager for Northland DHB. His new role runs until the end of June.

A vote of confidence
Mel Smith has been selected from a field of 40 to become chief executive of CCS Disability Action from 1 July. The incumbent, David Matthews, is leaving after 20 years’ service. Ms Smith was made deputy chief executive last year (edition 5), and has been general manager for the southern region since 2016. Beginning as a CCS support worker in 2002, she worked for the Deaf Society in Western Australia, returning to take regional team leader roles. Ms Smith’s special interest is disabled people’s employment.

Operational nous required
Joanne Gibbs has picked up the job of national director operations, COVID-19 immunisation and vaccine team at the Ministry of Health. Ms Gibbs is on secondment from Auckland DHB, where she is director of provider services. She qualified as a physiologist and also has an MBA. Ms Gibbs worked at deputy chief executive and chief operating officer level for 10 years in the NHS in England, prior to coming to New Zealand in 2015 for her Auckland DHB role.

Dr Bloomfield makes changes
High-profile COVID-19 communicator Ashley Bloomfield is both director-general of health and chief executive of the Ministry of Health, where he has been making changes. In a statement, the ministry says these are “in response to the current need – rolling out the vaccine, keeping the system running – while being cognisant that the Health and Disability System Review is expected to result in changes to the system that may impact the…operating model”. New, fixed-term deputy chief executives are in place.

A who's who overview
One of these deputies is Robyn Shearer, now deputy director-general, DHB performance and support. Ms Shearer was deputy director-general mental health and addiction so an appointee is acting in that role – group manager, specialist services Toni Gutschlag (Edition 15). Another of the new, temporary deputies is Clare Perry, deputy director-general health system improvement and innovation, a job previously held by Keriana Brooking (Edition 1). Karen Mitchell (Edition 23) is deputy director-general infrastructure and Sue Gordon (Edition 8), formerly deputy director-general corporate services, remains deputy chief executive in charge of the COVID-19 health system response (also once a Ms Brooking job).

On the border line
The Government will call on a new group of experts to guide COVID-19 decisions regarding border and public health settings. The strategic public health advisory group is chaired by epidemiologist and public health physician Professor Sir David Skegg. Other members are: Immunisation Advisory Centre director and GP Nikki Turner; epidemiologist and Centre for International Health director, Professor Philip Hill; clinical immunologist, allergist and immunopathologist Maia Brewerton; infectious diseases expert Professor David Murdoch; biostatistical expert Ella Iosua; and data modellers Rodney Jones and Shaun Hendy (special advisors).

Eyeing up vaccine safety
Capital & Coast DHB chief medical officer John Tait is chair of the newly formed COVID-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board. The board provides advice to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring, Medsafe, the COVID-19 immunisation programme and the Ministry of Health. Mr Tait, who also chairs the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee, is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. Other board members are: Nick Cutfield; Matt Doogue; Kyle Eggleton; Chris Frampton; Maryann Heather; Tom Hills; Hilary Longhurst; Thomas Lumley; Saskia Schuitemaker; Owen Sinclair (Te Rarawa); Lisa Stamp; Anja Werno ; and Enver Yousuf. Further details at nzdoctor.co.nz

Leadership on asthma
Wellington Regional Hospital respiratory clinical leader James Fingleton is the new medical director of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand. Dr Fingleton’s research focuses on the treatment of airways disease, particularly severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He is a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Otago and honorary research associate at Victoria University of Wellington. Dr Fingleton now chairs the foundation’s scientific advisory board and his predecessor, respiratory physician Stuart Jones, remains on the board.

The compass points to equity
Wellington regional PHO Tū Ora Compass Health has appointed one of its programme leads, Melissa Simpson, as general manager clinical services. The role carries an explicit commitment to delivering equity of health and wellbeing outcomes for Māori and Pasifika. Ms Simpson, who has been match nurse for Wellington’s Hurricanes rugby team, started her career nursing at Wellington Hospital, has been a healthcare auditor, and was clinical manager at Island Bay Medical Centre between 1989 and 2015.

You're all moving and shaking
Here at The Roster Te Rārangi, we get a slightly skewed picture of the health and wellbeing sector. We think almost all of you are on the move! Still, as you can see above, many people are doing something different this year. Please let colleagues know how easy it is to stay up to date, for free, by subscribing to The Roster!

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