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

The national director of the new National Public Health Service under Health New Zealand, Nick Chamberlain, started in the role on 1 July. Until recently chief executive of Northland DHB, Dr Chamberlain is a specialist in general practice and medical administration. He will bring together the 12 existing public health units, Te Hiringa Hauora (Health Promotion Agency) and former Ministry of Health functions – including screening, immunisation and COVID-19 response services – in one national “team of teams”, interim Health NZ said last month via media release. With the demise of Northland DHB, Tracey Schiebli replaces Dr Chamberlain as interim district director for Te Tai Tokerau.

Tevita Funaki has been appointed ProCare Health (PHO) Ltd board chair, a role he held from 2011 to 2021 and returns to with the departure of Taima Campbell. Ms Campbell had five years on the board and one year as chair. Mr Funaki has served for 12 years as chief executive of Pacific provider The Fono. In a media release, ProCare says Sally Dalhousie, chief operating officer at The Fono, has been appointed to the board as a director.

Matthew Tukaki (Ngāi Te Rangi) is the new director of the Suicide Prevention Office. He is a former chair of Suicide Prevention Australia and has been active in indigenous suicide prevention for more than a decade. Mr Tukaki replaces acting director Sarah Hetrick. The office is implementing the Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2019–2024 for Aotearoa New Zealand: He Tapu te Oranga and Budget 2019 initiatives of $40 million over four years. Mr Tukaki is chair of the Māori Monitoring Group at the Ministry of Health.

Glynis Sandland has joined Whakarongorau Aotearoa/New Zealand Telehealth Services as chief operating officer. Ms Sandland oversees all Whakarongorau Aotearoa’s operations, including COVID-19 services and telehealth services, which includes population health, emergency response, mental health and health services – across digital channels. She has experience with Oranga Tamariki, Auckland Council and Westpac.

Julie Curphey has been appointed chief commercial officer at licensed medicinal cannabis company Helius Therapeutics. Ms Curphey’s background is in technology, pharmaceuticals, consumer healthcare and fast-moving consumer goods. She is a former Blis Technologies chief marketing officer, has held senior offshore roles at Pfizer, and worked for the New Zealand Dairy Board and HortResearch.

She is qualified in food science and business administration.

Former secretary of the Cabinet Michael Webster took up the role of privacy commissioner last week.

Mr Webster has worked in the Cabinet Office, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, for the past 13 years and has been secretary of the Cabinet and clerk of the Executive Council since March 2014.

He was formerly city secretary with Wellington City Council. The privacy commissioner administers the Health Information Privacy Code 2020, which sets rules for health agencies on health information collected, used, held and disclosed.