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

Glynis Sandland (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine) is the new chief executive at Whakarongorau Aotearoa, where she has been chief operating officer since June last year. Ms Sandland has worked for Auckland Council and Westpac and, prior to joining Whakarongorau, was deputy chief executive, services for children and families, with Oranga Tamariki. Chair Roger Sowry says she will be focused on developing the Taki-o-Autahi partnership with Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Te Arawa Lakes Trust and Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, delivering equitable telehealth.

Wellington regional PHO Tū Ora Compass Health has welcomed Jo-Ann Henson (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Aitanga a Mahaki) as kaiwhakahaere Māori and population health general manager. Ms Henson will lead implementation of He Waka Eke Noa, the Tū Ora Māori Health Strategy. A Te Tiriti o Waitangi-based practitioner experienced in change leadership, she has her own Lean business consultancy. Ms Henson has worked for Hutt Valley’s Te Awakairangi Health Network and other PHOs and has been change lead for Collaborative Aotearoa.

Carlton Irving (Te Whakatōhea) has joined Te Aka Whai Ora as chief clinical officer, allied health. Mr Irving has 19 years’ experience in the ambulance sector working as a paramedic. His focus has been on the Māori health workforce and cultural safety. He helped to establish, and later chaired, the Māori advisory group for Hato Hone St John, and was inaugural chair of Te Kaunihera Manapou Paramedic Council.

Christchurch nurse Sahra Ahmed has been named the Green Party candidate for the Christchurch East electorate. An experienced advocate for the health and wellbeing of diverse communities, Ms Ahmed trained as a nurse in New Zealand and has 25 years of experience in the public and private sector. She is the refugee health clinical lead at Pegasus Health, supporting former refugees and asylum seekers resettling in Canterbury.

PwC digital health leader Karen Blake (Ngāi Tahu) has joined the board of trustees for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. A breast cancer survivor and former midwife, Ms Blake has more than 25 years’ health sector experience. The chair of Health Informatics New Zealand, she has held various governance roles across digital health and the public health sector.

Consumer Health Products New Zealand has appointed two pharmaceutical company leaders as chair and deputy chair. The lobby group, which has recently submitted on the Therapeutic Products Bill, represents importers, manufacturers and distributors of non-prescription medicines and natural health products. The new chair is Abs Saadi, New Zealand commercial head with Bayer and Marcus Thieme, country director of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health NZ, is deputy.

Whangamatā specialist GP Fiona Bolden remains chair of Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network after being re-elected earlier this year. Dr Bolden has been a rural GP since 1996. Northland nurse practitioner Rhoena Davis, former board secretary, is deputy chair. Ms Davis (Ngā Puhi Nui, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu) and Bill Nathan (Te Āti Awa ki Poneke, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāi Tahu) were reappointed to the board by Te Rōpū Ārahi. Board members to be re-elected were: former Clutha Health First chief executive Ray Anton; Mark Eager, Mobile Health chief executive; nurse Debi Lawri; and medical student Wilson Mitchell.