Excellence in Health Outcomes
Robyn Whittaker
Clinical Director of Innovation (i3)
Dr Robyn Whittaker is a Public Health Physician currently leading the innovation stream within a newly established Institute for Innovation and Improvement at Waitematā District Health Board. She leads the Leapfrog Programme of enterprise wide strategic projects, partnerships with industry and academic institutions (such as the Precision Driven Health research partnership), and a Centre for Health IT & Creative Design that works with DHB staff to develop and trial new things.
Karen Bartholomew
Director of Health Outcomes
Karen works as the Director of Health Outcomes across Auckland and Waitematā DHBs, two of the largest District Health Boards in New Zealand She leads a team of public health and health intelligence specialists and also works in the portfolio areas of Māori Health, women’s health and cancer.
Excellence in Patient Experience
Kaeti Rigarlsford
Consumer Council
Kaeti Rigarlsford is an inaugural member of the Consumer Council. Her passion for equality, equity and inclusion is driven by her experience of having had to rely on a wheelchair since she was 24-years-old. She has been working in the disability sector for more than 45 years, advocating for people with disabilities to be seen and treated as equal contributing members of society; promoting equal access to health care, employment and accommodation; and as promoting wellbeing - particularly for the elderly.
DJ Adams
Consumer Council (Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Kahungunu)
DJ Adams is an inaugural member of the Consumer Council. DJ was born and raised in Auckland and spent a good number of years in the South Island before coming back to Henderson in 2011. He now serves as the secretary of Ahu Whenua Trust Board, administering Whakaki Lake, and has strong ties to the Wairoa District. He is passionate about community services – especially making sure that quality and culturally appropriate healthcare services are available and accessible to the public. He is also a graduate of the Te Whare Tapa Whā (Māori model of health) and Powhiri Poutama (Māori framework for counselling, social work, mental health & social services) Programmes.
Excellence in Innovation
Jonathan Christiansen
Chief Medical Officer
Dr Jonathan Christiansen became Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Waitematā DHB in August 2019 after nearly two years as Associate CMO.
Stuart Bloomfield
Chief Information Officer
Stuart is the CIO of Waitematā & Counties Manukau District Health Board(DHB).
Excellence in Leadership
Tamzin Brott
Director of Allied Health, Scientific and Technical Professions
Tamzin was appointed as the Director of Allied Health, Scientific and Technical Professions in 2016. She trained as an occupational therapist in Wellington, and has since undertaken a Master of Health Science and a Master of Business Administration from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Tamzin’s experience includes a range of clinical and non-clinical occupational therapy roles across the adult health spectrum, including a large component in community health.
Jos Peach
Chief Nursing Officer, Professional Leadership
Excellence in Equity
Nigel Chee
Acting General Manager, Māori Health
Nigel is the Acting General Manager Māori Health, Waitemata DHB & Auckland DHB
Edward Benson-Cooper
WDHB Board member
Excellence in Primary and Community Care
Shayne Wijohn
Māori Health Gain Manager
Sue Wells
Associate Professor Health Innovation and Quality Improvement at The University of Auckland
Sue is a public health medicine specialist with a background of 10 years in general practice. She is an associate professor of clinical epidemiology and quality improvement at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland. Sue is also Associate Clinical Director for ProCare, the largest PHO in New Zealand with over 800,000 enrolled patients. Her research/work interests are on improving equity of services and health outcomes particularly for CVD and diabetes via primary care e-health initiatives.
Professional Development for Māori Health
Dianna McGregor
Māori Clinical Nurse Director
Is the Māori Clinical Nurse Director across ADHB/WDHB, she started in 2012 as the first Māori Nurse Specialist in WDHB. She started her nursing career in 1976 as a Nurse Aid, then an Enrolled Nurse, and finally a Registered Nurse. She describes herself as a generalist and stands proud of her Ngapuhi heritage, and of what Māori nurses and Midwives have achieved in her work life, to champion equity for their professions and of course our Māori communities.
Te Aniwa Tutara
Project Manager - Māori workforce development, Equity and Quality
Excellence in Research
There are no judges for this award category - Winners of the University of Auckland and Waitematā DHB Research Symposium will be acknowledged at the Health Excellence Awards
CEO Outstanding Contribution Award
Dale Bramley
Chief Executive Officer
Dale is the CEO of Waitematā District Health Board(DHB).
Mark Shepherd
Executive Director, Hospital Services
Young Employee of the Year — sponsored by Pak 'n Save Albany
Jos Peach
Chief Nursing Officer, Professional Leadership
Fiona McCarthy
Director – People and Culture
Fiona McCarthy is the Director, Human Resources of Waitematā District Health Board
