Our Governance

Professor Lester Levy CNZM - Chair

Professor Lester Levy is the current Commissioner for Health New Zealand and serves as Chair of the Health Research Council. He has chaired multiple District Health Boards and is a Professor of Digital Health Leadership at Auckland University of Technology. Professor Levy has been appointed to a 12 month term.

Dr Andrew Connolly MNZM – Deputy Chair

Dr Andrew Connolly is a general and colorectal surgeon with a distinguished clinical background and is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Counties Manukau. He is also currently the Chair of the Health Workforce and System Efficiencies Committee, a former Chair of the Medical Council, and former member of the Health Quality and Safety Commission. He has also served as a Deputy Commissioner and Observer for various District Health Boards.

Roger Jarrold – Member

Roger Jarrold is currently Deputy Commissioner – Finance of Health New Zealand and a Board member of the New Zealand Blood and Organ Service. He has extensive financial experience, having worked in finance in the private and public sectors for over 40 years. Mr Jarrold has been appointed to a 12 month term.

Dr Frances Hughes CNZM – Member

Dr Frances Hughes is a registered nurse and current member of the boards of the Health Research Council and the Water Services Authority. She has over 30 years of nursing experience and has held senior healthcare positions in several countries, including as Chief Nurse of New Zealand at the Ministry of Health, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at Queensland Health, and Chief Executive Officer at the International Council of Nurses.

Parekawhia McLean (Ngāti Maahanga, Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto) – Member

Parekawhia McLean is currently the Chair of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee, Te Whakakitenga o Waikato (the governance body of Waikato-Tainui), a director of Transpower, and the Chief Executive of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Parekawhia has extensive governance experience and is a former Chief Executive of Waikato-Tainui.

Hon Peter McCardle – Member

Peter McCardle has over 30 years of public sector and political experience, with a strong focus on health policy and system performance. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1990 to 1999, including ministerial portfolios. He also served as a member of the Hutt Valley District Health Board and Upper Hutt City Council as Councillor, Deputy Mayor, and Chair of the Council’s Audit Committee.

Terry Moore – Member

Terry Moore is the current Chair of Canopy Healthcare, Deputy Chair of IGENZ - Innovative Genomics, and a Board member of CHT Care Homes. Terry brings significant experience working in both the public and private health sectors, including serving as the CEO of Southern Cross Healthcare between 2007 and 2022.

Crown observer

Bio: Hamiora Bowkett (Te Arawa, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Rangiwewehi)

Mr Bowkett has 25 years’ experience across the public and private sectors, with expertise in health, infrastructure, and Māori development. He currently leads the Health Assurance Unit, overseeing key Government health priorities, including infrastructure funding, legislative reform, and monitoring of Health New Zealand.

In 2019, Mr Bowkett was jointly appointed by Ministers to the Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley District Health Boards.

Ministerial Health Infrastructure Committee

Dr Margaret Wilsher – Chair

Dr Wilsher is a highly experienced respiratory physician and Chief Medical Officer at Health New Zealand - Auckland.

She has significant senior governance experience and extensive financial and clinical leadership experience, including serving on the Capital Investment Committee for the Government overseeing health infrastructure investment between 2011 and 2023.

Mark Binns

Mr Binns is a qualified lawyer and a former partner of Simpson Grierson in Auckland.

He was Chief Executive of Meridian Energy from 2012 to 2017, and before that spent 22 years with Fletcher Building, including 15 years as Chief Executive of the Construction and Infrastructure division.

James Christmas

James Christmas is an Auckland barrister with extensive experience in public law, governance, and Crown entity oversight.

He has advised on major policy and infrastructure matters and brings a strong understanding of public sector accountability, financial management, and the legal frameworks that govern infrastructure investment.

Sarah Sinclair

Sarah Sinclair is a highly regarded construction, infrastructure, and energy specialist with extensive experience acting for both government and private sector clients in large-scale, complex infrastructure projects and public sector reform programmes.

Evan Davies

Evan Davies has multi-sector knowledge and has held a diverse range of senior leadership roles over the last 30 years. He has recently been appointed as the Crown Manager to the Health New Zealand New Dunedin Hospital Inpatient Building Project.

Roger Jarrold

Roger Jarrold is currently Deputy Commissioner – Finance of Health New Zealand and a Board member of the New Zealand Blood and Organ Service.

He has extensive financial experience, having worked in finance in the private and public sectors for over 40 years. Mr Jarrold has been appointed to a 12 month term.

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