Jonathan Christiansen, Chair of the NZ Clinical Senate, is pleased to confirm the membership of the newly established New Zealand Clinical Senate (NZCS)—a multidisciplinary group formed as part of the Health Delivery Plan.

Following an incredible response to our call for Expressions of Interest, over 200 applications were carefully reviewed.

We are delighted to welcome a diverse group of members that represent the rich diversity of our health workforce located across the motu. Our members represent a wide range of professions and areas of practice from hospitals to primary, community, public health, academia and more.  Members were also selected to ensure representation from urban, rural and remote regions in New Zealand, with roles that work with Māori and Pacific communities being prioritised.

The NZCS is committed to ensuring that the voices of those delivering care are central to decision-making. While we acknowledge that some professions and areas of practice are underrepresented, we will continue to evolve the Senate to reflect the full breadth of clinical expertise across the motu. 

The first NZCS meeting will be held on Friday 10th October in Auckland, with the topic to be decided shortly.

The NZCS will bring together clinicians from across Aotearoa New Zealand to provide strategic advice on system-wide, cross discipline issues that impact the quality, affordability, and efficiency of patient care. This advice will be provided to the newly formed Health New Zealand (HNZ) Board, informed by professional experience, best practice, and available evidence.

To everyone who expressed interest in joining the NZCS—thank you. Your dedication to improving our health system is deeply appreciated. We look forward to future opportunities to connect, collaborate, and continue building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

For any queries, please reach out to hnz-nzclinicalsenate@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Membership list

A Co-Chair from each of the National Clinical Networks will also be part of the Senate Membership.

National Clinical Networks

Name Role Region District
Alex Psirides Intensivist & Co-Director, Wellington ICU Central Capital Coast and Hutt Valley
Alexander Stapleton Urgent Care Specialist, GP Te Manawa Taki Taranaki
Alexandra Mutu Clinical Director Occupational Health Northern Waitemata
Alison Eddy CE, New Zealand College of Midwives Te Waipounamu Canterbury
Amanda Johnston Dentist Northern Te Tai Tokerau
Andrea Reilly Clinical Nurse Specialist, Cancer Coordination and National Bowel Screening Te Waipounamu West Coast
Andrew Bowers Acute Medical Physician, Clinical Director Medicine, Emergency Department & IT Te Manawa Taki Lakes
Anthony Valvoi Sterile Sciences Department Manager Te Manawa Taki Taranaki
Brendan Marshall Rural Generalist Obstetrician, CMO Te Waipounamu West Coast
Briar Bennett Senior Renal Dietitian Northern Te Tai Tokerau
Brock Dale Chief Pharmacist Te Manawa Taki Tairawhiti
Brylee Thompson Clinical Nurse Manager, Mid-North District Nursing Services Northern Te Tai Tokerau
Calvin Davis GP Te Waipounamu West Coast
Catherine D'Souza SMO Palliative Medicine Te Waipounamu South Canterbury
Catherine McIntosh Physiotherapist, Regional Manager & National Vocational Rehabilitation Portfolio Lead Te Manawa Taki Bay of Plenty
Charlene Tan-Smith Dietitian, Consultant Manager Te Waipounamu Canterbury and West Coast
Claire Russell Clinical Advisor, Thames Hospital ED Te Manawa Taki Waikato
Clare Randall Pharmacist Prescriber, CE Arohanui Hospice Central MidCentral
Colleen Bowring Nurse, National Clinical and Quality Manager Northern Te Toka Tumai
Debbie Wilson Nurse, Sustainability Practitioner/Consultant Northern  Te Toka Tumai
Dianne Marshal Nurse, Clinical Effectiveness Manager, Quality & Patient Safety Te Manawa Taki Waikato
Emma Griffiths Pharmacist, Clinical Lead and Practice Northern  Counties Manukau
Felicity Lallier Paramedic Central MidCentral
Felicity Williamson Harpur Medical Officer of Health and Public Health Medicine Specialist Northern Te Toka Tumai
Fiona Bradley General Manager, Community Pharmacist Te Waipounamu Canterbury
Fiona Millard GP Central Capital and Hutt Valley
Francessa Wilson Clinical Director, Starship Radiology Northern Te Toka Tumai
Grace Conway Social Work Advanced Clinician, Safeguarding Adults from Abuse Coordinator Northern Waitemata
Grace Hurdley GP Central Hawke's Bay
Heide Griesemann Consult Liaison Psychiatrist, Clinical Head of Department Acute Specialist Services, Mental Health and Addiction Service Northern Te Tai Tokerau
Helen Evans Clinical Director  Paediatric Medical Specialties, Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist Northern Te Toka Tumai
Iris Fontanilla Clinical Lead Psychology, Consultant Health Psychologist Northern Te Toka Tumai
Jackie Heapy Nurse Occupational Health, GM Kaimahi Hauora Te Manawa Taki Taranaki
Jan Goddard Chief Pharmacist, Operations Manager Te Manawa Taki Waikato
Jasmine McKay Urgent Care Specialist Clinical Director, Primary Care Te Waipounamu Canterbury
John Conneely Nurse, Quality Systems Manager, Mental Health and Addictions Group Central Hawke's Bay
John Hildreth Clinical Nurse Manager Te Manawa Taki Lakes
Jonathan Chen Intensive Care Manager, General and Acute Care Medicine Specialist Te Manawa Taki Bay of Plenty
Jordana Sweeney Clinical Leader of Occupational Therapy Te Manawa Taki Tairawhiti
Karl Lyons Deputy Dean (Clinical) Faculty of Dentistry, Dentist Te Waipounamu Southern
Kayla Luke School-based Health Nurse, Senior Nurse Educator Te Manawa Taki Taranaki 
Kirsten Birrell Senior Medical Laboratory, Scientist Central Hawke's Bay
Leslie Gonsette Internal Medicine Consultant, Head of Department Te Manawa Taki Bay of Plenty
Leslie Han Yan Oral Health Therapist, Interpreter Northern Waitemata
Linda Hill Director of Nursing, Nurse Maude Te Waipounamu Canterbury
Luana Penese Director Nursing Primary, Community Aged Care Central Capital and Hutt Valley
Lucinda Whiteley GP, Regional Clinical Director Primary and Community Care, Clinical Lead Health Pathways Te Waipounamu Canterbury
Marianne Lill General Surgeon Central Whanganui
Mark Peterson GP Central Hawke's Bay
Matthew Marion ED SMO, Head of Department Te Manawa Taki Tairawhiti
Mel Sutton Nurse Practitioner Rural Primary Care Te Waipounamu Nelson Marlborough
Michael Connelly Clinical Director - Emergency Medicine, Taranaki Te Manawa Taki Taranaki
Michal Noonan Nurse Practitioner Northern Te Toka Tumai
Morgan Edwards Anaesthetist, President NZ Society of Anaesthetists Northern Waitemata
Natasha Rafter Public Health Physician, Clinical Chief Advisor - Intelligence Central Capital and Hutt Valley
Nick Gow ID/General Medicine SMO Northern Waitemata
Nick Jones  Public Health Physician, Medical Officer of Health Central Hawke's Bay
Nicky McCarthy Dietitian Te Waipounamu Southern
Pablo Richly Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Consultant and Clinical Lead Te Manawa Taki Waikato
Per Kempe Obstetrician Gynaecologist, Clinical Lead Central MidCentral
Priyna Shahi Nurse Practitioner Mental Health Northern Counties Manukau
Rene Templeton Physiotherapist, Chief Allied Health Scientific and Technical Te Waipounamu South Canterbury
Renee Noble Nurse, Clinical Advisor and Lead Te Waipounamu Canterbury
Richard Cooper Radiologist, HoD, Co-Chair Central Region Radiology Delivery Network Central Hawke's Bay
Rob Allan Divisional Lead - Laboratory Services Te Waipounamu Canterbury
Rob Burrell Anaesthesia, Clinical Lead, National Sustainability Team Northern Counties Manukau
Ruchith Gooneratne GP Northern Counties Manukau
Ruth Large Chief Clinical Officer, Whakarongorau Aotearoa Northern  Te Toka Tumai
Sally Watson Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist - Orthopaedics Central Hawke's Bay
Stephanie Taylor GP Northern Te Toka Tumai
Stephen Crandall Emergency Medicine Specialist, Taupo Te Manawa Taki Lakes
Steven York Podiatrist, Principal Advisor - Hauora Maori Service Northern Te Tai Tokerau
Stuart Cook Extended Care Paramedic Te Waipounamu Canterbury
Stuart Dalziel Paediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, Director of Emergency Medicine Research Northern Te Toka Tumai
Susan Hewitt Team Leader - Radiation Therapist Central  Capital and Hutt Valley
Suzanne Hamilton Emergency Medicine Specialist Te Waipounamu Canterbury
Tamara Karu Midwife Central Hawke's Bay
Tammy Pegg Cardiologist Te Waipounamu Nelson-Marlborough
Vanessa Abbott Nurse, Quality Coordinator Central Whanganui
Wiremu Kohere-Tipoki Hospital Dentist Te Manawa Taki Tairawhiti
Yoram Barak Professor and Consultant Psychogeriatrician Te Waipounamu Southern
Yuki Aoyagi Consultant and Clinical Director, Internal Medicine Department Te Waipounamu Southern