Photo: 123rf
Four new regional directors are hoped to bring decision making to a local level, as part of a reset of Te Whatu Ora Health NZ.
It comes just over a week after an overhaul of its board.
On Wednesday, they were named as Mark Shepherd (Northern, Te Tai Tokerau), Catherine Cronin (Midland, Te Manawa Taki), Robyn Shearer (Central, Ikaroa), and Martin Keogh (South Island, Te Waipounamu).
The new commissioner, Dr Lester Levy, announced the creation of these roles as part of a push to reduce "bloat" within the organisation, and devolve decisions to a more local level.
"These appointments represent a welcome next step in our efforts to reset Health NZ," he said.
Te Whatu Ora chief executive Margie Apa said the objective was "to empower regions and bring decision making closer to the communities where care is being provided".
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti welcomed the news, saying the last government's "botched health reforms" had removed local leadership, which resulted in "layers of bureaucracy and a disconnection from the frontline".
"As a government, we've made it clear that our first and foremost priority is delivering better public services for New Zealanders - particularly in health," he said.
The new directors would hold budgets and accountability for their regional hospital services and other government-funded health services.
They would begin in their roles progressively from 19 August to 16 September.
About the new directors
Mark Shepherd
- Currently regional director for hospital and specialist services for Health NZ's Northern region
- Previously executive director for hospital services on Waitematā District Health Board from 2020 to 2022
- Locumed as chief operating officer for Peter MacCallum Cancer Centres in Australia
- Held executive leadership roles at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and general management roles in hospitals throughout New South Wales, where he began his nursing career
- Moved to New Zealand for a short term opportunity four years ago, and never left
Catherine Cronin
- Held executive roles in public health in Melbourne and Auckland since 2006
- Worked at Monash Health as interim chief operating officer for acute services, deputy chief operating officer for Monash surgery, and director of transformation from 2019 to 2024
- From 2012 to 2019 she worked at Waitematā District Health Board as the director of hospital services and before that, clinical director of surgical services at Alfred health
- Previously worked as a nurse in various hospitals in New Zealand and Australia
Robyn Shearer. Photo: RNZ Insight/Karen Brown
Robyn Shearer
- Moving from her role as deputy director-general for clinical, community and mental health at the Ministry of Health, where she has held a range of executive leadership roles beginning in 2019
- Previously worked as deputy director general for DHB performance, system performance and monitoring, and established and led the mental health directorate
- Spent 10 years as chief executive at Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui, the national workforce development centre for mental health and addictions
- Worked as a mental health nurse in Bay of Plenty and Waitematā DHBs, Greenlane Hospital and General Management at Taranaki DHB
Martin Keogh
- Spent eight years as chief operating officer, and then interim chief executive for almost a year, at Monash Health in Melbourne
- Led operational and strategic delivery of Victoria's largest mass vaccination and outbreak management supports during Covid-19
- Oversaw commissioning of a new Monash Children's Hospital, Australasia's first dedicated cardiac hospital (Victorian Heart Hospital) and one of the largest organisation wide Electronic Medical Record (EMR) implementations
- Originally trained as a registered nurse, and practised in the areas of emergency and cardiology before specialising in intensive care nursing