The Director-General of Health Chai Chuah today announced five appointments to the Ministry of Health’s executive leadership team.

They are –

Chief People and Transformation Officer – Stephen Barclay, who was Chief Executive of the San Francisco America's Cup Events Authority and has a long career in implementing change in large high profile organisations.

Māori Leadership – Alison Thom, latterly the regional director for the Ministry of Education for Auckland/Northland and formerly Chief Executive of Te Runanga A Iwi o Ngapuhi, Deputy-Secretary at Te Puni Kōkiri, and General Manager of Rehabilitation & Reintegration at the Department of Corrections.

Director Service Commissioning – Jill Lane, who will move from her current role as the Ministry’s Director of National Services Purchasing.

Chief Financial Officer – Stephen O’Keefe, who comes to the Ministry from KiwiRail where he was Group General Manager Strategy and Business Transformation. He has a record of financial management and working with teams across the business to improve performance.

Director Critical Projects – Michael Hundleby, who until last month was Acting Director of the National Health Board.

Chai Chuah said he was delighted to announce a group of such accomplished professionals to take on critical positions in leading the re-shaped Ministry of Health in implementing the updated New Zealand Health Strategy. The strategy was released by the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Jonathan Coleman, at the beginning of the week.

‘These are significant appointments and I am very pleased with the process, the quality of the candidates and what the appointees will add to our organisation in their new roles,’ Mr Chuah said.