C&C DHB would like to introduce new CEO Mary Bonner.

Mary comes to C&C DHB from the Townsville Health District in Queensland where she was CEO for two and half years. She not only ensured that the Townsville Health District has continued to perform at a high level within the Queensland health system but also earned a strong reputation for service development. Mary is a New Zealander by birth and has worked in a number of District Health Boards, most recently as General Manager Health ServicesWaikato District Health Board, before leaving to go to Australia in 2006 to take up a position as General Manager of the Northern Sydney Central Coast Health Service in New South Wales. Mary has a background as a health professional, having initially trained and worked as a dietitian.

C&C DHB Chair Virginia Hope said it was a great pleasure to finally welcome Mary back to New Zealand into her new role as CEO. "We have had some wonderful people acting in an interim capacity but now the next challenge begins. I know that there are many people to support you in this role and in the past few years there has been an excellent foundation laid for us all to build on. Already there have been advances in clinical engagement, the way we work with Primary Care as well as a fostering of closer collaborative ties with Hutt Valley DHB and with our partners in the wider region. I know you have the attributes to help us go forward and we are all looking forward to working with you,” said Virginia.

New CEO Mary Bonner said it was a privilege to come to Capital & Coast to lead the organisation and thanked everyone for such a warm welcome. "Capital & Coast has a reputation for great leadership, strong clinical governance and dedicated staff. Where I have come from in North Queensland, the Townsville Hospital is the largest regional hospital in Australia, providing tertiary services for a geographical area over three times the size of New Zealand. The challenges we face here at Capital and Coast may be different, but how we will work together to meet those challenges will be similar. I am looking forward to working with you all in the future.

"On a personal note, my husband Neil and I are very pleased to come to Wellington and sample its many restaurants, and the sport and cultural activities. We are especially looking forward to going on bushwalks and not worrying about snakes. We are also pleased to be back in the country and closer to our families.”

On behalf of the Board, Keith Hindle said he had the pleasure of being on the interview panel to pick a new CEO. "We all thought Mary would bring a wealth of talent and experience to the role and we wish her well and look forward to working with her.