Our executive leadership team

Karla Bergquist Executive Director for Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability Services (MHAIDS)

Karla was appointed to the Executive Director for Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability Services (MHAIDS) in April 2021. She co-leads MHAIDS in partnership with the Executive Clinical Director for MHAIDS, focusing on strategic leadership and commissioning of mental health and addiction services across the 3DHBs.

Karla is a Registered Nurse and has held senior clinical and management positions in a variety of mental health settings in both New Zealand and Australia. Her most recent role was Executive Director of Emerge Aotearoa, a large national NGO delivering a range of mental health, disability and housing services across the New Zealand.

Karla is a strong supporter of peer-led services and the development of the lived experience workforce, and has a keen interest in the use of data to inform practice and service improvement. She also brings a proven history of delivering services that are values driven with a focus on equity and clinical excellence.

Ruth Berry Acting Director Communications & Engagement

Jennifer de Ridder Interim Chief Allied Professions Officer

Jamie Duncan Interim Lead – Hospital and Specialist Services

Joy Farley Director Provider Services

Joy was appointed Director of Provider Services of both DHBs in December 2019. Joy has held senior leadership positions at a number of DHBs, including Auckland, Southern, Taranaki, Waikato and at the Ministry of Health. Joy has also worked as a consultant developing strategies for improved organisational performance across DHBs and NGOs.

As Director of Provider Services, Joy has 2DHB accountability for leading all aspects of provider service delivery, including regional integration, operational and financial management, staffing, and performance against organisational strategies and targets.

Arawhetu Gray Director Māori Health Services

Rachel Gully Director of People and Culture

Rachel was appointed to this role in July 2021, and was previously at Oranga Tamariki where she was the General Manager, People and Leadership. Before this, Rachel has held senior HR and people leadership positions at the Ministry of Health, Civil Aviation Authority and New Zealand Customs Service.

Peter Guthrie Acting Director of Strategy Planning and Performance

Peter was appointed to this role in December 2021 covering Rachel Haggerty who is seconded to interim Health New Zealand. Peter has worked in the health sector for more than 20 years including time as an HR Manager for Northland and Counties Manukau DHBs, GM for RMO Services for the three Auckland DHBs and with the Ministry of Health as GM of the team supporting the National Health Committee. For the last five years Peter has been GM Planning and Performance for Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs.

As Director of Strategy Planning and Performance, Peter has 2DHB accountability for leading all aspects of funding and planning service delivery including community commissioning, 2DHB alignment with the goals of the health reforms and performance against organisational strategies and targets.

Sarah Jackson Interim Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director of Clinical Excellence

Sarah is a Consultant Anaesthetist, specialising in Neuroanaesthesia and was previously the Clinical Director Quality Improvement and Patient Safety and Clinical Lead for Vascular Access at CCDHB.

Sarah has strengthened clinical governance across CCDHB, particularly in the areas of morbidity and mortality, credentialing and serious adverse event reviews. Sarah is Chair of the Serious Event Review committee.

Sarah is passionate about making a significant difference to the quality of care for the people we serve. Her clinical and professional leadership, and expertise in patient safety, clinical audit and research, will be influential in establishing the DHBs as a Centre of Clinical Excellence.

Claire Jennings Acting Chief Nursing Officer

Bryce O'Kane Chief Technology Officer

Paul Oxnam Executive Clinical Director for Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability Services (MHAIDS)

Paul co-leads the Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability Services (MHAIDS) in partnership with the Executive Director for MHAIDS.

Paul is a practising Clinical Psychologist who has held various clinical and leadership responsibilities throughout his career and is well-accustomed to leading services in a clinical-management partnership model. He is passionate about the design of evidence-based systems of care that foster multidisciplinary collaboration and a values-guided approach to rehabilitation.

Prior to his current role, Paul was the Clinical Director for National Intellectual Disability Services. In that position, he successfully led the development and implementation, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, of a National Model of Care for New Zealand's five Regional Intellectual Disability Secure Services.

Roger Palairet Acting Director Facilities & Business Services and Chief Legal Officer

Judith Parkinson Acting Executive Director Finance

Junior Ulu Director Pacific People's Health

Dr Avataeao Junior Ulu started in his position in January 2021 and will lead the work of our Pacific Health team and the implementation of the 3DHB Pacific Health and Wellbeing Strategic Plan for the Greater Wellington Region.
Junior has a PhD in Development Studies from Victoria University of Wellington and has broad experience in both health and development, and is passionate about achieving equity in access and health outcomes for Pacific peoples and communities.

Junior was most recently Director Pacific Development at the Pasifika Medical Association and prior to this worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Oxfam, ChildFund, the United Nations Development Programme, Counties Manakau District Health Board and Volunteer Service Abroad.