Our executive leadership team

Fionnagh Dougan Chief Executive Officer

Fionnagh was appointed Chief Executive of both Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs in 2019. Fionnagh was previously Chief Executive of Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CHQ), where she led a statewide service based on the vision of delivering life-changing care for children and young people across Queensland. Fionnagh began her career as a registered nurse and has held senior management positions in the United Kingdom and at Auckland DHB, including leadership roles in mental health, ambulatory services and Starship Children’s Hospital.

Fionnagh has a strong commitment to the provision of safe, sustainable quality health services and a passion for delivering equitable health outcomes through partnerships with Māori and Pasifika communities.

Joy Farley Director Provider Services Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs

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 Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs

Arawhetu has held various senior executive roles. She was the Group Manager for Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, Deputy Director-General Policy Partnerships at Te Puni Kōkiri, and Chief Māori advisor at NZQA. Arawhetu is the Co-Chair of the Maternal Morbidity Working Group, Health Quality Safety Commission.

Arawhetu has iwi affiliations with Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitane ki Wairarapa and Ngāi Tahu.

Rachel Haggerty Director Strategy, Planning and Performance Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs

Rachel has held senior leadership positions at a number of DHBs, including Waitemata, Auckland and Canterbury. She was the General Manager of North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals.

For the past 8 years, Rachel has worked as a consultant, developing strategies and systems for the Ministry of Health, DHBs, NGOs, primary healthcare and Whānau Ora organisations.

Rachel is currently supporting us with our Vision 2030 work.

Christine King Chief Allied Professions Officer Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs

Chris King was appointed to the 2DHB Chief Allied Professions Officer role in July 2020. The professional groups she leads consist of over 30 Allied Health, Scientific & Technical professions working across the spectrum of community and hospital based services.
Prior to this role Chris was the Director Allied Health, Scientific & Technical (AHST) at Hutt Valley DHB and since 2007 has held senior AHST leadership roles across both Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs.

Chris’s clinical background is as an Occupational Therapist, having trained in Dunedin. During her years in clinical practice, Chris worked across a range of clinical areas, though spent a number of years working in the field of Chronic Pain and Rheumatology. Chris is currently working towards completing her Masters of Public Health through Otago University.

Helen Mexted Director Communications and Engagement Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs

Joining CCDHB in August 2020, Helen brings a diverse mix of strategic communications and engagement experience to CCDHB, from public sector agencies and local government to commercial sector organisations and NGOs. She holds a wealth of knowledge in influencing organisations to deliver change, enhancing communications and engagement performance, and working effectively with government.

Helen’s experience and knowledge will be invaluable as we continue our work to make our services more seamless, sustainable, and equitable. She has a commitment to building relationships with stakeholders and the community, and is looking forward to supporting the organisation with its diverse communications and engagement needs.

Rosalie Percival Chief Financial Officer Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs

Rosalie is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ experience, working in both the private and the public sector. Rosalie has held a number of roles in health organisations including the Regional Health Funding Authority and the National Health Funding Authority. Rosalie has been the CFO at Auckland DHB for the last eight years and prior to this was the CFO at Waitemata DHB for ten years. Rosalie is also chair of Technical Reference Group for the DHB National Costing and Pricing Programme.

John Tait Chief Medical Officer

Appointed in April 2016, John previously held the position of the Executive Director Clinical, Surgery, Women’s and Children’s. He has been a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist since 1986.

John is currently Chair of the National Maternity Monitoring Group, and Chair of the Maternal Morbidity Working Group. He is a member of the Endometriosis Task Force, Neonatal Encephalopathy Taskforce and the Waikato Maternity Taskforce; Director of ISTAR, and Vice President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Tracy Voice Chief Digital Officer, Capital and Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs

Tracy comes with significant experience in a large complex organisation, having been at MPI for the past eight years – most recently as Chief Information Officer and Director, Business Technology and Information Services – and previously with NZ Post. She has also recently provided leadership at MPI as acting Deputy Director General Corporate Services.

Her achievements at MPI include creating and implementing an information technology strategy, introducing new digital and technology solutions at the New Zealand border, and overseeing the merger of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Fisheries technology systems, implementing the first Google enterprise in New Zealand.

Nigel Fairley General Manager, 3DHB Mental Health, Addictions and Intellectual Disability Services

Nigel is the General Manager of Te-Upoko-me-te-Whatu-o-te-Ika for Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa District Health Boards’ Mental Health, Addictions and Intellectual Disability Services.

He is also Director of Area Mental Health Services for the 3 DHBs (the role responsible for the administration of the law in Mental Health Services). From 1998 to 2015 Nigel was the Clinical Director and Director of Area Mental Health Services of CCDHB Regional Forensic Mental Health Services (adult and youth).

Nigel is a Fellow of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists and is currently the President of the NZ branch of the Australian New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law (ANZAPPL).

Sandy Blake Executive Director, Quality Improvement & Patient Safety

Sandy has more than 15 years’ experience in the New Zealand and Australian health sectors. Most recently she has been working as the Director of Nursing and General Manager, Patient Safety and Service Quality at Whanganui DHB, where she markedly improved the safety and quality performance of the DHB.

Emma Hickson Chief Nursing Officer

Appointed in March 2019, Emma began her nursing career in the UK and joined CCDHB around 2001/2002. Her roles at CCDHB have included preceptor educator, charge nurse manager, and educator lecturer. She has also spent 18 months managing Hutt Valley DHB’s community nursing services before returning to CCDHB.