Judges | New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards

Let's meet our judges!

Thank you to our independent mix of 22 experienced members of the health community who are serving as judges for the 2025 New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards | He Tohu Mauri Ora.

The Judging Process - FAQ

How do we choose the judges?

We invite health professionals from all sectors of primary healthcare in Aotearoa. These are practitioners, leaders, educators, researchers, business people and innovators. We seek out those people with a demonstrated commitment to improving primary care health outcomes and a track record of doing the hard yards.

How are entries evaluated?

The judging process is designed to be fair and transparent. These are the key factors.

Judges must declare any perceived or actual conflict of interest. There is a strict guideline for determining any conflict.

Entries are allocated to a judging panel with a wide knowledge base that relates to each entry. Your entry may be evaluated by someone from a different field of healthcare but they will have key knowledge that enables them to evaluate the success of your entry.

Each entry is assessed against a comprehensive criteria matrix.

Judging is completed impartially by individual judges. There is no consultation or other influence. Only the judges assigned to the entry will have any role whatsoever in evaluating the submission.

Judges maintain strict confidentiality and retain no materials viewed and evaluated during judging.

If my entry doesn’t make the final, can I find out how it was evaluated?

Yes, you can request to see the judges’ evaluation. The judges themselves will remain anonymous.

Can I request a review of my evaluation?

No. As stated in the Terms and Conditions, the judges’ decisions are final, and no discussion or correspondence will be entered into. Make sure you check the Terms and Conditions before starting your entry.

Introducing Linda Bryant, our judge convener

Linda has been a leader in pharmacy for many years as a pharmacist, teacher and researcher. She has a New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to pharmacy and health. Linda was among the first to become a pharmacist prescriber in New Zealand, joining the inaugural 2012 intake at the University of Otago. She works as a clinical advisory and prescribing pharmacist with Newtown Union Health Service. Until 2022, Linda taught postgraduate pharmacy students at the University of Otago along with David Woods, a role she had for over 20 years.

Alesha Smith

Alesha is an expert in health services research, medicine safety and health informatics. She specialises in optimising medicine use, improving healthcare access and leveraging data-driven insights to enhance patient outcomes. She is an associate professor with a strong pharmacy, policy and analytics background, contributing to national and international health initiatives. Alesha is also the director of Matui, a research and data analytics organisation focused on transforming healthcare through innovative data and IT solutions. She collaborates with researchers, policymakers and industry partners to drive evidence-based healthcare improvements.

Alison Van Wyk

Alison has been executive general manager of ProPharma since June 2023. A seasoned senior health leader with national and international experience, she has worked across pharmacy, healthcare supply chain, community health and pharmaceutical and medical devices. A former nurse, Alison was awarded honorary membership of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand in 2018 for her services to pharmacy. She was also a finalist in the Women of Influence Awards. She currently holds three governance roles within the New Zealand healthcare sector.

Andi Shirtcliffe

Andi is a pharmacist who has worked across community pharmacy, primary care, residential care and psychogeriatric/dementia care. Most recently Andi has served as the Clinical Chief Advisor for Pharmacy and Allied Health at the Ministry of Health and as Clinical Chief Advisor to Health New Zealand’s Prevention Director (Immunisation). Currently Andi is a Fulbright Scholar at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she is studying public health, health behavior change and implementation policy.

Bryan Betty

Bryan, a specialist GP, began his career in Australia. He returned to New Zealand in 2001 to work as clinical director at Porirua Union & Community Health Service, which serves a predominantly high-needs community. In 2023, he became chair of the PHO network group, General Practice NZ, previously holding roles including Pharmac deputy medical director, RNZCGP medical director and COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group member. In 2022, Bryan was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to health.

Cathy Martin

Cathy is a senior advisory pharmacist at the Pharmacy Guild, with extensive experience across various sectors of the pharmacy profession. Since registering in 1997, she has worked in community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy (in Aotearoa and the UK), industry, education and advisory roles. With a strong commitment to making a positive difference in the pharmacy profession and health sector, Cathy’s focus is supporting community pharmacies in their mission to care for their communities and deliver exceptional service. She is passionate about collaboration, continuous quality improvement and innovative clinical healthcare service delivery.

David Codyre

David is a psychiatrist with 35 years of experience in community and primary mental health, holding clinical and leadership roles. Since 2012, he has been clinical director, wellness support, at Tāmaki Health. He is currently seconded half-time as clinical director of Auckland wellbeing collaborative Tū Whakaruruhau, where he supports the implementation of the “Access and Choice” addiction and mental health programme, integrating health improvement practitioners, health coaches and NGO support into all GP clinics in Auckland. David is also lead psychiatrist to Whakarongorau, the national telehealth service.

Elaine Papps

Elaine started her nursing career in Christchurch, working in nursing leadership and senior management roles in health and education in many different locations. She chaired the Nursing Council of New Zealand for six years and is currently a senior lecturer in the School of Nursing at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawke’s Bay. Elaine has published on cultural safety, continuing competence, advanced nursing practice roles – especially nurse practitioner roles – and socio-political influences on implementing these roles.

Garry Nixon

Garry did his GP training in Central Otago in 1990 and has remained there, working primarily as a rural generalist at Dunstan Hospital in Clyde. He is also a professor of rural health at the University of Otago, teaching the postgraduate rural diploma and mentoring New Zealand’s future rural doctors. An expert in rural health and leading geographically dispersed project teams, Garry helped develop the RNZCGP Rural Hospital Medicine Training Programme and leads the Geographic Classification for Health project, highlighting rural health disparities in New Zealand. 

Gemma Buchanan

Gemma is a director of Buchanans Pharmacy, a group that served Northland for over 70 years. She spent 15 years as general manager, during which the group won Community Pharmacy of the Year at these very awards, along with multiple Green Cross Health Awards, including overall Pharmacy of the Year and Professional Services. For the past three years, Gemma has been the commercial manager of health services at Green Cross Health, leading the professional services team to deliver quality care and advice. With local and national experience in health delivery, she is excited to celebrate and recognise innovation in healthcare across Aotearoa.

Grant Bai

Grant is a strategic leader dedicated to transforming healthcare through innovation and collaboration. He is at the forefront of promoting ReCare, a platform that enhances primary healthcare with proactive, digitally integrated health management solutions. With a background in pharmacy and extensive experience across healthcare, retail, manufacturing and media, Grant led pharmacy and medical teams through rapid growth at Green Cross Health and has managed care pathways in mental health, addiction services and sports medicine. His vision is to leverage e-commerce, digital platforms, clinical services and data to create seamless, accessible health journeys.

Helmut Karewa Modlik

Helmut is CEO of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, the iwi authority for Ngāti Toa Rangatira. An experienced director, CEO and consultant, he specialises in change management, business and economic development, strategy, public policy and finance. Over the past 16 years, he has led mergers, turnarounds and business improvements across public and private sectors, including health and education. His leadership roles include CEO positions at TTS, Connexis, Patients First and Conporto Health.

Irihāpeti Mahuika

Irihāpeti joined Health Hawke’s Bay as CEO in September 2023. Her background is in education, and more recently, she was director of hauora Māori at Pegasus Health PHO in Christchurch. Irihāpeti is proud of her whakapapa (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māhaki ki Te Tai Poutini, Ngāt Apa ki te Rā Tō) and advocates for all people having access to equitable, quality healthcare. She has a great passion for kaupapa, and developing mana-enhancing relationships with communities centred around whānau and empowering them to be leaders of their hauora. Irihāpeti is leading Health Hawke’s Bay via ō tātaou mātāpono (four core values): whakamana (empower), aroha (compassion), kotahitanga (collaboration) and auaha (innovation).

Linda Joe

An experienced pharmacist, Linda has worked across many areas of the profession, from pharmacy ownership and international experience to leading key projects in Aotearoa. She was the subject matter expert for the Canterbury Lean Community Pharmacy project, contributed to testing the New Zealand Universal List of Medicines, and played a leading role in eMeds implementation and eMedRec at Canterbury DHB. At the Pharmacy Guild, she collaborated with sector organisations, providing leadership, support and guidance to members. Linda enjoys supporting people to innovate and work to the top of their scope.

Martin Lowis

Martin is an experienced international pharmacy professional with a strong clinical and business management background. He has led pharmaceutical services in diverse and challenging settings throughout South Africa and New Zealand and is passionate about fostering excellence in healthcare through strategic planning, mentoring and innovation. A multicultural, multilingual leader, he brings a unique perspective and a commitment to celebrating achievements that inspire continuous improvement in patient care and healthcare delivery.

Michal Noonan

A trailblazing nurse practitioner, Michal founded her thriving VLCA Greenfields Practice in Auckland in 2020. By establishing valuable partnerships with Te Toka Tumai, she enables specialised clinics to operate within her practice. A passionate advocate for integrating NP interns and nurses into the healthcare workforce, Michal champions their role in advancing healthcare solutions across Aotearoa.

Nadine Gray

Nadine (Te Whakatōhea), national chief nurse for Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora from July 2024, was formerly chief nursing officer at Te Aka Whai Ora. She has a proven record of accomplishment in strategic leadership, clinical expertise and a deep commitment to advancing Māori health outcomes. Nadine holds a Master of Health Sciences with First Class Honours. She is currently an adjunct teaching fellow at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Practice at Victoria University of Wellington.

Noni Richards

Noni is a registered pharmacist with extensive postgraduate research experience, specialising in evidence-based medical writing. She has contributed to equity programmes, big data investigations and authored over 50 articles in Best Practice Journal and Pharmacy Today. Noni also played a pivotal role in designing and developing the electronic medical records EPiC dashboard.

Sarah Hartnall

Sarah trained as an urgent care physician and is currently a clinical co-lead on a regional hepatitis C programme. She also wears several other hats in the primary care sector, is interested in quality/systems improvement (and is a trained healthcare auditor), innovation and education, and is passionate about increasing access to care.

Te Puea Winiata

Te Puea (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāiterangi) has nearly 40 years of experience in primary health and Māori health social services, including 15 years as CEO at Turuki Health Care. In 2023, she was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit and recognised as one of 100 Māori leaders in health. She serves on Te Kaunihera for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and is a board member for Māori mental health support service Te Rau Ora. She also sits on trusts for her hapū Ngai Tamarawaho in Tauranga Moana. Te Puea chaired several Ministry of Health committees during the pandemic, as well as the Māori Monitoring Group for Manatū Hauora. Raised in Māngere, she is passionate about tackling hardship and disparity “head on” and ensuring Turuki delivers integrated, high-quality, whānau centred health and social services.

Tevita Funaki

Tevita has been the CEO of The Fono Trust since 2010, bringing expertise from his previous roles as Pacific health manager at ProCare Health and national Pasifika liaison advisor at Massey University. In addition to his leadership at The Fono Trust, he holds several advisory positions, including chair of the ProCare Health board, director of ProCare Network, and a member of various Pacific health and community groups. In recognition of his contributions, Tevita was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2024 for his dedication to improving health outcomes for Pacific communities.

Tony Wai

Tony is the CEO of Third Age Health, an enhanced general practice provider for aged care. An accomplished leader with a strategic mindset and strong commercial acumen, he has spent over 15 years in healthcare, including executive roles at ProCare Health (interim CEO, CFO and general manager of corporate services) and Atlantis Healthcare Group. Passionate about ensuring future generations can live fulfilling lives, Tony contributes via advisory and governance roles in the disability sector, health IT and health consulting.