Expertise

With 25 years as a Doctor and 18 years as a Consultant Surgeon, I am highly-skilled at building long term strategies, thinking critically and managing risk, understanding regulatory frameworks and compliance, and building strong and resilient teams.

A good listener, I am honest and will voice an opinion.

Skills

Leadership

2008 – 2022    Managing Director and Co-Founder of Auckland Breast Centre

  • Leading specialist-only, comprehensive breast assessment and treatment clinic treating women from around New Zealand and the Pacific.
  • A Net Promoter Score of 92 and personal score NPS of 100.

2013-2019    Managing Director and Co-Founder of Focus Radiotherapy

  • Introduced Intrabeam Intraoperative Radiotherapy treatment to New Zealand.

Strategy and Risk

2008 – 2022    Auckland Breast Centre

  • Developed and executed business strategies to grow the business from an initial start-up, creating operational procedures and workflow planning for the business.
  • Developed and implemented a business plan that maximised opportunities within the local market, acted as the lead for marketing, and a trusted conduit between the GP and patient interface.
  • Reduced risk exposure in the delivery of healthcare services by identifying risks, implementing risk mitigation plans and improving systems and processes.

2013 – 2019    Focus Radiotherapy

  • Led the introduction of Intrabeam Intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT) for selected breast cancer patients in New Zealand as a paradigm shift in cancer treatment; 1 single intraoperative dose of radiation replacing 15-25 daily doses.
  • Collaborated with partners to develop and actualise strategic plans to advance the practice’s mission and objectives.
  • Cultivated relationships with suppliers both locally and overseas, and negotiated favourable terms.
  • Led the marketing strategy for the business and enhanced the business profile through print media, training and educational activities.
  • Established and maintained a safe working environment with guiding policies and protocols including radiation safety.

Culture

  • Created a positive and constructive culture for staff, visiting clinicians and patients by developing excellent communication channels, building trust and instilling confidence among all staff.
  • I believe that the success of an organisation is a direct result of the group, and I am committed to supporting every staff member and sharing knowledge to empower and enable long term growth.

Innovation

  • Focussed on continuous improvement, my co-founders and I disrupted the status quo of breast cancer care becoming the leading tertiary level centre delivering diagnosis and treatment to patients from around NZ and the Pacific, and providing services to Waitematā DHB.
  • Introduced Intrabeam Radiotherapy.
  • Led Auckland Breast Centre to become the first medical centre or hospital in New Zealand to have a Gold Award for Accessibility.

Advocacy

Focus Radiotherapy

  • Undertook extensive advocacy in the public and private health sectors, including working with the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition, the Health Select Committee, Māori Women’s Welfare League, National Health Committee and MPs on both sides of the House.
  • Successfully petitioned and presented to the Health Select Committee with the recommendation sitting now with the Cancer Control Agency Te Aho o Te Kahu.

Advocating and supporting disadvantaged groups:

Public Speaking

  • Keynote speaker in Australia, New Zealand, and Germany.
  • Medical and non-medical events.

Governance

2022 – now    Board Trustee Te Tāpui Atawhai Auckland City Mission

Charitable Trust delivering services for people in need including housing, detoxification services, food insecurity, social support and health. Learn more.

2014 – 2016    Founding Chair- InZone Girls’ Advisory Board

Charitable Trust providing Māori and Pasifika rangatahi with subsidised housing in kāinga and education at Epsom Girls Grammar and Auckland Grammar Schools. Learn more.

2006 – 2011    Trustee Auckland Breast Cancer Study Group

Charitable Trust created by cancer clinicians in 2000 to collect comprehensive outcome data for consented breast cancer patients. World leading in length of follow up and completeness of data collection. Read more.

2004 – now    Mentor

I am a mentor to a number of medical and STEM students.

Memberships

Pro Bono

2022 – now    Board Trustee Te Tāpui Atawhai Auckland City Mission

2016 – now    Be.Lab (Formerly Be.Accessible)

Social enterprise delivering innovative and creative social change programmes to support the creation of an accessible New Zealand. Learn more.

2014 – 2016    Founding Chair InZone Girls’ Advisory Board

2006 – 2011    Trustee Auckland Breast Cancer Study Group

In the Media

The Female Career podcast
NZ Doctor article
TVNZ Sunday programme