Movers & Shakers: Winter 2019

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eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Tracy Voice

Tracy Voice took up the new role of chief digital officer for three DHBs – Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa – at the end of July.

Voice was previously chief information officer at the Ministry for Primary Industries in Wellington.

CCDHB corporate services general manager Thomas Davis says, “Tracy’s 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.” 

Nick Baty

Nick Baty is joining Computer Concepts Limited as a principal consultant – security in mid-September. The purpose of this new role is to develop CCL’s cybersecurity practice, undertake security ‘thought leadership’ and mentoring, and fulfil security consultancy engagements. 

Baty was formerly the Ministry of Health’s chief security advisor (IT). Within this role, Nick was responsible for driving and leading an increase in the cybersecurity maturity of New Zealand’s health and disability sector agencies.

Some of Baty’s key achievements at the Ministry include developing and delivering an all-of-health-sector cybersecurity event response plan, facilitating a successful cybersecurity ‘bootcamp’ for health sector CIO equivalents and their teams during the HINZ Conference 2018, and developing and delivering advice to the health sector regarding improving the cybersecurity of fax machine and e-mail solutions.

Gabe Rijpma

Gabe Rijpma has been appointed chief executive officer at Aceso Health. Gabe is a 20-year veteran of Microsoft and previously ran the Microsoft Health business across the Asia and Pacific regions for the past 12 years from both Singapore and New Zealand.

His role will be to provide leadership and direction for Aceso as it continues to build and deliver projects for health systems and health providers across the Australia and New Zealand markets, with eyes firmly on Asia.

“My long-standing career at Microsoft has been nothing short of incredible. I have personally grown so much, lived and worked across three continents and worked with the most incredible group of passionate people in helping drive digital health forward with customers and partners alike,” he says. 

“I am incredibly proud of the team I am joining, they are just doing incredible work with customers in taking modern digital technologies and applying them to improve health by helping customers turn data into insight and action, as well as lay foundations to better integrate and deliver on interoperability in our health system.”

Kerry Macaskill-Smith

Kerry Macaskill-Smith has been appointed medical director for Pinnacle Ventures – the innovation arm of the Pinnacle Group.

She provides clinical oversight for all the Ventures projects, with a particular focus on implementing pharmacogenomics in New Zealand and supporting digital health solutions like the new cloud-based PMS system Indici and telehealth. 

She says she is passionate about systems that work well for everyone involved and believes “we have to change the way we are doing things if we want to have a functioning primary care system in the future”.

Macaskill-Smith says another key area for Ventures is making better use of the clinician data and she is actively involved in the READ to SNOMED reference group. 

Continuing to work part-time as a GP in one of New Zealand’s first Health Care Home sites keeps her connected to the reality of primary care in New Zealand.

Rommel Anthony

Rommel Anthony has joined the Ministry of Health’s Data and Digital team as the medication management digital services lead.  

Rommel was previously head of ICT planning and architecture at Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs and has a strong background in health technology, including working previously at the Ministry and a number of health ICT vendors. 

The Ministry’s deputy director-general Data and Digital Shayne Hunter says Rommel will be working in an innovative area that is benefitting patients, prescribers and pharmacists by using technology to improve the way medications are managed. 

Mark Cox

Mark Cox has set up a consulting company called HealthIT Consulting to assist local and international software businesses enter new health IT markets.

Cox's previous roles include business head Asia Pacific ICNet with Baxter Healthcare Corporation and director of business development at Sysmex NZ. He is also a founder and former board member of industry body NZ Health IT.

Cox says HealthIT Consulting will assist international companies that are looking for cost effective ways of exploring and entering the New Zealand, Australian or South East Asian health IT market.

Trevor Delany

Trevor Delany became chief digital officer at Southern Cross Hospitals in June 2019.

In his new role, Delany is focused on advancing patient-centric services and facilities with modern digital and IT capabilities.

He says Southern Cross Hospitals is an organisation inherently focused on making lives better.

“It’s a role that aligns perfectly with my passion for people and making positive impact through digital ways and means,” says Delany.

He was previously head of information technology & services for BP New Zealand.

Jude Keys

Medtech Global has welcomed Jude Keys onto its team as its new national account manager.

Keys has spent 15 years at Auckland’s ProCare Health PHO in various roles, including executive officer, business services manager and enhanced practice services manager.

She initially trained as a nurse and specialised in paediatrics and says she is passionate about primary healthcare and making the job easier and better for all concerned.

“It’s really exciting and I’m looking forward to building and maintaining customer relationships for Medtech,” Keys says.

If you would like to provide feedback on this news story please contact the editor Rebecca McBeth.

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