Health NZ CEO welcomed as advocate for data and digital

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

Digital Health leaders have welcomed the appointment of Dale Bramley (Ngā Puhi) as chief executive of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, saying he is an advocate for data and digital technologies as enablers of care.

Bramley has been interim chief executive since February 2025 and was most recently national director of Planning, Funding and Outcomes, a position in the executive leadership team. 

Before that, he was the chief executive of Waitematā DHB for more than 10 years where he sponsored the Leapfrog programme run out of the DHB’s Institute for Innovation and Improvement (i3).

This was designed to advance the digital capability of the DHB and included projects to implement eVitals, ePrescribing and telehealth. 

HiNZ CEO Scott Arrol welcomed the appointment, saying Bramley has long been an advocate for the data and digital health, and is a valued supporter of HiNZ.

“During his time at Waitematā DHB, Bramley championed innovation and improvement through initiatives like the Leapfrog programme, demonstrating how digital tools can be used to improve patient outcomes and system performance," he says.

“We look forward to working closely with Bramley and his team to advance the use of data and digital technologies to improve access, equity and quality of care across the health system.”

Digital Health Association chief executive Ryl Jensen says Bramley has an interest in, and supports, the role of digital health technologies in transforming care and improving outcomes across the health system.

“We believe digital is fundamental infrastructure, and we look forward to working closely with him and his team to help realise its potential at scale,” he says.

Health NZ commissioner Lester Levy says Bramley brings deep knowledge of the health system gained from more than two decades as a senior health and operational leader, and as a medically qualified, practising public health medicine specialist. 

“His breadth of leadership experience, insights and expertise stand him in good stead to drive Health NZ’s ongoing improvement as a high performing organisation that is focused on delivery, outcomes and enhancing patient experience,” says Levy.  

Bramley says his focus will be on improving health outcomes for all New Zealanders.

“Our health system is blessed with incredibly skilled, highly trained, and compassionate people,” he says.

"Working with them, we will aim to improve access to health services, promote health, and focus on delivering the very highest quality healthcare we can for patients, whānau and communities."

Bramley will serve for the next three years.

Image: Health NZ CEO Dale Bramley

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