Ryl Jensen steps down from DHA, Stella Ward steps up

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

Chief executive of the Digital Health Association (DHA) Ryl Jensen is stepping down and Stella Ward has been appointed into the role on a fractional basis.

Jensen led the DHA for four and a half years and says the decision to leave was incredibly hard 

“Leading the DHA has been the honour of a lifetime,” she said. 

“I am a better person for having had the chance to serve this incredible community, and I’ll always be grateful for the learnings and the opportunities I have been given.”

Jensen thanked the industry body’s members and team and said she was truly proud of that they have delivered together.

“One of the great joys of this role has been bringing government and industry closer together, finding common ground, building trust, and working side by side to shape the future of health,” she said. 

“I have also been extremely privileged to collaborate with colleagues and several of our counterparts across the globe, representing Aotearoa’s digital health voice on the international stage.”

Ward says she is excited and energised by the opportunity to lead the DHA during a pivotal time for New Zealand’s digital and data ecosystem. 

“Jensen made significant contributions to the Association, and I am excited to build on that strong foundation. I look forward to supporting our members in unlocking new commercial opportunities and driving innovation across the sector.” 

The DHA says Ward brings over a decade of executive leadership experience in health, technology, and innovation, with a strong track record of driving large-scale digital transformation, a DHA statement says. 

She has previously been chief digital officer at what was Canterbury and West Coast DHB, before being appointed the executive director government cloud programme at the Department of Internal Affairs and was then at Hewlett Packard for two years before becoming chief executive of Streamliners.

Ward says that at DHA, she looking forward to collaborating with other member organisations in the sector such as HINZ, MTANZ and TUANZ to support improvement of healthcare services

DHA chair, Tony Wai, describes Ward’s appointment as a major step forward for the organisation. 

“Her extensive commercial and leadership experience makes her an excellent addition to the DHA. Her vision and expertise will be vital as we tackle emerging challenges and create new pathways for our members.” 

HiNZ chief executive Scott Arrol says Jensen has been an outstanding leader and a tireless advocate for digital health in Aotearoa. 

“Her passion and collaborative spirit have left a lasting legacy,” he says. 

“HiNZ also warmly congratulates Ward on her appointment and looks forward to continuing the strong partnership between our organisations under her leadership at DHA."

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