Women in health win CIO awards 2025

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

Two women leaders in health took out the CIO of the Year and Emerging ICT Leader gongs at the 2025 New Zealand CIO Awards.

Stasha Rmandic, head of analytics and insights at Whakarongorau NZ Telehealth Services was announced as Emerging ICT Leader winner and CIO of the year is Southern Cross Travel Insurance’s (SCTI) chief technology officer Alexandra Smart.

Smart previously worked for Southern Cross Health Society as CareHQ creator, at ProCare Health as a strategic development manager and before that, as a programme manager in primary care digital innovation at Counties Manukau Health.

The judges praised her as an "inspiring leader" whose vision and strategic execution have not only delivered measurable growth but also positioned the company for an ambitious new five-year strategy, with technology as a true driver of business success. 

In a LinkedIn post, SCTI said that “every day, this outstanding woman inspires her team and the wider organisation with her intellect, tenacity, insight and empathy”.

As head of analytics and insights, Rmandic led the implementation of Microsoft Fabric, creating a unified data platform that integrates diverse sources and enables advanced analytics at Whakarongorau Aotearoa.

She says the project enhanced data integration, real-time insights, and evidence-based decision-making, laying the foundation for scalable analytics and innovation in telehealth services nationwide. 

It was delivered in collaboration with over 50 staff, Celebal Technologies, and Microsoft.

In her acceptance speech Rmandic said technology is powerful, but it is the people behind it who make it meaningful. 

“I have always believed that data should serve people, not the other way around. Whether it is improving access to care, driving equity, or enabling smarter decisions, technology gives us the tools to reimagine what is possible, and I am proud to be part of that transformation,” she told the gala audience at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.

“I believe the next era of digital leadership isn’t just about tech, it’s about design, empathy, and the courage to reimagine how government shows up in people’s lives.”  

The Whakarongorau Digital Innovation Programme was also nominated in the Innovation Leadership Through an Emerging Technology category.

Image, top left: Emerging ICT leader winner is Stasha Rmandic

Image, bottom left: CIO of the year Alexandra Smart

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