The team behind the Foundation
Who are we?
The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand (HFNZ) is a charitable trust, contracted to Health New Zealand to provide a health monitoring programme that supports people living with hepatitis B.
What do we deliver?
Our free, lifelong, national monitoring programme is for all people living with hepatitis B in New Zealand to help improve health outcomes. People enrolled in this programme receive regular monitoring, education, support and referral to secondary care (if required). We work in partnership with GP clinics and other health providers to support the ongoing care of their hepatitis B patients.
This free national long-term monitoring programme was established in the early 2000s. We have completed many major screening, vaccination and research programmes in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Vietnam during our 30-year history.
We are contracted to deliver community-based fibroscan services in NZ's central region. We also offer fibroscans for immigration purposes in other regions on request and as available equipment allows.
History
In 1984, the newly established foundation implemented the Kawerau Seroprevalence Study, which saw 93 percent of the town's population tested for hepatitis B. The results showed the hepatitis B virus was highly endemic. Nine years later, as a result of our work, NZ was the first sovereign nation to introduce universal hepatitis B vaccination for all children.
Sarah Davey
Chief Executive
Sarah has a proven track record of leadership in healthcare organisations, having held key senior management, executive and governance positions across health, disability, NGO and government sectors in New Zealand over two decades. Her most recent roles have been with Te Whatu Ora (and previously the Bay of Plenty DHB) in leading service improvement, innovation, design, and development. Along with her background in leadership and innovation, Sarah also brings a strong commitment to equity. Her extensive knowledge of healthcare systems, strategic planning, and collaborative approach will undoubtedly strengthen the efforts to reduce the burden of hepatitis in New Zealand.
Cherie Stevenson
Communications Advisor
Cherie has a varied role that ranges from communications, education, digital channel management, events, social media and building relationships with staff and stakeholders.
She has over 15 years of marketing communication expertise. Specialities include digital marketing, planning, strategy, stakeholder management, project management, design (including web) and event management.
Chris Moyes
Medical Director
Chris has been interested in hepatitis since 1979, when he studied the epidemiology of hepatitis B and undertook vaccine trials. He has been involved in treating people with hepatitis B and C since the early 1990s. Chris has initial specialist qualifications in adult medicine and paediatrics. He is partly retired but still works in hepatitis and paediatrics. Chris is married with one child and lives in Whakatane. His interests include trout fishing, sailing, kayaking, classical guitar and European travel.
Lucy Rio
Maori Engagement Co-ordinator
Lucy is of Cook Island/Māori descent. Her father comes from Aitutaki and her mother is Ngā Rauru from Waitōtara in Taranaki. Lucy was born and raised in the heart of Te Urewera. She's been with us since 2018 in an executive assistant role. She now has responsibility for building relationships with Maori organisations and healthcare partners, to enable us to better incorporate cultural needs into our work. Lucy's interests include camping, gardening and spending time with her three daughters and grandchildren.
Board members
William Rainger
Board Chair
William is the Auckland Public Health Service medical officer of health and has a strong background in governance, strategic leadership and operational management for organisations. He has more than 20 years’ experience in health services management.
Christine Chambers (QSM)
Board Member
Christine worked in local government from 1989-2013, serving two terms as deputy mayor for the Whakatane district. During that time she was also co-directed a local engineering company with her husband. Christine joined the Hepatitis Foundation in 1997 and chaired the board from 2001-2011. She has a sound knowledge of financial and strategic planning and has recently retired as a resource management commissioner.
Prof Ed Gane
Board Member
Ed Gane is a professor of medicine at the University of Auckland, New Zealand and deputy director of the New Zealand Liver Unit at Auckland City Hospital. He is an investigator for many international clinical trials of new therapies for chronic viral hepatitis and has published about 300 articles. Ed chairs the Ministry of Health HCV implementation committee and in 2017 was awarded the New Zealand Innovator of the Year for his work towards HCV elimination in NZ.
Steve Napier
Board Member
Steve is a retired Share Broker/ Fund Manager with an Accounting degree and now sits on several boards in the Bay of Plenty. He is the chair of the Finance and Audit Sub Committee of the Foundation.
He is also a member of the Institute of Directors and the Institute of Financial Professionals of New Zealand to help maintain his governance capabilities.
Anna Rolleston
Board Member
Dr Anna Rolleston is of Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi and Ngati Pukenga descent. She is managing director of Manawaora/The Centre for Health, which specialises in a kaupapa Maori primary care approach to long-term condition management. She is a recognised health researcher and co-director of the Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa Centre of Research Excellence. Anna also holds a senior research fellowship role at Auckland University and sits on a range of advisory committees and governance boards.
Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell
Board Member
Te Aorangi descends from Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Apa. He works in his family’s Māori language and education consultancy business, Haemata Limited, managing a wide range of projects across both the public and private sectors. Alongside this, he enjoys governance work and is currently the youngest Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Dougal Crisp
Finance Committee Member
Dougal is a chartered accountant with over 25 years of post-qualified experience and a qualified lawyer. He is currently a CFO for a forestry exporter based in Tauranga. Dougal spent almost 20 years of his working life based in London where he gained governance experience through sitting on or chairing various boards of SMEs. He returned from the UK to settle in Tauranga at the end of 2019 with his family.
Our Community Nurses
Our nurses work in the community, caring for people with hepatitis B around New Zealand. They play a key role in ensuring our clinical services are delivered to the highest possible standard. Each nurse looks after a specific geographic region, as listed below. Please contact us if you'd like to be connected with the nurse in your region
Nicola Caine - Nurse practitioner
Jillian White (Nurse Manager) - Community Nurse - Lakes
Helen Purcell (MNZM) - Community Nurse - Eastern Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Gisborne(Tarawhiti), Northland and South Island
Christine Barea - Community Nurse - Waikato, Taranaki
Lynnaire Matthews - Community Nurse - Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu
Emily Huang - Community Nurse - Auckland South, Southeast
Selena McCloskey - Community Nurse - Auckland East, Central
Our Administration Team
Our administration team are based in our Head Office in Whakatāne. They are the friendly people behind our 0800 helpline and work across the country to look after our patients.
Photography credit: Anita Burgess - Wainui Creative
Find us
61 Alexander Avenue, Whakatāne 3120
New Zealand
Or mail: PO Box 647, Whakatāne
Tel: 0800 33 20 10
Fax: 07 307 1266
THINK YOU ARE AT RISK?
GET IN TOUCH WITH US AT
0800 33 20 10
You can also send us an email at: hepteam@hfnz.nz