Our trustees (board members) come from a diverse range of experience and backgrounds.
Bram Kukler
Chair, MBS: Management; Dip. Social Sciences: Psychology, RN
Bram trained as a nurse in the Netherlands and, since arriving in New Zealand in 1990, he's worked in the disability and the mental health sectors where he managed community, residential and vocational services. Roles have included positions as funding and planning manager for mental health and addiction at the Waitematā DHB, sector relationship manager for the National Depression Initiative, general manager residential care services and he is currently the general manager, operations for Plunket NZ. He is also actively involved in local, regional and national primary mental health development.
Dr Janine Bycroft
Clinical director, MBChB, Dip Obs, Dip Paeds, MPH (Hons), FRNZCGP
Janine is the founder and clinical director for Health Navigator Charitable Trust. She is also a GP, Flinders trainer and self-management clinical advisor for a large PHO. Her areas of interest include self-management support, quality improvement, chronic care, e-health, health literacy and the integration of primary and secondary care. She is involved with a number of projects and groups to improve long-term condition management at a local, regional and national level and often presents at various forums. She was the primary care clinical lead for the National Shared Care programme from 2011 to 2014 focused on exploring what shared care and new models of care are needed for the future.
Julia Ebbett
Board member, MPHC, PgDip PHC, PgDip HSM, BN, FCNA(NZ)
Julia is the community nurse manager, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, a Kaupapa Maori service in Hawke’s Bay. Previously she was clinical facilitator at Health Hawke’s Bay, Te Oranga Health (2005–2012). During this time she completed a Master of Primary Healthcare by thesis with the University of Otago. From this research grew an interest in the nursing contribution to care for those with chronic conditions. In 2010, she led a project to implement the Flinders Program of Self-Management Support in Hawke’s Bay. Julia has worked as nurse manager in a large general practice, nursing director of an independent practitioner association, and operated her own consultancy. She’s also a Flinders accredited trainer and convenes the Nursing Council Professional Conduct Committee and is an assessor for RNZCGP Cornerstone practice accreditation.
Dr Rebecca Grainger
Board member, BMedSc(Dist) MBChB(Dist), MInstD, FACHI, FRACP, PhD
Rebecca is a rheumatologist at Hutt Valley DHB. She is also an Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Otago, Wellington School of Medicine. Her areas of interest and research include medical education, e-health, clinical informatics and gout with a PhD in translation medical research. Rebecca has broad governance experience in the NGO sector and has served on the Board of Arthritis New Zealand since 2014. She is also on the Adult Medicine Division Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the National Executive of the New Zealand Rheumatology Association and is past Chair of HINZ.
Jodi Mitchell
Board member, CEO & Board director
Jodi has over 26 years experience in software development and systems integration and has worked with a wide range of organisations and sectors providing technology solutions to both public and commercial organisations. She was the chairperson of the NZ Health IT Cluster from 2008 - 2017 and CEO of SimplHealth from 2012 to 2016. Jodi is currently the Executive Chairperson for MoleMap.
Andrew Skinner
Board member, LLB, (1st Class Hons) and BCom
Andrew is a partner at Martelli McKegg with over 20 years of experience in corporate and commercial law. His specialist areas include building and construction, franchising, healthcare and governance. With a particular interest in governance, Andrew is a qualified Chartered Secretary and member of Governance New Zealand. He also sits on the Membership and Admission's Committee for Governance New Zealand and is a member of the Institute of Directors.
Alison van Wyk
Board member, CEO. RN
Alison is the CEO of Access Community Health, a large national provider of integrated home and community services. She has a nursing background and subsequent sales, marketing and country management experience in pharmaceutical, medical logistics and medical device markets both in New Zealand and internationally. She brings a diverse range of skills to the Board and has a passion for identifying more effective models of care right across the health system.