Our People

Diana Sarfati: Tumuaki, Chief Executive & National Director of Cancer Control

Professor Diana Sarfati (MBChB, MPH, PhD, FNZCPHM) is a public health physician, cancer epidemiologist and health services researcher. Diana brings a commitment to improving equity and cancer outcomes through evidence-based, person-centred care and using h5 collective expertise.

Before joining Te Aho o Te Kahu, Diana was appointed as Head of the Department of Public Health, and was the Director of the Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) research group at University of Otago, Wellington. She has led a large body of research relating to disparities in cancer outcomes. This work has resulted in the identification of key patient and health system factors that influence cancer survival. It has been used extensively by health policy makers, clinicians and other researchers to develop policies and practices that aim to reduce inequities in cancer outcomes.

Diana is currently a member of the International Advisory Committee to Lancet Oncology, the Advisory Committee to International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) Pacific cancer hub, IARC’s international expert group on social inequalities in cancer, the Academic Advisory Committee on the International Cancer Benchmarking Project, and she led a Lancet Oncology series on cancer in small island developing states. Diana is a former member of the National Cancer Programme Leadership Board, the National Screening Advisory Group, the National Ethics Advisory Committee, the Bowel Cancer Taskforce and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Advisory Committee.

Dawn Wilson: Kaitohu Mātāmua, Chief Advisor

Dawn started her career in the education sector before taking up the challenge to work for nine years as Manager of two primary health organisations, supporting both the establishment and ongoing management of them.

Dawn joined the Ministry of Health in 2015 where she first worked in the Addictions team as a Senior Project Manager, before taking on the role of Manager, Cancer Services in April 2017.

In early 2020, Dawn supported the Cancer Services team through a transition to new roles in Te Aho o Te Kahu and took up her current position of Chief Advisor.

Dawn is passionate about service development and ensuring what we do supports those who have the greatest need. She believes achievement is a team effort. Highlights in her career include establishing a primary health organisation and many services to support improved access to primary health care, leading the development and scope of the New Zealand Cancer Action Plan 2019 -2029, and working with and leading great individuals over many years of work.

Michelle Mako: (MPH) Tumutuarua Mana Taurite – Equity Director

Having started a career in health as a nurse and working for a number of years in Cardiac Care, Michelle has since completed a Master's in Public Health and has been working in a number of leadership roles for Māori across public health.

Michelle worked in Māori public health policy at the Ministry of Health for over eight years, followed by a brief stint in the Cancer Society as the National Health Promotions Manager.

Michelle then spent 14 years working for the Health Promotion Agency in leadership and management roles, with a specific focus on Māori and Pacific health outcomes.

Michelle was seconded to the Health and Disability System Review for 16 months before joining the Te Aho o Te Kahu, Cancer Control Agency as Equity Director in March 2020.

Nicola Hill: Pou Whakahaere Mātāmua, General Manager

Nicola joined the Ministry of Health in 2006 and worked on policy related to information sharing before shifting into a role as the Senior Advisor to the Director-General of Health.

A highlight of Nicola's career thus far has been working on the completion and release of the 2016 update to the New Zealand Health Strategy. This work led to roles in senior policy management and brought to light her interest in strategic thinking and people management.

Nicola joined Te Aho o Te Kahu in 2019, from the System, Strategy and Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Health, where she was Acting Group Manager of the Strategy Group.

John Fountain: Pou Whakahaere Tātari Raraunga, Manager, Data, Monitoring and Reporting

After medical graduation John worked for the military, United Nations, in general practice and as a Medical Toxicologist at the New Zealand National Poisons Centre (University of Otago). During his University employment, John developed an interest in health informatics.

John furthered his experience in the data and digital area while working at the Best Practice Advocacy Centre, contributing to the development of clinical decision support software. He has been a member of the Health Information Standards Organisation (HISO) Committee for six years and has been a member of and chaired a range of health-related committees and working groups.

Joining Te Aho o Te Kahu June 2020, John will now concentrate on leading the collection, analysis and communication of high-quality cancer data to drive planning, quality improvement and monitoring activities across the cancer sector.

Fletcher Beazley: Pou Whakahaere Mana Whānau, Manager, Person-Whānau Centred Care

Fletcher (BHSc, BA(SocSci), MMgt(Hon), MA(Māori)) identifies as Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Rehua and Ngāti Maraeariki. Fletcher is passionate about improving outcomes for people and communities, having led teams in the health and community sector for over 20 years. This includes time spent in DHBs and NGOs in NZ and overseas as a Māori Health Manager, Health Equity Manager, Health of Older People Manager, Primary and Community Care Manager, Mental Health and Disability Manager and more recently as a Regional Cancer Manager where he led a Māori Cancer Deep Dive Investigation in the Central Region attended by over 1,000 members of the Māori Community.

Nisha Nair: Pou Whakahaere Hiringa, Manager, Prioritisation, Innovation and Research

Nisha worked as a doctor in New Zealand’s public health system for about five years before becoming a public health medicine specialist. She was a senior researcher at the University of Otago Wellington before joining the Ministry of Health in 2017, starting in the Cancer Services team and then moving to the Clinicians Screening group at the National Screening Unit. Nisha joined Te Aho o Te Kahu as Manager of the Prioritisation, Innovation and Research team in July 2020.

Jan Smith: Pou Whakahaere, Regional Hub Manager Te Manawa Taki

Jan is the Te Manawa Taki Regional Hub manager, a position held since 1 July 2020 following transition of the regional cancer network teams to Te Aho o Te Kahu.

Prior to this, Jan held the position of Manager Midland Cancer Network following development of the regional cancer network framework in 2006. The network was involved in a significant number of successful regional/national initiatives including:

• establishment of new regional services i.e. resident medical oncology, haematology, radiation oncology, EBUS, PET-CT, psycho-social, cancer nurse roles
• establishment and implementation of the faster cancer treatment (FCT) work programme enabled by the development of a cancer care system; set up FCT groups to look at DHB level issues with a view on improving the treatment that patients with cancer receive throughout their diagnosis and hospitalisation
• formal service change initiatives i.e. Hauora Tairāwhiti non-surgical cancer treatment services, gynae-oncology surgery, adolescent acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Supported and partnered regional research
• partnership with Cancer Society and Hei Pa Harakeke facilitated kaupapa approach community-based Kia ora i te iwi programmes
• management of the Ministry of Health cancer contract for the National Lung Cancer Work Group programme since 2010, and the National Breast Cancer Work Group 2012-13
• establishment and management of the Midland Bowel Screening Regional Centre including the contract for the National Māori Bowel Screening Network

Jan started her career as a registered nurse going on to be a clinical nurse leader and working in management and leadership roles within Bay of Plenty, MidCentral, Taranaki, Lakes, Waikato and HealthShare Limited. Jan has completed a Master’s in Business Administration along with other post graduate management qualifications.

Nicholas Glubb: Pou Whakahaere, Regional Hub Manager Southern

Nicholas commenced in health as a mental health nurse in 1978. Clinical, clinical leadership, operational and change management roles in mental health and disability followed over the next 25 years.

From 2006 Nicholas broadened his DHB sector experience into other aspects of secondary care, and from 2009 was Operations Director, MidCentral DHB, responsible for Regional Cancer Treatment Services for a population of over 500,000, along with five other DHB service areas. Appointment to the position of Manager, Southern Cancer Network followed in 2017.

Nicholas joined Te Aho o Te Kahu in July 2020, as Manager of the Southern Regional Hub. His career-long interest in patient-centred service development is satisfied with this role, balancing South Island priorities for cancer services improvement and the implementation of the NZ Cancer Action Plan.