Senior Leadership Team

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. From July 2022 to July 2023 Nicola was appointed as Acting Chief Executive when Dr Diana Sarfati, our previous Tumuaki, was appointed to the role of Director-General of Health and Chief Executive. She was reappointed to the role of Acting CE when Rami Rahal (previous Tumuaki) left the Agency on 18 December 2026 to spend more time with his whānau in Canada. 

Chief Executive's Expenses

The Chief Executive’s expenses, gifts and hospitality are disclosed as part of our commitment to transparency and accountability:

CE expenses, gifts and hospitality disclosure workbook 2019/2020 (Excel 70kb)

CE expenses, gifts and hospitality disclosure workbook 2020/2021 (Excel 77kb)

CE expenses, gifts and hospitality disclosure workbook 2021/2022 (Excel 80kb)

CE expenses, gifts and hospitality disclosure workbook 2023/2024 (Excel 70kb)

CE expenses, gifts and hospitality disclosure workbook 2024/2025 (Excel 72KB)

Sasha has spent 20 years working with public, private, and not-for-profit organisations and has a background in communications and systems change. She joined Te Aho o Te Kahu in 2020 as Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa Mana Taurite | Senior Project Manager Equity.

Sasha is leading a number of key projects focused on cancer inequities and took on the role of Acting Equity Director in January 2023.

We were thrilled when was confirmed as our permanent Equity Director in May 2023. She was then appointed as Director, Equity and Whānau-centered care when the teams were brough together in April 2024. 

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.

Dr Elizabeth Dennett (BMedSci, MBChB, GradDipMed, MMedSCi, MApplMgt(Healthcare), FRACS, FASCRS) is a specialist general and colorectal surgeon. In addition to her clinical practice she was an Associate Professor of Surgery at Otago University, where she was involved in research into disparities in cancer outcomes, patient experiences of their cancer journey and identification of novel biomarkers to improve treatment and prognostication for colorectal cancer.

Elizabeth undertook postgraduate study in clinical epidemiology and healthcare management as she has always had an interest in evidence-based care and service development with an equity focus.

Elizabeth is a member of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand; Section of Colorectal Surgery Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS); International Anal Neoplasia Society; New Zealand Association of General Surgeons; New Zealand Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Advisory Committee (PTAC), PHARMAC. She holds Fellowships in general surgery from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and colon and rectal surgery from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. In addition, she has been the Chair of the New Zealand National Training Board for general surgery and Chair of the Board in General Surgery, RACS. She is a current college examiner in general surgery, being the first New Zealand female general surgeon appointed to the Court of Examiners RACS.

Te Miri (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa) provides strategic leadership to the agency so that Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the aspirations of whānau Māori are at the heart of cancer care in Aotearoa. His role involves collaborating with iwi, Māori health leaders, and clinical partners to drive health equity and improve outcomes for tangata whenua. His expertise and cultural insights are supporting the development of Māori capability across the agency and help shape approaches that will deliver real, meaningful change in cancer prevention and treatment for all people and whānau across the motu.

Before joining the agency, Te Miri held senior roles at ACC, Te Hiringa Hauora Health Promotion Agency, Skills Active Aotearoa, and Te Papa Tākaro o Te Arawa where he embedded kaupapa Māori approaches into quality programmes and projects that support Māori to realise their potential in health.  

Whānau-centred care approaches and a focus on quality, safety and excellence in healthcare service delivery have been central to Bridget’s work throughout her career.

After many years providing midwifery care in urban and rural communities, and as a District Health Board employed midwife, Bridget joined Otago Polytechnic in 2012 as an undergraduate lecturer. She then took up a role in the Maternity Team at Manatū Hauora in 2020, transitioning across to Te Whatu Ora in 2022 to work in the Health of Older People sector with the Healthy Ageing team.

These roles further developed Bridget’s passion for equity-focused, strategic, whole-of-system approaches to national health service development. Bridget joined Te Aho o Te Kahu in 2023 as the Manager of the Clinical Advisory Team.

Gabrielle Nicholson has a consultancy background and has worked in the public sector in Australia, England and Wales, as well as New Zealand. Prior to joining Te Aho o Te Kahu she worked at the New Zealand Health Quality and Safety Commission for nearly 9 years, managing a portfolio of national quality improvement programmes, including: the Surgical Site Infection Improvement Programme, the Hand Hygiene Programme, the Safe Surgery Programme, the Patient Deterioration Programme, the Reducing Harm from Falls Programme, the Preventing Pressure Injuries Programme and the Trauma Patient Outcomes Improvement Programme.

Gabrielle is passionate about working with the health sector to improve patient experiences and outcomes.

Gabrielle graduated with a Masters in Public Policy from Victoria University in 2014.

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.

Michelle has an extensive background in the health sector, data analytics, and leading successful projects and teams. She held several senior analyst or and team leadership roles at the Ministry of Health and TAS Kāhui Tuitui Tāngata (which was merged into Health New Zealand under the health reforms) before joining the agency in June 2021.

Michelle also holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Science, with a post graduate diploma in public health, from the University of Otago.