The Network is governed by a board of regional rural clinicians including GPs, Nurses and Rural Hospital Doctors.
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Chairperson Dr Joseph Scott-Jones has been GP principal in Opotiki since 1992. He holds an MbCHb (Sheffield UK 1986), MRCGP (UK), FRNZCGP, DGM, Dip Obs, Dip Sports Medicine, MMsc (Auckland). He was previously a regional representative on the Board and was re-elected at the recent AGM. He is also chairperson of the Eastern Bay of Plenty PHO and by virtue of his position as Network deputy chairperson is also a member of the GPLF. email: chair@rgpn.org.nz
Rachel Hale is a Nurse Practitioner specialising in elderly care, based at the Matamata Medical Centre. She is the board's new deputy Chair. Work: 07 881 9102, email: rachel@rgpn.org.nz
Whitianga GP David Wilson has been Network Secretary for six years. He is also Network Treasurer. David has worked as a general practitioner in more remote rural New Zealand. After-hours care and the Rural Ranking Score are major focuses of his Network role. David is also on the Waikato DHB Pinnacle after-hours board, is the Network’s representative at the bi-monthly NZMA GP Council meeting and is the GP representative on the NZ Palliative Care Council. Work: 07 866 5911, email: davidgfwilson@gmail.com
Moerewa-based Graeme Fenton is the Board’s Northern North Island representative. A long-time Northland GP Graeme is chairperson Northern Rural General Practice Consortium. Work: 09 404 0328, email: gfenton@clear.net.nz
Kim Gosman is the Southern North Island representative. Kim is a central North Island-based nurse and midwife and joined the Board in 2009 as co-opted member. Work: 027 255 0943, email: kim.gosman@xtra.co.nz
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Dr Martin London is a salaried Rural GP (West Coast DHB) and a clinical Senior Lecturer for the University of Otago. Martin is the South Island representative. Work: 03 756 1080, email: londonz@xtra.co.nz
Sharon Hansen is a Nurse Practitioner and the board’s northern South Island representative. She is based in Temuka and in Twizel in South Canterbury on weekends. Work: 03 615 8284, email: HansenSR@xtra.co.nz
Dr Fiona Bolden is Western Middle North Island representative. Dr Bolden completed an MBchB at Bristol University in 1990. In 2002 Fiona joined a practice in Raglan, which she bought in 2004.
She holds an MRCGP, FRNZCGP, Dip Ac (diploma in acupuncture), did two years psychiatry in the UK and completed one year of a diploma in psychiatry. She is currently in the second year of a strategic leadership diploma. Fiona is a member of the rural advisory group for Pinnacle and the GP advisory group for RAG. Email: fiona.whc@wave.co.nz
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Dr James Reid is a full time senior medical officer at Lakes District Hospital in Queenstown and have worked here for eight years. He was previously a general practitioner in Wellington. He has an MBCHB from Otago 1988, DpObst 1990 and FDRHMNZ (fellow of the division of rural hospital med) and sits on their governing committee and board of studies. Email: james.reid@sdhb.govt.nz
Dr Jane Laver is the new North Island representative on the Board. Dr Laver is a GP partner in Dannevirke's Barraud Street Health Centre. Dr Laver began her medical training in 1980 at Guy’s Hospital in south London and she qualified in 1985. She is also an ordained Minister in the Anglican Church. Email: jane.laver@thg.org.nz
Professor Ross Lawrenson is the new Eastern North Island representative on the Board. Ross is Professor of Primary Care, University of Auckland and Head of the Waikato Clinical School. He first moved to New Zealand in 1981 working in Te Kuiti hospital and later becoming a general practitioner in Wairoa. In 1988 he moved back to the Waikato as Medical Superintendent in Community Health Services and District Hospitals. He returned to the UK in 1994 to take up an academic career at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School. He then moved to the University of Surrey in 1998 becoming Dean of the Postgraduate Medical School. In 2005 he returned to the Waikato as Head of the Waikato Clinical School and Professor of Primary Care. He is particularly committed to the development of research and in supporting environments where students can get excellent clinical experience whether in hospitals or in rural and community placements. He is Chairperson of the New Zealand Committee of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health, a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (UK), a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health (UK), Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Guidelines Group and Chair of the National Screening Advisory Committee. Email: Ross.Lawrenson@waikatodhb.health.nz
University of Auckland Grassroots Rural Health Club representative Alisha Vara has taken over from counterpart Darran Lowes as student representative on the Network Board.
As part of her role on the Board 20 year-old Alisha will coordinate the four rural health groups across both medical schools – Auckland and Otago - and promote student involvement in rural health.
Alisha grew up in the South Island and is now a fourth year student at Auckland medical school. Email: avar024@aucklanduni.ac.nz
Network Chief Executive Michelle Thompson: Michelle is an experienced CE and has provided senior executive or CE services to a range of health sector organisations including the PHO Alliance Inc, GPNZ (formerly IPAC), Compass Health and Southern Cross. Prior to establishing her own business Michelle was CE for Kowhai Health Trust, a management services organisation for the Hutt Valley District Health Board and PHOs in the Hutt Valley. Michelle has also held management roles with Victoria University and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Michelle has a BA (Econ), Victoria University, a PGDipPHC, Otago University (2009) and is a Member of the Institute of Directors. Email: michelle@rgpn.org.nz
Southern South Island representative: Vacant.