The Network is governed by a board of regional rural clinicians including GPs, Nurses and Rural Hospital Doctors.
The board is chaired by Kirsty Murrell-McMillan, a Rural Nurse Specialist based in Southland. Kirsty was formerly the South Island representative on the Network Executive. Key issues she has focussed on include the Nurse Practitioner Rural Study, the Prime Specifications and Training Reviews and Sector Disposition Tool.
Mobile: 027 292 4149 email: kirstymm@rgpn.org.nz
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Deputy 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: drjo@opotikigp.co.nz
Whitianga GP David Wilson has been Network secretary for six years. He has also 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: davidwilson.mbmc@gmail.com
Stephen Graham is a Te Anau-based GP who has been involved with Network since 2000. He is the board's immediate past treasurer and has convened two previous conferences. He now represents the southern South Island region. Stephen was raised in central Auckland and has been in rural practice since 1997, immediately after finishing the GP training scheme in Wellington. Work: 03 249 7007 email: stephen@fiordmed.co.nz
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
Rachel Hale is a Nurse Practitioner specialising in elderly care, based at the Matamata Medical Centre. She is the board's new treasurer. Work: 07 881 9102 email: rachelghale@gmail.com
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 George Tripe is the new North Island representative on the Board. Dr Tripe graduated from Otago school of medicine in 1971 and practised in the Porirua Basin until 2001. Since then he has been a locum in predominantly rural areas such as Kaitaia, Te Puia, the Chatham Islands, Ayers Rock (Australia) Arnhem Land (Australia) and most recently the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Email: gctripe@ihug.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 brought 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: fionabolden@hotmail.com
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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.
The student representative is Darran Lowes, a fourth year medical student from Tauranga studying at the University of Auckland. “This year I will be the medical student representative on the NZRGPN board. I’m particularly interested in the challenges facing the rural GP workforce and how rural GP career paths can be promoted to medical students.”
Darren replaces Lara Manson as student representative.