Dr Douglas Hill - Chair

Doug Hill is a GP representative on the WellSouth board. Doug works at Broadway Medical Centre, which is a large inner city practice in Dunedin. Prior to moving to Broadway Doug worked as a rural GP in Palmerston.

As well as running a busy practice and being part of the WellSouth board, Doug works as a GPSI in orthopaedics and in minor surgery. He has been involved in the development of both these programs. He supervises registrars in the practice and runs the business. He also has experience as a college censor and a Primex examiner, and has taught in minor surgery courses.

"I am enjoying the WellSouth board. We have a great opportunity to make real health gains for everyone in the southern region, and to advocate for fair and equitable healthcare for all. The future looks very exciting, and we expect to deliver new and innovative strategies that will allow the South to lead the country in Primary Care."

A/Prof Emma Wyeth - Deputy Chair

Associate Professor Emma Wyeth (Kāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga) is Manupiki Māori o Te Wāhanga Matua Mātau Hauora (Associate Dean Māori, Division of Health Sciences) and Director of the Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit at the University of Otago
Emma has a PhD in Genetics and has a range of research expertise and interests within the field of hauora Māori.
Emma says primary and community care are a critical part of the health sector and she wants to support WellSouth to improve health equity and access to health services for Māori.

Dr Susie Meyer

Dr Susie Meyer is a strong voice for Wanaka and Central Otago on WellSouth’s board. She was a director and GP at Aspiring Medical Centre for nearly 25 years.

Susie’s interest is teaching and contributing to primary care at a governance level.

In her role on WellSouth board, I hope to promote ongoing and positive communication between governance and clinical groups.

An outdoor enthusiast originally from the US, Dr Meyer did her medical training at University of Auckland before settling in Wanaka.

Dr Meyer teaches the GPEP2/3 programme for the RNZCGP. She’s previously served on advisory boards with the RNZCGP and the Central Lake Health network.

A/Prof Sue Crengle

Associate Professor Sue Crengle is the Murihiku Rūnaka representative on the Board. She is a member of the Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka. Sue is a GP and Public Health Physician who works part-time in general practice in Invercargill and part-time in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine.  

Sue is passionate about health systems and services that provide high quality care that is free of inequities in access and outcomes. 

Paul Larson

Paul Larson (BPharm (Hons), PGDipClinPharm (Distinction), PGCertTravMed, RegPharmNZ, MPS)

Paul has owned Larson’s Pharmacy, Green Island for the past 17 years.  Previously Paul worked the National Poisons Centre Dunedin, Dunedin Hospital as Medicines Information Pharmacist, and as a Hospital Pharmacist at Palmerston North and Gisborne.

He has a wide range of Governance experience and is currently a board member of Consumer NZ (Inc) incorporating a role as Chair of their Audit and Risk Committee and Chair of the New Zealand Pharmacy, Education and Research Foundation, which are both Wellington based.  In Auckland he sits on the Vantage Pharmacy Group advisory board and in Dunedin he is on the board of the Urgent Pharmacy.  

He is very passionate about pharmacy and how pharmacy can work together with our other health professional colleagues to bring improvements to our patient’s lives.

Dr Keith Abbott

Dr Keith Abbott is a  GP and practice owner of Junction Health in Cromwell.  His work interests include rural health, dermoscopy and minor surgery. 

Keith sits on the Central Otago Alliance Locality Network as a GP representative.

Nicky Burwood

Nicky Burwood is a UK-trained Nurse Practitioner who began working in Travel Medicine and Urgent Care at Queenstown Medical Centre in 2016.

Nicky also holds a part-time (0.2FTE) appointment with WellSouth, developing and delivering the online training for RN Prescribing in the Community (Nurse Prescriber) training programme and educates nurses undertaking Post Graduate Education, including the Nurse Practitioner Practicum.

Keri Milne-Ihimaera

Keri Milne-Ihimaera is an educator who has a wide range of leadership experience in the education and social services sectors across the motu.

A resident of Bluff, Keri is an educational consultant, and has worked as a teacher, a school principal, and NGO executive director, in Northland and Auckland and elsewhere. She holds a Doctorate in Māori Development and Advancement and, in addition, to her many leadership roles, Keri has extensive governance experience including current board and trustee appointments with the Cancer Society National Board, the Ngāti Hine Health Trust in Whangerai  and Ako Mātātupu/Teach First NZ.

Lealiifanovalevale Erolia Eteuati Rooney

Lealiifanovalevale Erolia Eteuati Rooney joined the WellSouth Board as a community representative in November 2020.

Erolia is a supervising scientist with the NZ Blood Service and is an active sport, culture and community volunteer, including as a Catholic Chaplain.

Brought up in Samoa, she lives in Ōtepoti Dunedin, with her husband Brenton Rooney and their two teenage children.

“I understand the important space the WellSouth Board is in. The Board with its partners can facilitate the ‘Ola Manuia’ into the growing Pasifika communities in Otago and Southland and I can be a voice.”