Mental Health

Structure and Managers

The Group is divided into five teams and are within the Population Health Directorate:

Policy and Service Development
Māori Mental Health
Rights and Protection (Mental Health Legislation)
Systems Development
Office of the Director of Mental Health

View information about the managers of these areas below:

Dr Janice Wilson, Deputy Director-General, Population Health Directorate
Read Janice's biography

Dr David Chaplow, Director and Chief Advisor
Read David's biography

Joan Mirkin, Manager, Mental Health Policy and Service Development
Prior to commencing work in the Ministry of Health in 1993, Joan worked mainly in the NGO (non-governmental organisation) sector, including several years as Executive Director of the NZ Family Planning Association.

Since joining the Ministry, Joan has been involved in managing accountability arrangements and relationships with Regional Health Authorities, the Health Funding Authority, and more recently, District Health Boards (DHBs) and other health Crown Entities. She also established and managed the NGO desk in the Ministry. In 2000 she was part of the DHB Establishment team and in September 2005 she took up the position of Manager, Mental Health Policy and Service Development in the Mental Health Directorate of the Ministry.

Joan has a science degree from Otago University and trained and worked as a secondary school teacher for a few years before having a family, becoming involved in community activities and subsequently changing career direction on her return to the workforce.

Hingatu Thompson, Manager, Māori Mental Health

Barbara Phillips, Manager, Problem Gambling

Positions to be appointed
We are in the process of confirming appointments for the following roles:

Mental Health Group Manager
Manager, Rights and Protection
Manager, System Development

Page last updated: 16 January 2008