Media Release

10 July 2007

Ministry of Health announces review team

The Minister of Health has asked the Director-General of Health to conduct an independent review of the recent allegations of conflicts of interest at the Hawke's Bay District Health Board (DHB) and the management of those conflicts of interest by Mr Peter Hausmann and the Hawke’s Bay DHB board.

Director-General of Health Stephen McKernan has today announced that the review will be led by Syd Bradley (Chair of Canterbury District Health Board), with the assistance of Michael Wigley (a Wellington lawyer), and David Clarke former chief executive in the public health sector and an experienced director.

The review process will start immediately.

The review panel is to report their findings to the Director-General of Health.

Ends

Lucy Taylor
Media Advisor, Ministry of Health
04 496 2349 / 027 687 5642

Terms of Reference
The review will examine:

past and current conflicts of interest held by Peter Hausmann in his role as a member of the Hawke’s Bay DHB board
the management of those conflicts of interest by Mr Hausmann and by the Hawke’s Bay DHB board
any other matter arising through the course of this investigation that ought to be considered.

The review panel lead will:

report the findings of the review to the Director-General of Health in a timely manner, having undertaken all inquiries necessary on which to base an informed opinion
based on these findings, recommend any improvements to the way the Hawke’s Bay DHB board and its members manage conflicts of interest.

Review team biographies
Syd Bradley
Syd Bradley is a professional company director based in Christchurch and is the Chairman of the Canterbury District Health Board (DHB). Syd had been appointed to a number of boards prior to and following his resignation as General Manager, Commercial Operations (International) with New Zealand Post in 1996.

Over the last decade he has been closely involved with the governance of the New Zealand health sector, firstly as Director of the Canterbury Area Health Board and subsequently as Director of Heathlink South and Healthcare Otago. He was also Chairman of Healthlink South Limited and Canterbury Health Limited. Syd was Chairman of the New Zealand Health Funding Authority and also chaired the New Zealand Crown Health Association (CHA) representing public health and hospital services. More recently he was Chair of District Health Boards New Zealand and acted as a governance observer on the Pharmac Board.

Syd is Chairman of the Christchurch International Airport Limited and Waipara Hills Wine Estate Limited.

Michael Wigley
Michael Wigley is the Principal of Wigley Law. He has over 25 years experience and is admitted as a solicitor both here and in England (having worked for the predecessor of Clifford Chance for 4 years). Michael started Wigley Law in 1993 after being a partner at Phillips Fox.

His work focuses on dispute resolution, ICT, regulation/competition, sales, marketing and media. Michael is one of the few New Zealand lawyers who specialises in IT, that has an extensive commercial litigation background. He has a particular involvement in public sector procurement.

Michael is president of the Technology Law Society, a member of the New Zealand Law Society’s e-Commerce Law Committee, the Institute of Directors, the New Zealand Software Association, and the English Society for Computers & the Law. He frequently presents at seminars and conferences.

Dave Clarke
Dave Clarke is currently an Auckland based company director and CEO/Managing director of Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a leading biotechnology company. Mr Clarke was formerly CEO of South Auckland Health/Counties Manukau DHB, as well as South Auckland Health’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr Clarke has a background in engineering, finance and marketing. In addition to his roles at South Auckland Health, Mr Clarke was formerly Chief Financial Officer for the Bay of Plenty Area Health Board and was involved in consulting work for the Midland Regional Health Authority and South Auckland Health. He has additionally held positions at BHP NZ Steel Ltd and Heinz Ltd.

Mr Clarke holds a Master of Engineering from Auckland University, a Bachelor of Business Study (Accounting and Finance) from Massey University and a Masters in Business Administration from Waikato University.