Global reach, local impact

Mark is an energetic and experienced senior health executive, with significant operational and strategic leadership skills. Mark has a proven record of delivering measured and sustainable improvement in a broad range of initiatives and service delivery models.

A message from Waikato District Health Board - Nau mai, haere mai / welcome Riki Nia Nia new Executive Director Māori Equity and Health Improvement.

Riki Nia Nia, Ngāti Kahungunu and Tūhoe, was warmly welcomed at Rangiaowhia Marae, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Te Rapa, on 7 July.

Supported by whānau, including his two daughters, mother, and eldest aunty from Tonga as well as many more from Tāmaki Makaurau, Ngāi Tūhoe and Tairāwhiti, Riki said he felt very privileged and humbled by the experience and was looking forward to the new mahi ahead.

Riki will lead a large team that includes Te Puna Oranga (Māori health services), Population Health, and Pacific Health, to continue improving the health equity for high need populations.

He brings over 20 years’ experience in health, with his most recent role as General Manager of Māori Health Services for Auckland and Waitematā DHBs.

At the Pōwhiri, Waikato DHB Kaunihera Kaumatua, Commissioner Dame Karen Poutasi and Iwi Māori Council chair Te Pora Thompson-Evans welcomed Riki and emphasised the importance of his role in leading the DHB to grow its capability, drive equity and support our community.

Experienced Health Manager with both practical and theoretical experience in this field. Motivated to try and achieve the best outcomes for the residents in our care. Enjoy supporting managers to achieve high levels of satisfaction in their roles and to develop into effective managers of people.

The following bio has been taken from Queensland Government Metro South Health. Nicola Dymond is a senior health executive with extensive international experience, having trained as a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor in the United Kingdom, where she held numerous professional and operational executive roles, including as the Chief Executive Officer of a Primary Care Trust. Nicola has also worked as Chief Operating Officer for Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar and as the National Director for the Continuing Care and System Integration Strategy at Ministry of Health Qatar.
Nicola joined Metro South Health from Tasmania where she had been working as the state-wide Chief Operating Officer for the Tasmanian Health Service, where amongst other duties she was focused on incorporating quality, safety and clinical network agendas for the state.

Nicola has a strong focus on service development and quality improvement across the operational business, and supporting large scale change initiatives through effective partnership engagement. She holds memberships to the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, the International Society for Quality in Healthcare, and has a Masters in Business Administration in both improvement science and service excellence, with a focus on organisational culture.