Dr Martin Chadwick

Martin is the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer within the Ministry of Health, working in partnership with the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Maternity Officer and Chief Nursing Officer in providing transdisciplinary clinical leadership and advice. The role works at a systems level as well as providing support to clinicians, programmes and projects across the Ministry. Martin was the 2019-20 New Zealand Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy and Practice. He has completed his doctoral degree in 2019 examining health workforce change. He is passionate about the untapped potential that allied health professions can bring in improving the quality of care provided to our populations, and in turn better meeting equitable population health needs. More recently he worked with his team to publish the first iteration of the Hauora Haumi|Allied Health report which captures the potential and associated challenges for an initial grouping of 14 professions with the intention to build on this over time.

Prof Sonia Kumar

Prof Kumar is the Founding Executive Dean of Medicine at St Mary’s in London, leading their new School of Medicine, which will welcome its first cohort in September 2026. Prof Kumar has over two decades experience as a GP and educationalist, specialising in community-based health and education for the benefit of society, which will be core to the new School.

Sonia studied Medicine at King’s College London, where she also gained a Bachelor of Science and Master’s degree (distinction) and also holds a Fellowship with the Royal College of General Practitioners. Prior to this role she was the Associate Dean in Community Engagement at the University of Leeds, where she led the university’s civic mission in the city and local region. She established CENTRE (community engagement network in research education and civic engagement) working with colleagues across the university and key stakeholders to maximise the university’s social impact, enabling students to gain key graduate attributes and citizenship skills needed for our future workforce and broader global change.

Dr Stella Ng

Dr Stella Ng is the Director and Scientist of the University of Toronto's Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & Education (CACHE) at University Health Network. Originally a paediatric audiologist, Stella’s research trajectory was shaped by complex practice experiences in school-based healthcare. For nearly two decades, her research has advanced education as a powerful mechanism for transforming health and social care. Her early research identified how critically reflective practitioners enact truly collaborative, compassionate, and equitable care, and her recent research has demonstrated the outcomes of specific teaching approaches designed to foster critically reflective practice. This innovative research program connects education to changed practices and improved care experiences. As a Wilson Centre scientist, Stella collaboratively leads the Praxis Lab, an interdisciplinary community of scholars funded by competitive grants and fueled by common purpose. An award-winning educator, she holds faculty appointments in Speech-Language Pathology and Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, and has co-founded several widely influential professional development programs, including Teaching for Transformation and Collaborative Advocacy & Partnered Education (CAPE).

Prof Suzanne Pitama

Symposium Panel Lead

Suzanne is the Head of Faculty, University of Otago Faculty of Medicine l.  Suz has been involved in Māori health research and health professional education for over 20 years. Her work has included the development of models of health, which support health professionals signpost cultural competency and safety within their practice.  Suzanne has received the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award for tertiary teaching excellence and the Indigenous Leadership Award and Lifetime award from the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME). Suzanne was awarded the Joan Metge Medal for her research in Indigenous medical education, and the Dame Marie Clay Award for contributions to educational and developmental psychology.  Suzanne’s leadership extends to significant governance roles, including as a former Director of the Australian Medical Council, where she chaired the Indigenous sub-committee. She is a current member of the Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand Executive Committee.

Dr Tracy Haitana

Symposium Panel Member

Tracy is a registered clinical psychologist, who has worked in criminal justice settings, private practice, and in the area of sexual trauma.  In addition to ongoing clinical work, Tracy works at the Department of MIHI in a senior lecturer role. She contributes to teaching within the undergraduate medical curriculum as well as postgraduate development and teaching for health professionals and clinical psychology students in the application of the Hui Process and Meihana Model. Tracy is a qualitative Kaupapa Māori researcher, having completed her PhD exploring the impact of systems on Māori patient and whānau experiences of bipolar disorder. 

Dr Maira Patu

Symposium Panel Member

Maira is a General Practitioner who is based at the Mount Pleasant Medical Centre. Maira was part of the Nga Kete Matauranga team who established the first VLCA General Practice in Invercargill and has spent time practicing in South Canterbury and South Auckland. Maira is involved in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of the Hauora Māori curriculum at UOC. Maira is a member of the Hauora Māori Curriculum Sub-committee of the MBChB Curriculum Committee. Maira also contributes to the MIHI post-graduate short courses that support the professional development of health professionals in the Hui Process and Meihana Model. Maira has a focus on developing curriculum which utilises simulation and draws on local Māori patient experiences in the health system to support transformative practice.

Dr Kelly Tikao

Symposium Panel Member

Kelly Tikao (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) is a creative researcher with Hakeke Productions, integrating storytelling, health, and broadcasting. A registered nurse with extensive experience across Māori and mainstream health and social services, she brings nuanced insight into vulnerability and resilience. Her research background includes qualitative disability research with the Donald Beasley Institute and evaluation work with Ihi Research.
Kelly lectures at the University of Otago, Christchurch, across postgraduate nursing and Māori Indigenous Health Innovations, teaching hauora Māori, the Meihana Model and contributing to multiple health science papers. She is also an adjunct fellow at the University of Canterbury and has worked as a senior researcher on Mindkiwi, a digital support programme for children with ADHD and mood disorders.
Her work is underpinned by a strong commitment to the arts and the revitalisation of Ngāi Tahu birthing knowledge and practice, including leading wānanga, developing ancestral inspired birthing resources, and creating the Hākui platform. She maintains active involvement within Ngāi Tahu communities and Māori women’s leadership networks.