Health Working Group members
Sector Rep and Chair: Dr Josephine Herman
Dr Herman is a public health physician and general practitioner who holds a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Auckland. In 2023, she received the Pasifika Medical Association Life Member Award for her contribution to Pacific Health. Dr Herman was appointed as the Secretary (Director General) of Health for the Cook Islands Ministry of Health in June 2018 and helped lead the national emergency health response to COVID-19. She was appointed Director of Pacific Health at Waitemata District Health Board in 2021.
In 2024, she was appointed Chief Clinical Advisor for Pacific Health, with the Pacific Health Directorate, Public health Agency, Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health.
Community Rep: Mark Benjamin QSM
Mark has ongoing personal involvement with the health system as he has a degenerative spinal condition that requires chronic pain management.
Based in Riwaka Nelson, Mark has been involved in multiple disability leadership and advisory groups. Participation in research and evaluation processes over many years means that Mark has heard thousands of personal stories of how society, public services and disability services create barriers to disabled New Zealanders having a good life.
Mark’s involvement with the National Enabling Good Lives and the Insights Alliance keeps him informed on the tensions and issues disabled people face in gaining fair access to the health system.
Community Rep: Dr Sally Britnell
Sally is a registered nurse with extensive clinical experience in emergency care and infection control. Having witnessed the inequities disabled people face in getting healthcare her PhD, in computing and mathematics, focused on how digital innovation can improve outcomes for marginalised populations. As a Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow at Auckland University of Technology, Sally integrates digital health and informatics into nursing education and teaches in health across disciplines. Her research and supervision span health practice, digital health, computer science, accessibility and workforce development.
Sally is Deafblind and has held leadership and advisory roles with Health Informatics New Zealand, Blind Low Vision NZ, the Deafblind Association of NZ, the W3C Mobile Accessibility Task Force and St John.
Sector Rep: Dr Tristram Ingham (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou) KSO ONZM
Dr Ingham is an Associate Professor at the University of Otago. He is a medical epidemiologist with expertise in addressing health inequities, especially within Māori health, long-term conditions, disability rights, and healthcare governance. He is also a board member of the Te Tāhu Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission and Chairperson of the Foundation for Quality and Research New Zealand and Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa.
Tristram has muscular dystrophy and is a well-known leader in the disability community. His commitment and advocacy for equality of opportunity and fair access to quality services for tāngata whaikaha Māori is valued by many and has achieved progress for all disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Community Rep: Tainafi Lefono
Tainafi is from Auckland and has lived experience of disability and professional experience as a physiotherapist and clinical advisor.
Tainafi’s work has included professional roles at ACC, Enable NZ, and in the public health sector assessing rehabilitation needs and advocating for appropriate support.
Tainafi has contributed to research on disability and healthcare including a Health Research Council-funded study on the information needs of Pasifika individuals with spinal cord injuries. This research strengthened his understanding of how disability, culture, and healthcare intersect, ensuring policies reflect diverse community needs.
The group will also include representatives from the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand.