Ian Town is the Chief Science Advisor at Manatū Hauora | The Ministry of Health. Ian is based in the Evidence, Research and Innovation Directorate/Te Pou Whakamārama at Manatū Hauora.

Ian Town has worked across both the health and education sectors during his 30-year career. A physician by training, he has published extensively in respiratory medicine. Much of this research has been implemented through evidenced based guidelines for the management of common conditions such as asthma, COPD and pneumonia. Following an 8-year term at the University of Canterbury as Deputy Vice-Chancellor he has had a wide range of governance roles and completed a 5-year term as the Chair of the Health Precinct Advisory Council leading one of the key Christchurch Earthquake recovery projects.

In his current role he is leading the Ministry’s programme of work in Precision Health and AI as well as supporting research and clinical trials. His unit is responsible for evidence briefs which support Ministry policy development. He is a member of the Chief Science Advisors Forum in New Zealand.

Dr Robert Weinkove is Clinical Director at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research (MIMR), and a Haematologist at Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand. After studying medicine at the University of Cambridge and Kings College London, he trained in clinical haematology in London and in Hannover, and undertook a PhD in immunology at the University of Otago.

Dr Weinkove founded and leads a CAR T-cell research, manufacturing and clinical programme trial at the Malaghan Institute. He is Principal Investigator for NZ’s first CAR T-cell trial, ‘ENABLE-1’ (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04049513) and Chair of the Trial Management Committee for the phase 2 ‘ENABLE-2’ trial (NCT06486051). At BioOra Ltd, he provides clinical oversight for GMP-grade lentiviral vector and CAR T-cell manufacture under Medsafe license. Dr Weinkove is an active member of the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group where he contributes to the design and conduct of co-operative group trials in the fields of B-cell malignancies and prevention of infection in the immunocompromised, and to binational clinical guidelines.

Mahaki Albert is of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti and Waikato-Tainui descent.

Mahaki has been in the role of Maiaka Whakaruruhau Tikanga | Chief of Tikanga since late-2022 and is a member of the Executive Leadership Teams for both Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora. His responsibilities include:

• National Chief of Tikanga, including setting tikanga expectations for Executives
• Iwi/Hapū engagement and relationship agreements
• Equity leadership
• Leadership advice and support

Mahaki was previously the Chief Executive of Whare Tiaki Hauora, a Māori NGO. Mahaki also previously held the role of Tumu Tikanga at Counties Manukau Health for 5-6 years, and has held leadership positions within community service providers, a Primary Health Organisation, and the Education sector. Mahaki is a member of various Governance groups and maintains strong engagement and relationships with Crown and Iwi entities; some of his long-standing roles he currently upholds include:

• Member of Te Kahui Wairua o Te Kiingi Maaori Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu
• Member of Te Aka Puaho Council (Māori Presbyterian Synod)
• Board Chairperson of Te Roopu Taurima O Manukau Trust

Mahaki also holds Governance roles in his local community within the education sector.

Mahaki has both BA and MA degrees and is currently a PhD candidate at Awanuiarangi.

Robyn Whittaker is the Director, Evidence Research & Clinical Trials in the Planning, Funding & Outcomes directorate of Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ. Robyn is a public health physician and an adjunct Professor at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland. Her research interests are in digital health including the development of healthy behaviour change programmes using mobile phones and wearable sensors, and the governance and implementation of AI tools for health. She is an invited expert to several World Health Organisation groups in Health, digital health and governance/ethics of AI in healthcare, and she was a NZ Harkness Fellow 2010/11. She is the chair of Te Whatu Ora’s National AI & Algorithm Expert Advisory Group and Whanau, Consumer and Clinician Digital Council.

Marcus was appointed Vice President – Corporate in February 2019. Marcus joined Fisher & Paykel Healthcare in 2009 as an in-house lawyer and since that time has held roles in legal, investor relations, communications and corporate affairs. Marcus was heavily involved in establishing the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Foundation in 2021 and currently serves on the Foundation’s Board. During Marcus’ time with both the company and the Foundation, he has been an ardent supporter of Middlemore and the work it is doing to improve the health of those in the Counties Manukau community. Marcus received his Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.