Clinical and Technical Advisory Group – Aeromedical Commissioning Programme

Christopher serves as the Medical Director for the Northern Rescue Helicopter Limited. He works as a Senior Medical Officer in Emergency Medicine at the Auckland City Hospital and as a member of the New Zealand Medical Assistance Team.

Germaine is a Registered nurse of over 30 years, with 22 years’ experience in Critical Care and Aeromedical environments. She has held flight nursing roles with Pacific Air Ambulance (formerly part of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter trust) undertaking national, pacific and international retrievals-800+ missions), and the Canterbury Air Retrieval Service. These roles have included leadership and education as well clinical co-ordination of acute and elective Interhospital transfers. She is a former Chairperson of the New Zealand Flight Nurses Association (now COASTN) and has contributed nationally within the aeromedical sector.

Izaak is a Critical Care Paramedic who is a leader in the ongoing development of the National Air Desk. Since joining the National Air Desk in 2018, he has gained in-depth experience and expertise with the coordination and tasking of Air Ambulance Helicopters. Izaak has developed clinical and operational guidelines with the sector, that support the application and equity of the tasking criteria. Currently Izaak is completing a Master’s degree in Aeromedical Retrieval & Transport at the University of Otago. Beyond his clinical and aeromedical expertise, Izaak also has extensive marine search & rescue experience as a Coastguard Rescue Vessel Master and Surf Lifeguard.

Philip is an aviation consultant at Heliport Design Group. He has previously worked in pre-hospital care as a paramedic and now advises on helicopter contracts, heliports and aeromedical system design.

Stephanie is an Emergency Medicine Specialist at Whangarei Hospital, where part of her non-clinical role is to encourage collaboration between different parts of the aeromedical sector. She is currently working as a Prehospital and Retrieval medicine Doctor with NRHL.

Dr Greig Russell, Tāngata Whaikaha, is a Principal Advisor for Haoura Māori Services, Health NZ. His current work focuses on designing and implementing equitable health systems to improve outcomes, particularly for Māori and Tāngata Whaikaha | Disabled people. Previously, he worked as an Urgent Care Physician leading rural trauma teams that integrated with Aeromedical providers across Te Ika-a-Māui.

Talofa lava, malo le soifua maua ma le lagi e mama, o lo’u ignoa o Lemalu Toa Masina.

Lemalu Toa is the System Design Manager for the Pacific Commissioning Team, having joined the organisation in January 2024. Previously, he worked at ACC as a Programme Manager, where he developed the ACC Pacific Strategy aimed at addressing inequities faced by Pacific people in access, experience, and outcomes. He has also contributed to the ACC Health Sector Agile Release Train.

Lemalu is a certified agilest with extensive expertise in Agile methodologies, customer-centric design, and service design and implementation. Additionally he is Green Belt trained in Lean Six Sigma in continuous improvement, error prevention, waste reduction, and data analysis. He brings these diverse, transferrable skills to support better health outcomes for all New Zealanders, especially the most vulnerable.

Rāwā Karetai Wood-Bodley (ko ia/ia/tāna | they/them/he/him), a person of Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe, Waitaha, Ngati Maniapoto descent, Rāwā brings a unique intersectional perspective to the table. With lived experiences as a Tangata Whaikaha Māori | Disabled Māori, Neurodiverse, and a member of the Rainbow Community as a Takatāpui, Rāwā's insights are invaluable. Currently, Rāwā resides in a rural area of North Canterbury and serves as the National Manager of Disabled Peoples’ Health in Hospital and Specialist Services - Strategy, Planning and Purchasing for Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. Rāwā also has several governance and advisory committee roles both domestically and internationally.

Tania Parr worked as an RN for 22 years in Cardiothoracics, ICU and CCU nursing. She is currently a flight nurse with the Nelson fight nurse team where she has been for over 14 years. Also, Flight and Road Transport Coordinator for Nelson Marlborough for the last 4 years.  Current COASTN (College of Air and Surface Transport Nurses – thought NZNO) Committee member through which she was nominated to join the CTAG for the ACP.

Avryl is a registered paediatric nurse of 18 years NICU experience in the UK and NZ, with 10 years’ experience as a NICU transport/retrieval nurse. Currently Avryl is the regional transport coordinator for Te Manawa Taki Transport Service. Avryl is the vice chairperson of COASTN representing road and air transport nurses.

Annette is head of the critical care at Waikato Hospital and their ICU retrieval team. She comes to CTAG as representative for the NZ CICM group. She graduated from the University of Otago as an M.D with a Bachelors in pharmacy and a Masters in Aviation Medicine. She has previously spoken out about the need to break the taboo of organ donation.

Jeremy is a rural hospital specialist based in Hawkes Bay and Clinical Director Rural Health for Hauora Taiwhenua, Rural Health Network. He has a strong interest in rural education, equity and anything outdoors.

Claudia is the Chief Clinical Advisor for Acute Care in the H&SS Delivery Unit. She has been a registered nurse for 20 years, largely in cardiology and cardiothoracic. Her most recent clinical role was as a Charge Nurse Manager for 8 years at Wellington Hospital. Her role in the delivery unit is to provide high quality clinical advice and guidance across the acute care continuum.

Luke Rohloff began his commercial flying in 2007 and has been involved in the aeromedical sector since 2013. He currently serves as the Flight Operations Manager for Life Flight’s fixed-wing aeromedical service. With an ATPL and examiner's rating, Luke has a passion for Aeromedical services and the continued development of the New Zealand framework.

Dylan is the Group Quality and Safety Manager at the New Zealand Air Ambulance Service / Skyline Aviation and is responsible for the organisations safety management system.

Dylan stated his career as an Aeronautical Maintenance Engineer and Maintenance Control Engineer with Air New Zealand before becoming a Lead Auditor & Investigator in the airline’s operational integrity team.  Dylan is also a member of the Civil Aviation Authority Aviation Community Advisory Group (ACAG).

Felicity is a highly experienced CCP with many years working on rescue helicopters all over the North Island, carrying out prehospital work and Interhospital transfers involving hospitals all over the country gives Felicity a broad experience base.  She is passionate about health equity particularly for rural communities.

Andrew’s background is in aviation as a licensed engineer and pilot. His current role is a mixture of management, line flying and instructing. He brings to the CTAG an area of expertise around helicopter operations, maintenance, and design & modification of EMS helicopters.

Declan brings over 30 years of experience in the aviation industry, starting his career as a licenced aircraft engineer with British Airways. His diverse background spans multiple roles in line and base maintenance, Civil Aviation Authority oversight, and aircraft fleet management. He has also worked with Executive Jet, Medivac Jet, and VIP Jet Operations, as well as Flying Doctors and Emergency Rescue Helicopter Services.

Declan is also a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.