Ms Trish Davis is the new Chief Executive of Te Rau Matatini.

Trish Davis (Ngāti Maniapoto) comes to Te Rau Matatini with a strong background of working in the health and disability sector in the Ministry of Health and other health bodies for over 20 years, most recently based in Hamilton.

She has held senior leadership roles in funding, planning and purchasing of disability services. She has also been involved in developing a Māori community mental health service and Māori disability services in the Central and Midland regions.

“Trish’s extensive experience of working in the public-funded health sector, and managing through periods of high level change, will be invaluable for our organisation,” says Mr Roma Hippolite, chair of Te Rau Matatini’s board of directors.

“She has been able to ‘hold the waka steady’ while she steps into the CEO role with staff and key stakeholders, with the confidence of a skilled manager and wāhine toa,” he said.

Trish is passionate about working in positions that make a positive difference in peoples’ lives. She says she is thrilled to join Te Rau Matatini because of the pivotal role it plays in developing the Māori health workforce, its capacity and capability, leading to improved health outcomes for Māori.

She is from Waitomo, where her whānau have a farm and she continues to be actively involved in the local marae and hapū activities. Trish attended Waikato University and holds a BSocSci and PGDip (MgtSt).

Trish was appointed in August this year, replacing Kirsty Maxwell-Crawford who had led the organisation since its inception in 2002. Kirsty left for family reasons.

Te Rau Matatini is an independent not-for-profit limited liability company based in Wellington. It is one of four health workforce development centres established by the Ministry of Health, but is the only one focussed on the Māori health workforce. Te Rau Matatini employs just over 45 FTEs. Its initial focus was mental health, but it has recently broadened its scope to include the wider health sector.