RACMA congratulates Professor Lester Levy FRACMA and Dr Margaret Wilsher FRACMA on their appointments to drive Health New Zealand’s future.

Professor Levy has been appointed Chair of the Health New Zealand Board and Dr Margaret Wilsher has been appointed Chair of the Ministerial Health Infrastructure Committee.

These strategic appointments demonstrate the critical role of specialist medical leadership in transforming health systems during times of complexity and change.

“Professor Levy and Dr Wilsher exemplify the leadership capability RACMA develops – leaders who understand what works in practice and what transforms systems,” said Professor Erwin Loh, RACMA President. “Their appointments reflect the unique value of clinician-leaders who can bridge frontline delivery with strategic systems thinking.”

Professor Levy is the current Commissioner for Health New Zealand. He brings extensive governance experience, having chaired multiple District Health Boards and currently serving as Chair of the Health Research Council alongside his role as Professor of Digital Health Leadership at Auckland University of Technology.

Dr Wilsher combines her clinical expertise as a highly experienced respiratory physician with her current role as Chief Medical Officer at Health New Zealand – Auckland. Her extensive financial and clinical leadership experience includes serving on the Government’s Capital Investment Committee overseeing health infrastructure investment from 2011 to 2023, making her ideally positioned to lead the Infrastructure Committee’s critical work.

“These appointments showcase how RACMA Fellows lead health system transformation across Australasia,” Professor Loh said. “As the only specialist medical college dedicated to health leadership, RACMA develops the collaborative leadership capability that enables systems to navigate complexity while maintaining focus on excellent patient care.”

The appointments reinforce RACMA’s position as the connector that transforms health leadership, building the capability needed to address tomorrow’s health challenges.