Mr Bill Thomson, BCom, FCA - Chair

Bill is a Chartered Accountant, and former director of Shand Thomson, where he worked for 40 years. He remains a consultant with the firm.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Bill has had a number of governance roles in a variety of local community orientated organisations.

Whilst he has now retired in Wanaka, he remains committed to the wellbeing of the Clutha District.

Ms Janet Copeland, LLB, BCOM

Janet is the Managing Partner of Workplace Law firm Copeland Ashcroft. Janet has held many governance roles in her career and to date has a passion for the Clutha District having started her law career in Balclutha and with many family members in the District.

Kathy Grant, BA, LLB, PGDip Arts, DFIoD

Kathy has had wide legal experience having taught at the Faculty of Law at the University of Otago and is a former consultant in the Dunedin legal practice of Gallaway Cook Allan. She has had extensive experience in the governance of educational institutions both locally and nationally, has significant governance experience in the commercial sector and was appointed as Commissioner of Southern DHB from 2015 to 2019. Kathy continues to hold appointments in the heath sector and is focused on enhancing rural health delivery. 

Mr Alastair McKenzie 

Alastair has held a diverse range of management roles in a variety of industries with his most recent in HR. Alastair is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors having been a Director of various nationwide companies taking roles of Chairman, Audit & Risk committee, CEO review and appraisal committee and Appointments panel.

Mrs Leanne Samuel, RN, BM, MHSM, FCNA

Leanne is a Registered Nurse and midwife, with a Masters degree in Heath Service Management. She has worked in a variety of health services leadership roles in NZ and Australia, and more recently in governance roles in the community, rural health and with Maori and Pacific Island organisations.Leanne lives and works in Southland.

Dr Branko Sijnja, MBChB Dip Obst FRNZCGP(Dist) FNZMA  PGDipRPHP PGDipGP 

Dr Branko graduated Dunedin Medical School in 1973. He has worked in Balclutha since December 1974 with the exception of two years in Scotland from 1977 and 1978 doing orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology. He started as a solo GP in Balclutha 1980 and moved into the CHF premises in 1998. He has served two terms on the Southern District Health Board, and eleven years on the executive of NZMA, and has been president NZMA for two years. Branko has been on the Board of CCHCL since its inauguration in 1997 and also worked part time for Dunedin Medical School Department of GP for twelve years until June 2022. Branko continues to work part time as a GP at CHF.

Ms Alex Tickle, PhD MChem BCH MInstD

Alex is an accomplished Commercialisation Manager for the University of Otago’s technology transfer company Otago Innovation Limited. Alex has held many governance roles in her career, has a passion for innovation in healthcare and animal welfare, and lives on a lifestyle farm in Taieri Beach in the Clutha District.

Mr Peter Williamson, BA

Peter holds Māori ancestry into the Kākā Point district and currently works as a cultural advisor to The School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Otago.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and had previously worked for 14 years as a counsellor for Māori at Wakari Hospital, Dunedin. 

In attendance at monthly meetings is also our Chief Executive Officer, Gary Reed.