Our Board of Directors

Chairman - Mike Tomlinson

President – Russell Wood

Dame Norma Restieaux

MD, FRACP, FRCP, DBE Dame Norma Restieaux is arenowned cardiologist and retired Associate Professor of Medicine at Dunedin Hospital, University of Otago. Dame Norma has held a number of significant positions throughout her distinguished career including past President of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (New Zealand), past Chair of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (New Zealand region), Chair of the  Credential Committee (Otago District Health Board), member of the Hospital Advisory Committee (Otago District Health Board) and member of the Otago Charitable Trust. Dame Norma is the current Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Group.

Faye Sumner

Faye Sumner joined the Board in 2008 and comes with more than 40 years experience in the healthcare sector. Faye is the Chief Executive Officer for the Medical Technology Association of New Zealand (MTANZ) and previous to this she was the New Zealand Manager for a multinational medical device company and served as the elected Chairman of the Industry Board. As the CEO, Faye has been at the forefront of negotiations with the Government and Ministry of Health in the development of proposed medical devices’ regulations and more recently the healthcare reforms and procurement of medical devices. Faye was recognised by the industry members in 1999 when she was made an Honorary Life Member of the Association. Faye is also a Trustee of The University of Auckland School of Medicine Foundation. As a Registered Nurse, trained in Coronary Care, Faye is very supportive of the Heart Foundation’s objectives.

Aseta Redican

Aseta Redican has a long history of service to Pacific health in New Zealand and established the Heart Foundation’s Pacific Islands Heartbeat programme in 1991.
As General Manager, Pacific Health at the Auckland District Health Board, she has established two Pacific‐led Primary Healthcare Organisations (PHOs), the Parish
Nursing pilot, the Healthy Village Action Zones Pacific Community Development initiative and a Pacific Health Advisory Committee to the ADHB Board. Aseta also previously established a number of Pacific Providers of Healthcare as the Northern Regional Health Authorities Manager for Pacific Issues. Aseta has been a key speaker at local and international forums on Pacific Health. She is currently on the Boards of Fred Hollows Foundation NZ,  Spectrum Care Trust and Capacity Development NZ.

Associate Professor Stewart Mann

MA, BM, BCh, DM, FRACP, FRCP (London), FCSANZ Stewart Mann joined the Board in 2008. He is Chair of the Foundation’s Cardiac Care Strategic Advisory Group, being a member of that Group since 2004, and previously served for many years on the Heart Foundation Wellington Regional Committee. Stewart is Associate Professor of
Cardiovascular Medicine and Head of Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington. Stewart trained at Oxford and London in the UK and migrated to
New Zealand in 1986. He was Consultant Cardiologist at Hutt and Wellington Hospitals until taking up his present position in 2003. His research interests include hypertension, cardiovascular epidemiology and risk communication.

Michael Benjamin

Michael Benjamin is Deputy Chairman of the Foundation’s Board and serves as Chairman of the Business Development and Finance Strategic Advisory Group. He has served on the Heart Foundation Investment Committee since 2002 and joined the Board in 2005. He has more than 40 years experience in finance as a stockbroker and was Chairman of the Auckland Stock Exchange in 1986. Michael is a former director of Wilson and Horton and Firestone (NZ) Ltd. He has also been Chairman of the Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital, a trustee of Wanganui Collegiate School and a former captain of the Royal Auckland Golf Club.

Aroha Hudson

Aroha Hudson is the Chief Executive Officer of HealthWEST, a Primary Healthcare Organisation (PHO) in Auckland. Aroha is a chartered accountant and has a Masters of Business Administration. As well as being a member of the Heart Foundation Board, Aroha holds other governance positions. These include: Director – Tamaki
PHO and Director – Auckland PHO. Aroha holds advisory roles as a member of the Maori Advisory Committee within the Clinical Trials Research Unit at the University
of Auckland’s School of Population Health.

Associate Professor Chris Bullen

MBChB, DObst, D Child Health, MPH (Hons) PhD FAFPHM FNZCPHM Chris Bullen is Director of the Clinical Trials Research Unit at the University of Auckland’s School of Population Health, and Associate Professor in Public Health at the University of Auckland. His current research interests are primarily focussed on smoking cessation
and tobacco control. He has been a Board member and Chair of the Heart Foundation’s Public Health Strategic Advisory Group since 2005.