Martin Stokes
Chief Executive
“Our goal is to make every experience a Member has with us a positive one. Members' needs and service expectations will continue to drive the decisions and changes we make as an organisation. We are committed to improving what we do and how we do it, ensuring that together we go from strength to strength.”
The Board
A board of nine directors governs Medical Assurance Society New Zealand Limited. Their role is to ensure that high quality service and sound business practice are at the forefront of every business decision, allowing MAS’ relationship with its Members to grow and prosper. The board approves MAS’ strategic objectives, annual budgets and overall framework within which business is conducted.
The same board members also act as directors for most of MAS’ subsidiary companies.
Membership of Board Committees
Audit & Risk Committee
Mr Knowles (Chair), Dr Aish, Dr Hill, Mr Sutton.
Investment Committee
Mr O’Donovan (Chair), Dr Aish, Dr Baddock, Ms Dinsdale, Mr Sutton.
People & Remuneration Committee
Dr Aish (Chair), Ms Dinsdale, Mr Sutton, Dr Hill.
Nomination Committee
Dr Baddock (Chair), Dr Frizelle, Mr Sutton, Mr Merchant.
Information & Digital Technology Committee
Ms Wolton (Chair), Mr Knowles, Mr Merchant, Dr Hill, Mr Bartlett.
Harley Aish
Chairperson
Appointed 30 August, 2017
Harley is a General Practitioner in Otara, South Auckland. He has been involved in several projects with the local District Health Board to research and improve health for the local community, integrating care, and trying new models of care. He is currently Chairman of ProCare Health Limited.
Brett Sutton
Deputy Chairperson
Appointed 28 September, 2019
Brett is an experienced independent director. He is currently Chair of the Stevenson Group and Mint Asset Management, and Deputy Chair of the Co-Operative Bank. His previous employment experience included senior investment roles at the NZ Superannuation Fund and the Todd Corporation.
Frank Frizelle
Board Member
Appointed 28 August, 2013
Frank is Professor of Colorectal Surgery Christchurch Hospital and Academic Head of Department of Surgery at Otago University. He is a Patron of Canterbury Ostomy Society and serves as a Trustee for the Cotter Medical History, the Canterbury Charity Hospital and the Bowel and Liver trusts. Frank is also a director of Geordie Hill Station, Christchurch Colorectal and Southern Endoscopy which is a joint venture with Southern Cross Health Care.
Danelle Dinsdale
Board Member
Appointed 28 August, 2013
Danelle is a commercial lawyer who has spent the last 12 years overseas advising boards and senior executives on change management, mostly in the insurance and banking sectors. Since returning to New Zealand, she has been working on a portfolio of commercial property and agricultural interests. She is a Director for both Crown Fibre Holdings Limited and Hawkes Bay Regional Investment Company Ltd. Danelle is on the sub-committee for the Ruataniwha Water Storage Dam and prior to becoming a director of MAS, Danelle served as an independent director for Medical Securities Limited (MSL) from 30 November 2010 to August 2013.
Lindsay Knowles
Board Member
Appointed 25 June, 2014
Lindsay is a shareholder and executive director in a family business, ACME Supplies Limited – a national wholesaler of office products and hand tools. He is also a director of Cranford Hospice Trustee Limited and the chairman of Howick Baptist Healthcare Limited. Lindsay has served on the boards of HBS Bank, Presbytarian Support East Coast, Te Mata School and GPH Society (a not for profit charitable trust import distribution venture).
Lindsay has 15 years experience as a corporate banker with ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited, specialising in debt raising in the capital markets.
Kate Baddock
Board Member
Appointed 1 April, 2016
Dr Kate Baddock is Chair of the New Zealand Medical Association, a Fellow of the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners, and a member of both the Institute of Directors and Auckland Medicolegal Society. She gained her medical degree at the University of Otago and currently works as a GP and partner at Kawau Bay Health in Warkworth. She teaches undergraduate medical students, postgraduate doctors, and registrars in General Practice training programmes.
Doug Hill
Board Member
Appointed 29 August, 2018
Dr Douglas Hill is a General Practitioner and a Director of Broadway Medical Centre, Dunedin. He has a special interest in GPSI medicine in dual roles of Orthopaedics and skin cancer surgery.
Doug’s roles outside of General Practice are Chair of Columba College Board of Proprietors and Chair of Wellsouth Primary Health Network. He is a member of the NZ Advisory Board of the Skin Cancer College of Australasia. He is also a chartered fellow of the NZ Institute of Directors. Doug is a previous winner of The Otago Institute of Directors Aspiring Director Award.
Suzanne Wolton
Board Member
Appointed 29 April, 2020
Suzanne is a professional director, senior leader, speaker, chartered accountant, qualified hypnotherapist and financial services expert. She has more than 25 years' experience as a board member and senior executive in some of New Zealand's and the UK's leading organisations.
Steve Merchant
Board Member
Appointed 26 August, 2020
Steve is a veterinarian and director of the NZ SPCA, and has previously held numerous directorships, particularly in the veterinary profession. He was a Board member of the NZ Veterinary Association from 2005-2016, and served as Chair/President from 2013-2015. On stepping down from these roles, he was recognised with the NZVA Outstanding Service Award. Previously, he served as director and CEO of Pet Doctors Group, New Zealand's largest group of companion animal veterinary clinics. As a co-founder, he led the business through to the Group's sale to an ASX-listed company in 2018.