Kathy was appointed to the board as a trustee in December 2020. She brings extensive governance experience and knowledge in the education, commercial and health sectors. A Taieri resident, Kathy is the first trustee to be appointed to the board from outside of the Central Lakes region.

A former consultant in the Dunedin legal practice of Gallaway Cook Allan, she has been a Ministerial appointee and former chair of the Otago Polytechnic Council, and was previously a member of the University of Otago Council and chair of the Council of the Dunedin College of Education. In 2015, the Minister of Health appointed Kathy as Commissioner of Southern District Health Board following the disestablishment of the DHB, a role she held until December 2019.

She is currently a Director of Southern Cross CLT Ltd, a joint venture between Southern Cross Healthcare and CLT, operating a private surgical facility in Queenstown and Waitaki District Health Services Ltd.

Kathy’s early governance experience was with not-for-profits, and on school and sports boards. In Kathy’s view it is a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the community again; and a community where she has a strong connection from her time with Otago Polytechnic in Cromwell, as well as with the Southern DHB.