New CEO appointed
7 July 2006: Presbyterian Support Northern's Board of Trustees has appointed a new Chief Executive, Dr Rod Watts.
Currently National Manager of Planning and Development in the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s Disability Services Directorate, Dr Watts has a long history in health and disability services in Australia and New Zealand.
Originally from Melbourne, he has a variety of research, clinical and management experience gained in a range of health and disability services in Australia over a 15-year span. This has included working in palliative care, mental health, general hospital social work, oncology, rehabilitation and trauma management.
Dr Watts immigrated to New Zealand in 1996 to take up a role with Auckland Healthcare (now Auckland District Health Board), to set up and then manage a new adult rehabilitation service – a role he held for over four years, before moving to the Ministry of Health where he spent five years.
His qualifications include a Masters of Social Work, based on studying distress among people with cancer, and a PhD in the field of Psychiatry, based on research focused on victims of major bus crashes.
Dr Watts joins PSN on 28 August. His appointment follows the resignation of Winsome Stretch who had lead PSN for eight years.
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