The Minister of Health appoints the Board members and nominations are called from a variety of sources from both within and outside the podiatry profession. When nominations are received the Minister appoints the successful member for a term of generally three years. Appointees are able to be re-appointed with legislation allowing up to nine years on the Board. The Board consists of 8 members, 6 registered podiatrists and 2 lay members (appointment pending).
The current Board members are :
Registered Podiatrists:
- Dr Matthew Carroll (Chair)
- Belinda Ihaka (Deputy Chair)
- Erin Beeler
- Rebecca Holbrook
- Christopher Rewi-Wetini
- Elson Ng
Lay Members:
- Kellie McGrath
- Alex Delany
Board Members
Matthew Carroll – Chair
Matthew joined the Podiatrists Board in 2015 and was appointed his current role as Chair in 2021. Prior to this he was Deputy Chair. He has been a registered podiatrist in New Zealand and Australia. Matthew is currently appointed as an Associate Professor of Podiatry and Deputy Head of School within the School of Clinical Sciences at AUT University. Matthew was previously Head of Podiatry at AUT University from 2009-2017.
Matthew is active in research with a focus on musculoskeletal conditions of the lower limb. Since commencing his academic career in 2009 he has published widely in peer reviewed journals and presented national and internationally. He is Associate Editor for BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders and Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Foot & Ankle Research. In 2018 Matthew was awarded a Senior Fellowship to the Higher Education Authority and Associate Fellow to the Higher Education Research & Development Society of Australasia in recognition of his contribution of leadership of teaching.
Belinda Ihaka – Deputy Chair
Belinda joined the Podiatrists Board in 2020, before being elected as Deputy Chair in 2021. Belinda has been a lecturer at AUT since 2004 where her primary role was to provide clinical education and promote best practice for Podiatrists. Belinda then was promoted to lecturer, and her areas of teaching include imaging (diagnostic musculoskeletal and arterial); clinical skills and long term conditions management. Belinda has been involved in various National and International organisations and is committed to improving health outcomes for Māori. Belinda is actively involved in research and is a candidate for the Doctor of Health Science programme at AUT.
Elson Ng
Elson was appointed to the board in September 2021 and has been a registered podiatrist since 2012. His key interests in podiatry include aesthetic podiatry and sports podiatry and he currently manages a private practice in East Auckland. Elson also has a background in sales, customer services and independent consultancy services.
Erin Beeler
Erin re-joined the Podiatrists Board in 2023 and prior to this she supported the Board as a Professional Advisor. Clinically, Erin splits her time between her private practice in Rotorua, New Zealand, and an advanced musculoskeletal clinic in Sydney, Australia. Erin graduated from AUT in 2006 and returned ten years later to begin her Post Graduate Diploma and finally her Masters in Health Practice (Māori Health). She has a special interest in the recruitment and retention of podiatrists in rural New Zealand. She has also spent many years working with final year students as a rural placement podiatrist, and has enjoyed working with students and exposing them to practice in rural communities.
Rebecca Holbrook
Rebecca was appointed to the board in April 2020. Rebecca qualified in the UK in 2005 and registered with the board in 2013. She relocated to Otago and developed a busy multi-disciplinary clinic.
Having now moved to the Taranaki in 2020, Rebecca is currently Professional Lead for Podiatry at the TDHB and runs a private practice.
Rebecca’s main areas of interests are:
- Collegial support and mentoring
- Diabetes & the High Risk Foot
- MSK & Biomechanics
- Research & improving health outcomes
Christopher Rewi-Wetini
Chris Rewi qualified as a podiatrist in 2010 at AUT and has operated his own clinics since then. His specialty is diabetic foot assessments at the primary care level, along with providing diabetic educational presentations for different PHOs and interest groups.
Kellie McGrath
Kellie was appointed as lay member of the Board in 2021. As a lay member, she represents the views of consumers of podiatry services, and their communities. Kellie has over 20 years experience managing and delivering major organisational transformation and change initiatives in New Zealand and overseas. Her experience spans private, public and not-for-profit, including health, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, food, education and social sectors. Kellie has also spent time living and working in the Pacific, and wherever she is, she gravitates towards the ocean.
Alex Delany
Alex joined the Podiatrists Board as a layperson member in 2021. She has a legal and commercial background and an interest in health and wellbeing.
After graduating from the University of Otago, Alex has worked in New Zealand and the UK in a range of legal, strategic and operational leadership roles in the private sector. Since returning from overseas with her family in 2019, Alex has learned more about New Zealand’s health system and providers through her work at ACC and on the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme at the Ministry of Health.
Board Staff
Sandra Gale – Registrar
Sandi has worked in Allied Health for many years and has moved across from her previous health regulatory role with the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand. Her previous experience also encompasses over 20 years as a Royal Naval Officer, predominately working in the military intelligence communities. Her past positions include many years working with the United States Navy, as the Royal Naval UK Liaison Officer in Washington DC and active service with 801 Sea Harrier Squadron and UK Maritime Battle Staff.
Board Meetings for 2023
9 February
18 – 19 May
24 August
23 – 24 November
