Our team
Dr Orna McGinn
Chair
Orna is a specialist General Practitioner with over 20 years’ clinical experience in Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK. She is Chair and founder of the New Zealand Women in Medicine Charitable Trust, which she established out of a strong belief that a well-connected profession can move mountains : supporting our own wellbeing, while strengthening collective advocacy and leadership across the health system.
Orna lives on Waiheke Island and loves everything it has to offer, including sea swimming year-round, and spending time hiking the island’s beautiful tracks
Dr Rosie Laing
Rosie Laing is a General Practitoner living in Lyttelton (Christchurch) who works 2 days a week in general practice and 1.5 days a week as as Clinical Integrator for Health NZ.
She has been involved in medical education and GP liaison work in the past and has a long term interest in promoting the health and wellbeing of clinicians.
Alix Long
Alix is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Otago. After spending the first three years of her training in Ōtepoti, she recently moved to Te Whanganui-a-Tara to begin her clinical years.
Although still new to the world of medicine, Alix has always been driven by a passion for addressing the health inequities that persist across Aotearoa. She is particularly interested in advocating for a healthcare system and workforce that better reflects and serves the diverse communities of Aotearoa.
Outside of medicine, Alix enjoys exploring the outdoors, staying active, and spending time with friends and whānau.
Dr Justine Lancaster
Deputy Chair
Justine is a distinguished FRNZCGP who is passionate about making high-quality, sustainable healthcare a reality across Aotearoa. She's all about collaboration, supporting her fellow colleagues, and improving the system for the better.
Having previously been a GP practice owner, Clinical Lead, Chief Clinical Advisor at the Ministry of Health, and Chair of the RNZCGP Wellington Faculty, she brings a wealth of experience. Currently her main role of National Clinical Lead Community HealthPathways programme, with a little GP work on the side in an Iwi run general practice to keep things real.
Music, singing, dancing and exploring outdoors feed her soul.
Dr Nikki Blair
Nikki is an Otago graduate, who trained in Paediatrics mostly in Starship hospital and Middlemore. She has been a Consultant General Paediatrician in Wellington for almost 20 years. She is passionate about community paediatrics, which encompasses improving social determinants of health including addressing and reducing child poverty, as well as early detection of disease, to ensure all children can thrive in Aotearoa. (She has been involved in Rheumatic heart disease research and guidelines, and is a strong advocate for introducing Echo early detection in high risk communities.)
She is also keen to build community of medical wahine so we can support each other to navigate our careers and avoid disillusionment or burnout.
In her spare time she loves playing tennis, mountain biking, walking her dog and spending time with her kids and husband.
Ness Johnson
Ness is our Trust Administrator and is the one ensuring we get our emails out, events curated, fb posts posted and answers any questions that come through our admin email. She is with us 10 hours/week.
Ness has been working in the for-purpose sector in NZ for over 25 years mostly in the Event Management space and now works as an independent contractor supporting charities with events & projects.
When not curating events, Ness will likely be curating her next overseas adventure, her monthly ‘platter club’ or exploring Auckland’s culinary scene!
Dr Holly Johnstone
Treasurer
Holly is an Anaesthetics Trainee at Wellington Hospital and will move to a Provisional fellowship position at Hutt Hospital later this year. Her subspecialty interests lie in Regional and Airway.
Outside of clinical medicine she is passionate about health economics, digital/IT improvement and governance. In her spare time likes to exercise, cook for friends and play touch rugby.
Dr Anne Solomon
Anne is from the UK and studied philosophy and was afterwards a professional violinist for ten years before retraining as a GP .
In 2009 she spent a wonderful year in Kapiti and was determined to return one day. After a further ten years in London general practice she finally made it back here with her family at the height of covid. In the past she has had clinical lead and learning disability roles.
Currently she is enjoying new zealand's unique cultural mix and its interface with medicine, as well as music, reading and the great outdoors.
Dr Nathalie de Vries
Nathalie trained and worked as a paediatrician in the Netherlands before moving to New Zealand in 2014.
Alongside her clinical work in NZ, she has taken on a range of leadership roles, including Associate Dean at the University of Otago, Chair of the Medical Staff Association, and National Secretary for ASMS. Since 2024, she has worked as Chief Medical Officer and GM Child & Youth at Health New Zealand – Whanganui. More recently, she has commenced training with the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.
Dr Nicky Nelson
Nicky is a Community Paediatrician in Taranaki where she has been based for over 20yrs.
She is passionate about social justice and improving outcomes for children in Aotearoa with a particular interest in the importance of the early years of life.
She thrives on connection with others and enjoys the outdoors especially hiking, skiing, mt biking and surfing and planting.