Catherine Abel-Pattinson

The Minister of Health has appointed Catherine Abel-Pattinson as a member of the Nursing Council. For the past twenty years Catherine has worked extensively within the public and private healthcare sectors in clinical, education and managerial roles. A registered nurse, Catherine also holds an MBA and has been in line for numerous awards. She was a Johnson & Johnson Scholarship recipient in 2009 attending the European Health Leaders Programme at Insead University in France; and a runner-up for the Glenys  Baldick Memorial Award in 2008 for Emerging Leaders in Health.

For the past five years Catherine has been a Senior Manager at ProCare Health Limited, New Zealand’s largest general practice organisation with an enrolled population of 856,000 patients across greater Auckland.

Barry Ayling

Married and living in Christchurch, Barry Ayling started nursing in the late 1980s following a short career as a computer analyst/programmer. His nursing career has seen him in a number of positions including clinical, education, nurse specialist, and nurse management roles in New Zealand, Perth, Western Australia rural New Zealand, and Wellington. He was appointed to the Council for a three year term in September after being a successful candidate in the Council’s VOTE11 elections.

Catherine Byrne

Catherine Byrne graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1984 after completing her training in Taranaki. She has a post graduate diploma in Nursing. Catherine has extensive practice experience both here in New Zealand and overseas. Her current role is the Nurse Advisor at Starship Children’s Hospital. Catherine has worked with Council in her role of assessing portfolios against competency standards and has contributed to nursing on a national level through her work with the Job Evaluation Review Committee. She was appointed to the Council in September 2009 after being a successful candidate in the Council’s VOTE09 elections. Catherine was again successful in the Council’s VOTE11 elections for a three year term.

Deborah Rowe

Deborah Rowe (Ngāi Tahu) holds a joint appointment between Auckland District Health Board as a Nurse Consultant and the University of Auckland as a Lecturer. She also works as a registered nurse at the Women’s Health Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (2005-present). Before this she was a Clinical Charge Nurse at National Women’s Hospital (1997-2005). Deb is currently undertaking a PhD in Management and Nursing. Since registration she has completed a Master of Health Science at the Liggins Institute of Research, a Master of Management at the University of Auckland (2006) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Management at the University of Auckland (2004).  

Deb is currently Acting Chair of the Māori Advisory Committee National Screening Unit, a Māori representative on the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee and a member of the Auckland District Health Board Māori Nurses Group.

Patricia Seymour

The Minister of Health has appointed Pat Seymour as a lay member of the Nursing Council. Pat has been involved in health and education from an advocacy perspective for more than 35 years.

Initially being involved with Plunket following the birth of her children, this was followed later by involvement in early childhood education, hospital and health boards, the Early Childhood Development Unit and conservation via the QEII Trust. She is currently the Chair of Environment and Policy for the Gisborne District Council, a unitary authority.

Pat completed a Diploma of Business Studies in Endorsed Health Management whilst chair of the Tairawhiti Health Board.

Kathrine Townshend

Kathrine Townshend was appointed to the Council in October 2006 as a lay member. She previously worked in a law office and has also worked as a counsellor working with survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence. Kathrine also spent six years on committees involved in the ethical review of research involving human participants.

Dr Jo Ann Walton