Executive Leadership Team
Ruth Robson - General Manager
As a 6th generation Nelsonian and raised in Riwaka, Ruth originally trained as a registered nurse in Nelson and worked clinically before moving into management roles in
outdoor education, and in the arts and health sectors. Prior to moving back to Nelson in 2018, Ruth worked as the programme manager for the Canterbury Clinical Network and as a senior project manager with the South Island Shared Services Agency, supporting cancer projects across the five District Health Boards.
In 2018, working with the two primary health organisations, she implemented the Nelson Marlborough Health Care Home programme - a national quality programme designed to support general practices to improve efficiency and patient access to services.
Now living in Golden Bay with her husband, she joined the team at Golden Bay Community health in 2020. Her role is to support quality and system improvement projects across the integrated facility.
Julie Shadbolt - PA to General Manager
Julie is the PA to the General Manager. Born and raised in Golden Bay and lived here most of her life, apart from 8 years where she lived in Nelson.
Julie attended NMIT and studied Business Administration and then went to work for an accounting firm. Julie started working at GBCH in 2016 as receptionist/administrator and then took on the role of PA to the General Manager in 2019.
Sally Boixo - Practice Coordinator
As Primary Care Co-ordinator, Sally oversees the day to day running of the General Practice and its team. It is a busy and challenging, ever changing role that she enjoys.
Originally from the Kapiti Coast and after many years living in Australia, Sally and her husband settled in Golden Bay and raised their family. In 1997 Sally began working for (what was then) Golden Bay Medical Centre as a receptionist. Sally has seen and been involved in, the many changes along the way as they have integrated to become the Golden Bay Community Health facility that they are today.
The team is committed to providing a trusted and compassionate service to the community.
Neil Whittaker - GP & Clinical Director
Neil feel very fortunate to be part of the GBCH team. Neil was previously a General Practitioner in Whakatu for 26 years where he facilitated the regional General Practice Training Programme. Neil has an interest in Te Whare Tapa Wha (Maori Health Model), teaching and continuous quality improvement. Neil is the proud Koro of 3 mokopuna and love spending time with them, in the bush or reading.
Sally Howell - Kitchen Manager
Sally studied in South Africa at Christina Martin’s School of Food and Wine. She went on to work as an Executive Chef at a Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sands where her restaurant was rated by Wine Magazine’s Top 100 places to eat out in South Africa.
Sally moved back to KwaZulu-Natal in 2013 and spent some time focusing on her baking. She grew her business making Christmas cakes for corporate gifts and cakes for birthdays and photo shoots. She than branched out and followed her passion of recipe development working with Food wholesalers creating recipes for their products to help create brand awareness.
In 2019 Sally decided to take the leap and move to New Zealand. Firstly, moving to Auckland and working in a large, aged care facility where she spent 18 months. She then moved to Golden Bay in 2021 and joined the Golden Bay Community Health Team as the Kitchen Manager.
Carol Robinson - Support Services Leader
Health & Safety Representative ID829944.
First Line Business Management Certificate.
Career Force Assessor.
New Zealand Health & Well-being Level 4.
Carol is our Facility Coordinator Manager, she is responsible for overseeing all activities, maintenance and upkeep of the GBCH buildings, making sure that health and safety standards are met and arranging for repairs when needed.
Carol was born and raised in Golden Bay, with over 28 years of working and serving the Golden Bay Community. Not only is she passionate about her community but she also brings a wealth of knowledge in Horticulture & Agriculture, Floristry, Professional Cleaning, and Pastoral Care.
Sarah McCall - Nurse Manager - Aged Residential Care
Sarah has been a Registered Nurse since 2011, originally from Jersey Channel Islands, she trained in England and worked in a variety of large city hospitals and small community hospitals. Sarah achieved a first-class honours degree in specialist practice nursing, in 2019.
Her passion is person centred care. She believes health care staff should always seek to involve the person in planning their care. This makes for a more satisfied service user and service provider.
Sarah lives with her husband and two dogs, she loves long walks, swimming, and riding her motorbike
Rosie Whittaker - Nurse Manager - Practice
Rosie has been a registered nurse in New Zealand for 23 years having previously trained in the UK.
Rosie’s background is in general nursing – with many years working in the emergency department at Nelson Hospital.
Rosie loves teaching and has an adult teaching qualification – Rosie has worked alongside nursing students for Te Pukenga NMIT and continue to support clinical teaching in her role at GBCH.
Rosie is passionate about working within the team to provide a quality service to the GB rural community that aims to meet the needs for all.
Rosie loves spending time with my ever-growing family with four mokopuna.
Wendy Nicoll - Associate Nurse Manager
Bio to come
