Executive Board
The Executive Board is elected annually at our Annual General Meeting. It has a governance role in ensuring that the Pasifika Medical Association achieves its aims.
Last Updated February 2009
President ~ Dr Kiki Maoate
Kiki is a Paediatric Surgeon and Urologist at Christchurch Public Hospital and Children's Specialist Centre Ltd.
He was born in the Cook Islands and educated at the University of Otago and is a Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Surgery at the University of Otago, Christchurch, and an Advisor on Paediatric Surgery, Fiji School of Medicine.
He is currently developing outreach services to the Pacific Island countries in conjunction with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons/AUSAID, with the aid of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kiki plays an advisory role to the Ministry of Health on Pacific Island issues.
Kiki has research interests in incidence of childhood Helicobacter Pylori infection in Pacific Islanders, study of long-term outcomes after herniotomy and orchidopexy in children and laparoscopic surgery.
Vice President ~ Dr Teuila Percival
BHB, MBChB (Auckland), FRACP (Paediatrics)
Teuila Percival is a Consultant Paediatrician at Kidz First Children's Hospital, South Auckland & Director of Pacific Health at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland.
Teuila is Samoan with a wealth of clinical and governance experience, including previous chair and current board member of South Seas Healthcare. She is passionate about improving child health outcomes and continues to be a strong advocate for the evidence based - design, implementation and evaluation of children's health services in New Zealand.
Dr Secretary ~ Siniva Sinclair
Dr Siniva Sinclair is a Papua New Guinea-born Samoan/European New Zealand public health physician currently working at Counties Manukau District Health Board Planning and Funding.
She completed medical and public health specialist training in Auckland, gaining Fellowship of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine in 2003.
Between 2004-2008 she worked as the specialist public health physician for Samoa's Ministry of Health, and undertook consultancy work for the World Health Organisation, United Nations Children's Fund and Secretariat for the Pacific Community in the areas of immunisation/ vaccine preventable diseases and sexually transmitted infections.
Treasurer ~ Dr Francis Agnew
Francis is a consultant psychiatrist/service clinical director with Pacific Islands Mental Health and Alcohol & Drug Services, Waitemata and Auckland DHBs
He is a New Zealand-born Cook Islander, who grew up in Porirua, near Wellington. He attended Victoria University and graduated with an MSc (Hons) majoring in zoology.
He spent six years living in the UK and Africa before returning to New Zealand to study medicine, and has worked in the mental health sector for more than 20 years as a clinician.
Trustee - Dr Kim Ma'ia'i
Co-opt Members - Dr Debbie Ryan
Co-opt Members - Mrs Eseta Finau
Student Representatives: North Island
Tofilau Alistair Papali'i-Curtin
CertHSc, MBChB III (Auckland)
Alistair is of Samoan European descent and is currently a 3rd year medical student at the University of Auckland. He completed the Certificate in Health Sciences course in 2004, where he shard the role as one of two Pacific Island Student Representatives for the programme. Alistair is passionately involved with a range of community activities for youth. He is also a mentor for Pacific Island students studying health related degrees at the University of Auckland, and is the Pacific Island Vice-President for the Maori and Pacific Admission Scheme (MAPAS).
Lorna Williams
CHSc, MBChB 2nd year student (Auckland)
Hi, my name is Lorna Williams; I'm currently a 2nd year MBChB (medical) student at the University of Auckland. I'm of Cook Islands descent, with the majority of my family coming from Rarotonga and Aitutaki. I also currently hold a Certificate in Health Science (CHSc) (graduate of the class of 2006).
Currently a mentor to Maori and Pacific youth at the University of Auckland, especially those who wish to pursue a career in health. Love traveling and meeting new people and expanding my network of friends.
Student Representatives: South Island
James Alesana-Slater
MBChB 3rd year student (Otago)
James Alesana-Slater is a Samoan-scotsman from Lalomalava in Samoa. He is the current president of PIHPSA (Pacific Island Health Professional Students Association), and is in the third year of his medical studies at the University of Otago (UoO). He attended Vaiola College and Robert Louis Stevenson High school before entering the NUS (National University of Samoa) Foundation course. He was the student president for Studholme Hall, UoO Hall of Residence in 2006, and was the medical student representative in 2007. His interests include rugby (playing for varsity blues in 2006 and 2007) and research (an investigator in antibiotic resistance study in Samoa). He is passionate about Pacific health and wishes to work in Samoa and the Pacific region after completing his studies.
"Ia e manatua o Ia i ou ala uma, ona faatonuina ai lea e Ia lava ou ala"
Prerna Seghal
BPharm (Otago), PGDipCertPharm (Otago)
Prerna Seghal is Tongan and attended Tonga Side School and Tonga High School before migrating to New Zealand. She has a degree and post graduate qualification in pharmacy from the University of Otago and worked for Counties Manukau District Health Board as a clinical pharmacist prior to entering medical school. Her research interests include respiratory medicine and the development of our Pacific health workforce. Prerna is also the founding President of the newly created Pacific Island Health Professional Students Association (PIHPSA). She is now the Vice president for the PIHPSA.
Richard Cowley
Fifth Year Medical Student (Otago)
Richard is a fifth year medical student in Dunedin. He grew up in Rotorua from a family of five with his father being of Samoan descent.
He enjoys an active lifestyle consisting of rugby, skiing and running.
He is the president of PIHPSA and aims to support its members in their academic endeavours through goal setting, mentor support and high standards and expectations of all.
MEMBERSHIP BOARD
The Membership Board is elected annually at our Annual General Meeting. It has an advisory role to the PMA executive board as well as the coordination and/or implementation of specific key projects as they arise.