Our Team

Adjunct Associate Professor Simon Keating

Group Chief Executive Officer

Simon is a seasoned senior executive with extensive experience in the healthcare sector internationally across both the public and private sectors, including private equity and not-for-profits. Among many qualifications, he holds a Master of Health Science from La Trobe University (2008), a Master of Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University (2019) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Simon has worked as a CEO in Private and Public Healthcare, Aged Care and Retirement Living and in Primary Health.

He has also specialised in growth in private equity-backed companies with a tenure as the Managing Director of iMedX Australia and New Zealand; with his most recent role as a CEO of McKenzie Aged Care Group; successfully growing and divesting the business in February 2023.

Simon has a very warm, pragmatic and open leadership style. He has had broad experience in driving outcomes and growth within complex stakeholder environments during his twenty-five years in healthcare. He has a significant breadth of health and commercial experience, which is a perfect fit for Evolution.

Matthew Clarke

Chief Financial Officer

Matthew Clarke brings extensive experience providing strategic financial leadership across a portfolio of businesses with over 20 years of experience in finance and commercial management roles across the services and resources sectors. Returning to New Zealand in 2019 after 15 years spent mostly in the UK and Australia, Matthew has previously held senior finance positions with global quality assurance provider Intertek Group, including Group Treasurer in London and most recently Regional CFO based in Sydney.

Rebecca Atkins

Group Human Resources Manager

Jeff Arthur

General Manager Property & Projects

Michael Quirke

Chief Executive, Hospitals & Day Surgeries

Dr. Christine Howard-Brown

Chief Executive Health and Wellbeing

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio includes:
• ABI Rehabilitation
• Proactive
• Evolve
• Proactive Occupational Health
• Evolution Care Pathways.

Health quality and equity improvements have been the backbone of Christine’s career, originally training as a registered nurse and since then holding senior leadership positions in health, rehabilitation and disability within large government organisations and as a consultant. This mahi has involved leading (and sponsoring) several national strategies, action plans and service developments / designs that have focused on achieving equitable access and outcomes for people requiring rehabilitation following serious trauma (including spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)).

As current Chair of the National Rehabilitation Providers Group and Governance Group Chair of the Spinal Cord Register, her mantra of ‘the little things matter’ remains unwavered. Discovering what the little things are for kiritaki, whānau, kaimahi, you really have to genuinely connect with them through every interaction and that’s what Chris holds firm to her approach to mahi.

Prior to this, Chris led the team at ABI Rehabilitation as Chief Executive Officer for four and a half years. With a Master of Business Administration and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Medicine, coupled with her health qualifications and experience, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that supports advancing healthcare services in Aotearoa.

Chris takes a practical, collaborative and innovative approach to her role, and takes time to build relationships to strengthen outcomes.

Neetha Alex-Kumar

General Counsel & Company Secretary

Neetha is an accomplished senior business leader and lawyer with over 15 years of experience in navigating complex legal landscapes. Her expertise lies in balancing risks and opportunities to help organisations achieve their strategic goals. Neetha has a proven track record of advising companies on legal matters, especially in regulated environments, ensuring that businesses are both compliant and aligned with their broader objectives. At Evolution Healthcare, Neetha provides invaluable legal guidance and strategic counsel, ensuring continued compliance and supporting the company in achieving its long-term goals. Her extensive experience in legal leadership and her ability to articulate complex issues clearly are key assets.

Ginny Ford

General Manager

Ginny joined Shore Surgery Specialist Day Hospital in 2006, as a Registered Nurse in the Recovery Room, before her appointment to Hospital Manager in 2008. Ginny achieved an undergraduate degree from the University of Canterbury, and then set off to see the world; mostly by crewing and running ocean going racing and cruising yachts, or by seasons spent skiing magical snowy slopes.

Her Diploma in Nursing from the Auckland Technical Institute led to work in the surgical wards of Auckland Hospital, involvement in Sir Peter Blake’s Whitbread Round the World challenges and thence to 15 years in the Private Healthcare sector in a busy surgical hospital. Ginny has a Graduate Diploma in Management (Health Sciences) from the Auckland University of Technology.

Ginny leads a team of highly qualified senior nurses, with experience in Theatre or Recovery, each of whom is confident of their assessment and decision-making skills. This fosters a close trust relationship between the Specialist Medical personnel and the nursing staff. Staff turnover is extremely low and morale is high.

Sharlene Bergin

Administration Manager

Sharlene joined Shore Surgery early 2022, after 15 years in the IT Distribution industry. Sharlene comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience in Customer Services, Administration, Systems and People Management. Prior to the IT industry Sharlene has been involved in Direct Marketing, Call Centre, Project Management, Teleco sectors.

Her passion for people and sound business background lends itself to leading our Shore Surgery Reception Teams.

Adrianne Pearce

Surgical Team Leader

Adrianne joined Shore Surgery in 2008, she worked in all 4 department, endoscopy, recovery and CSSD with the majority of time spent in the ophthalmic theatre. Five years later she began her new role as Surgical Team Leader.
In search of a new challenge and a better life for herself and 3 children Adrianne graduated with Bachelor of Health Science in 2003.
Relaxing while out on the water fishing is one of her favourite hobbies, she also enjoys gardening and spending time with family.

Kerry Harriman

CSSD and Infection Control Team Leader

Kerry has been with Shore Surgery since 2007 in the role of CSSD and Infection Control Team Leader. She has had a varied nursing career after graduating as a Registered General and Obstetrics Nurse in 1984. She went on to complete a Graduate Diploma of Advance Nursing Practice and a Certificate of Sterilising Technology.

Ingrid Goodenough

Endoscopy Team Leader

Ingrid is a New Zealand trained Registered Comprehensive Nurse and has worked in the Perioperative field for over 30 years. She is one of the original staff members of Shore Surgery who began in 1998 when the unit opened. Ingrid has worked in a variety of roles including having been the Team Leader of the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit and more lately of the Endoscopy Theatre. It is important to Ingrid to have a balance in her work life with other activities and to that end she is a keen hiker and has developed an interest in scenic photography with a special love of sunrises.

Jane Jones

PACU Team Leader

Jane has been a Registered Nurse for 37 years. She did her initial nursing training at Auckland Hospital then specialised in Paediatrics at what was then the Princess Mary Children’s Hospital. After travelling to the UK and Europe for her O.E she found herself in South Africa where she married and had 2 children.
She lived there for 19 years and particularly enjoyed the bush and wildlife. She worked as a Registered Nurse and team leader in PACU (Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit) in a large hospital.

After returning to New Zealand with her family she worked in PACU at North Shore Hospital before joining Shore Surgery Specialist Day Hospital in 2011 where she is now the PACU team leader.