April marked the end of an era as the Alliance Leadership Team (ALT) bid farewell to Independent Chair Sir John Hansen.

Through the virtual farewell, alliance members past and present reflected on John’s ‘razor-sharp mind’ and ‘ability to always put the patient at the centre’ over the last decade.

“We became a leadership team for a network with some pretty aspirational goals. But with John’s leadership and his style – very clear and logical – it allowed us to be aspirational and move forward with some speed and some courage,” said Ken Stewart, Planning & Funding Clinical Lead and former Deputy Chair of the ALT.

During his time as Chair John has seen CCN’s programme of work grow from two initial workstreams and Service Level Alliances (SLAs) to 22 groups across the alliance work programme and, accordingly, the programme team grow from two to thirteen.

Kim Sinclair-Morris, CCN Executive Director, said: “John has been instrumental in the development and maturity of the CCN as a collaborative and responsive way of leading change and has consistently ensured that our people and communities are at the core, particularly those our system doesn’t work for.

Laila Cooper, Chief Executive of Christchurch PHO said: "John has led the alliance from the start to now where it is world recognised for the innovative approaches it has taken to integrating the Canterbury health system. His firm and resolute leadership style has led to improved health services for Agnes (et al) and a system wide focus towards improving health equity."  

Dr Ramon Pink, Chief Medical Officer of the DHB and former ALT member added that John provided a really important balance to ALT discussions by bringing his own experiences as a health consumer.

“The value of coming from outside the health sector means he can ask questions and play the part of the consumer, which is important for ALT so we don’t become system-centric in our thinking,” said Ramon, and this sentiment was echoed by John’s colleagues.

“To me, John’s biggest contribution has been keeping the needs of people, the patient, front and centre. He has an absolute focus on the needs of people and the tenacity to do the right thing,” said Jane Cartwright, Independent Advisor to CCN.

Vince Barry, CEO of Pegasus Health, added: “It’s the banging together of heads, the relationship management, the setting of expectations. Health is well known for us being able to be either professionally driven or organisationally driven and he’s helped burst those bubbles and helped to orientate people back around to issues for Agnes. He’s really carried Agnes’ story and Agnes’ requirements front and centre of all his leadership.”

John’s ability to ask the hard questions and lay down challenges was a common theme in feedback, alongside his sense of accountability and commitment to transparency. It’s this dedication that has allowed John to see some huge successes during this time with CCN.

Making space for tough conversations around institutional racism and hauora Māori has seen progress in many spaces across the health system. This includes seeing the HPV vaccine delivered in schools in partnership with primary care, which has seen a significant increase in coverage particularly for Māori and Pacific populations.

Other highlights include seeing CCN recognised for how the alliance worked and value added to the community through the July 2015 Institute of Public Administration (IPANZ) award for Excellence in Improving Public Value through Business Transformation and the Prime Minister’s award Public Sector Excellence.

Carolyn Gullery, Executive Director, Planning, Funding and Decision Support at Canterbury DHB, said: “When I reflect on my fondest memory with John it’s a place, and it’s a location and it’s a moment in time – when the CCN won the IPANZ awards. It was so exciting when we won, and John was so excited and I really enjoyed that moment where I felt that he got the recognition that he deserved leading an entirely different model that ultimately then went on to win the Prime Minister’s award. For someone like John who has worked in the public service for such a long time that night was really special.”

Kim said: “John has created a culture of accountability and efficiency and ensured we continually demonstrate we are making a difference for our communities and the system.”

A clear example of this is the work around enhancing the falls and fragility fracture prevention work in Canterbury. From 2013 to 2018 there were 981 fewer people with fractured neck of femur (NOF) and 327 fewer deaths at 180 days post discharge. Each year more than 1,500 older people receive training and support based in the community, through a community-based falls prevention programme.

Another example is the work around enhancing our children’s mental health and wellbeing using funding of $28m committed by the Government in February 2018, which John was personally asked to oversee by the Prime Minister’s office.

The rapid development and implementation of Mana Ake saw 80 (FTE) additional mental health workers made available to all children aged 5 - 12 year olds across Canterbury by June 2019 and to31 March 2020, Mana Ake had supported 5,299 children individually and in groups; 550 parents through parent information sessions and held regular drop-ins at schools.

Carolyn added: “One of the big successes John has seen is Mana Ake – that early intervention model targeted at our most vulnerable tamariki which has a genuine opportunity to make a difference in the trajectory of their lives. It is a really exciting step for our health system working alongside social service partners and education to make a genuine difference.”

Ken added: “John has done a fantastic job of leading and being very supportive of our roles and very protective of people who are trying to achieve results.

“He has a good heart and a good mind, which are critical elements of him being successful in everything he touches, and is part of his ability to lift the bonnet on all sorts of issues and not be afraid to confront people for things that aren’t reasonable or appropriate.”

Kim commented: “It’s been an honour working with John for the last seven years, I have learned a great deal.”

Recruitment for a replacement Independent Chair is currently underway, with ALT being led by Deputy Chair Simon Church in the interim.