The Canterbury Clinical Network (CCN) is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Don Elder to the role of Independent Chair for the Alliance Leadership Team.

Born and raised in Christchurch, Don achieved a first class honours degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Canterbury.

He moved to England in 1980 to complete a PhD in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship.  During this time he met his wife, Dr Therese Arseneau, who is originally from Nova Scotia in Canada.

They were married in 1985 and have a daughter now 30 years old, and sons 27 and 25.  They have lived and worked in the US, Canada and New Zealand. 

Through this Don gained more than 30 years of governance and executive leadership experience in a wide range of organisations internationally.

He brings this experience and his strong connections and relationships within the Canterbury community to his new role with CCN, which he was drawn to because of its person-centric, proactive approach to integrating and transforming Canterbury’s health system.

“The missing link in many health systems is often the focus on the person.  Addressing this, and being clinically-led and data and evidence driven, are enabling our health system to move substantial resources from the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff to intervention, support and wellbeing at the top.”

“I’m a big believer that most of society’s hardest challenges are intergenerational.  This drives my strong interest in improving the lives of children now, to have a huge impact on outcomes for them, and for the country, in future.”

Don’s current governance roles include Chair of the Family Help Trust and Trustee of The Loft.  Both NGOs work to address the needs of Christchurch’s most vulnerable children, young people and whānau.

Don fills the vacancy left following the appointment of Sir John Hansen as Chair of the Canterbury District Health Board.

“I’m very aware I’m filling massive shoes following Sir John Hansen. He’s done an outstanding job and I hugely admire what he and the CCN have already achieved for Canterbury.  I’m looking forward to helping the Alliance continue this exceptionally important work.”

Don will start his CCN orientation on Wednesday 1 July 2020 and attend his first ALT meeting in July.