SCENZ Group

Dr Michael Austen (New Zealand European) is a Specialist Physician in Occupational and Environmental Medicine and in Urgent Care and is based in Wellington. Dr Austen is a Fellow of both the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal New Zealand College of Urgent Care. He is an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. Dr Austen is the appointed Chair of SCENZ.

Julia Black is a bioethicist and community advocate with early career experience in health research, ethics advisory, and public engagement. She works across clinical, academic and policy settings to strengthen ethical decision-making to incorporate community and patient perspectives in healthcare. Julia also brings lived experience of spousal bereavement to her work.

Dr Sheila Hart (New Zealand European) is a specialist anaesthetist working in Wellington. She has governance experience from her past role as President of the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists and is currently the Clinical Director of the department of Anaesthesia at Wellington Regional Hospital (CCHV). Dr Hart has been involved in the assisted dying service since the service began.

Ariel Hubbert is a pharmacist and has practised in New Zealand and the UK for several years. She has worked as a hospital pharmacy manager in New Zealand with a specialist interest in patient information and safe medicine use in vulnerable populations. Ms Hubbert has governance experience with New Zealand pharmacy professional organisation and multidisciplinary teams in hospital settings. She currently works in a primary care pharmacy setting.

Georgina Johnson (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa) from Te Tairawhiti, is a current Justice of the Peace, volunteer for Coastguard Gisborne, current Chair for Fire and Emergency Māori Advisory Roopu, a member of Pharmac Consumer Advisory Council, RANZCOG He Hono Wahine, Te Whatu Ora National Palliative Steering Group, and is currently contracting for a number of organisations in health and disability.

Dr Diane V Jones has worked as a specialist general practitioner for 50 years. She had her own semi-rural practice in Kōhanga Moa (Inglewood), has worked in Papua New Guinea, and at the Western Institute of Technology New Plymouth. She has also worked at ACC as a medical officer for 27 years, and been involved in the assisted dying service since the service began.  

Dr Te Hurinui Karaka-Clarke (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) is the Associate Dean Academic for Te Wānanga Toi Tangata (The Division of Education) and the Associate Professor of Mātauranga Māori for Te Kura Toi Tangata (The School of Education) at Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato (The University of Waikato). Dr Karaka-Clarke holds qualifications in Te Reo Māori and is able to read, write, speak, understand spoken, and peer review Te Reo. He has numerous publications and conference presentations in his chosen field. He has expressed a personal interest in the process of end of life care and is willing to share his knowledge about customs and protocols that will guide and impact the work of the SCENZ Group.

Peter Reynolds (New Zealand European) is a semi-retired business manager and leader with over 20 years’ experience in the wider health and disability sector.  His most recent position was as CEO of the New Zealand Disability Support Network. He studied business management at Massey University and completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Health Services Management.  Peter lives with his wife in Waipawa and keeps busy advising a small number of service providers and assessing workforce development grant applications on a small not for profit organisation.