With a wealth of diverse experience in the healthcare and commercial sectors, our executive leaders provide strong and connected-up leadership across all parts of our business.
Our Executive Leadership Team
Chris White
Chief Executive Officer
Chris was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Cross Health Trust in 2021. He is also CEO of the Trust’s largest subsidiary – Southern Cross Healthcare. Chris joined Southern Cross Healthcare as Chief Operations Officer in 2020 after three years in a CEO role on the insurance side of Southern Cross. A highly experienced executive and CEO, Chris is skilled in business leadership, strategy and governance, and has held executive roles in manufacturing and financial services. He sits on the boards of a number of Southern Cross Healthcare's joint ventures and has previously held external governance roles.
Chris was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Cross Health Trust in 2021. He is also CEO of the Trust’s largest subsidiary – Southern Cross Healthcare. Chris joined Southern Cross Healthcare as Chief Operations Officer in 2020 after three years in a CEO role on the insurance side of Southern Cross. A highly experienced executive and CEO, Chris is skilled in business leadership, strategy and governance, and has held executive roles in manufacturing and financial services. He sits on the boards of a number of Southern Cross Healthcare's joint ventures and has previously held external governance roles.
Dr Matthew Clark
Chief Medical Officer
Associate Professor Matthew Clark was appointed Chief Medical Officer in 2020. He is a general surgeon with extensive clinical experience in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom, a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Auckland, and a member of the examinations court for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Matthew has a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from the University of Auckland, and is currently a Consultant Surgeon at Counties Manukau DHB.
In his role at Southern Cross Healthcare, Matthew is primarily clinically-focused, bringing his knowledge and expertise to bear in guiding quality initiatives for clinical teams, as well as ensuring the optimisation of best safety practices. He is also responsible for our ongoing work to build and strengthen relationships with specialists and practitioners across the wider medical community.
Matthew brings a strong focus to delivering the best outcomes for patients to his role, reinforcing our commitment to the provision of high quality, patient-centred healthcare across our national network. He is keenly interested in innovation and health information technology, and their potential to optimise patient experiences and outcomes.
Associate Professor Matthew Clark was appointed Chief Medical Officer in 2020. He is a general surgeon with extensive clinical experience in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom, a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Auckland, and a member of the examinations court for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Matthew has a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from the University of Auckland, and is currently a Consultant Surgeon at Counties Manukau DHB.
In his role at Southern Cross Healthcare, Matthew is primarily clinically-focused, bringing his knowledge and expertise to bear in guiding quality initiatives for clinical teams, as well as ensuring the optimisation of best safety practices. He is also responsible for our ongoing work to build and strengthen relationships with specialists and practitioners across the wider medical community.
Matthew brings a strong focus to delivering the best outcomes for patients to his role, reinforcing our commitment to the provision of high quality, patient-centred healthcare across our national network. He is keenly interested in innovation and health information technology, and their potential to optimise patient experiences and outcomes.
Victoria Aliprantis
Chief of Quality & Risk
As Chief of Quality & Risk, Victoria leads a highly skilled team to deliver on our commitment to be leaders in quality care and patient safety. This includes overseeing robust quality and risk systems that support a sustainable culture of safety and best practice in workplace health and safety, together with ongoing consumer engagement and co-design initiatives aimed at improving the patient experience. She additionally offers policy direction and strategic advice, stewards vital risk management and reporting systems, and coordinates our clinical governance framework.
Victoria is a registered nurse who received her Bachelor of Nursing (BN) from Massey University. She holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Auckland and has completed the Institute of Directors Company Directors’ Certificate.
Her background includes perioperative and healthcare management roles in both the private and public sectors in New Zealand. Previous roles at Southern Cross Healthcare include managing our Wellington hospital.
As Chief of Quality & Risk, Victoria leads a highly skilled team to deliver on our commitment to be leaders in quality care and patient safety. This includes overseeing robust quality and risk systems that support a sustainable culture of safety and best practice in workplace health and safety, together with ongoing consumer engagement and co-design initiatives aimed at improving the patient experience. She additionally offers policy direction and strategic advice, stewards vital risk management and reporting systems, and coordinates our clinical governance framework.
Victoria is a registered nurse who received her Bachelor of Nursing (BN) from Massey University. She holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Auckland and has completed the Institute of Directors Company Directors’ Certificate.
Her background includes perioperative and healthcare management roles in both the private and public sectors in New Zealand. Previous roles at Southern Cross Healthcare include managing our Wellington hospital.
Monica Goldwater
Chief Nursing Officer
Monica Goldwater is a highly experienced leader in nursing having worked in both public and private, inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings across the US and New Zealand; and led nursing for multiple large complex and multi-site healthcare organisations.
As Chief Nursing Officer, Monica leads our nursing directorate across Aotearoa and brings the nursing perspective to our Executive Leadership Team. She is a strong and active advocate for both career and professional development and the delivery of world class nursing services and patient care.
A registered nurse in both the US and NZ and member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, Monica completed her MBA at Massey University in 2011 before moving to the US and working in several key leadership positions within the American healthcare sector. Monica returned to New Zealand in April 2023, and joined Southern Cross Healthcare from the University of Vermont Medical Centre where she was Director of Perioperative Services.
Monica Goldwater is a highly experienced leader in nursing having worked in both public and private, inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings across the US and New Zealand; and led nursing for multiple large complex and multi-site healthcare organisations.
As Chief Nursing Officer, Monica leads our nursing directorate across Aotearoa and brings the nursing perspective to our Executive Leadership Team. She is a strong and active advocate for both career and professional development and the delivery of world class nursing services and patient care.
A registered nurse in both the US and NZ and member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, Monica completed her MBA at Massey University in 2011 before moving to the US and working in several key leadership positions within the American healthcare sector. Monica returned to New Zealand in April 2023, and joined Southern Cross Healthcare from the University of Vermont Medical Centre where she was Director of Perioperative Services.