Stella Ward

Chief Digital Officer, West Coast and Canterbury DHB

Stella is the inaugural Chief Digital Officer for the Canterbury DHB and the West Coast DHB. This role provides strategic leadership and governance to ensure current and future technology contributes to the transalpine vision of an integrated health system – “One System, One Budget”.

Stella also has a number of Executive Portfolios that include the Christchurch Health Precinct and Health Innovation (Via Innovations Executive Director). She is also a Board member of the New Zealand Health Innovation Hub. The overarching purpose behind these areas of innovation is to accelerate smart ideas, products and services to improve health outcomes.

Stella is the commercial relationship manager for the Strategic Partnerships with Orion Health; Hewlett Packard and GE Healthcare. She is also a member of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Global Advisory Board. Stella believes it is essential in health leadership to have a global view and is always delighted to have the opportunity to meet with and share learning with, health and related industry leaders all over the world.

Stella trained as a speech language therapist and has worked in the public health system, private practice, education and welfare.  She has held executive leadership roles in a number of DHBs.