Board of directors

Clifford (Cliff) Cook (Advisor)

Cliff Cook is one of New Zealand’s leading businessmen with over 30 years experience in the retirement village, nursing home and health and well being sectors.  He has extensive corporate experience from his involvement as a director and major shareholder in a range of companies and investments in New Zealand and internationally in the healthcare, tourism, hospitality, hotel and coastal farming sectors.

Cliff was the founder of Metlifecare Retirement Village Group, a NZSX listed company with a turnover in excess of $100 million.  Metlifecare has retirement village operations throughout New Zealand employing over 800 people.  Cliff is the founder of Renaissance Lifecare Plc, a UK-based retirement village operator.  He is also the controlling shareholder and Chairman of A2 Corporation, an NZAX listed biotechnology company.  He has substantial private assets across a range of investments.

Cliff has a keen interest in education and works through his private charity to care for and educate children in Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand.

Neil Cullimore

Neil has many years executive management experience in the global IS industry and has significant board experience in public software companies.  Over the past 20 years this has included extensive experience in mergers, acquisitions, management buyouts, trade sales and strategic business transformations, many within the global health IS market.  Neil is currently Chairman of Orbis Global and also a director of the NZ Innovation Fund.

Neil is also a former director of Health Connection Network (from ASX Listing to trade sale), a former Executive VP of Computer Sciences Corporation based in Austin, Texas, former President - Europe and Asia Pacific with Continuum, and CEO of Paxus Corporation in Australia.  

Neil holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Mathematics) from the University of Auckland.

Mark Jeffries

Mark was Executive Chairman for Healthphone from 1 November 2006 until 1 August 2007 and remains on the Healthphone Solutions Board of Directors. Mark is also a director of a number of private technology companies in New Zealand and Australia. He is a director of Massey University's incubator and is a past board member of the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ), chairman of the Electronic Business Association of New Zealand (eba nz) and former member of New Zealand Law Society committees on technology and business law. Mark was a partner in one of New Zealand's largest law firms for 12 years, specialising in commercial and IT law. He holds an LLB and MTaxS (Hons).

Matt Hector-Taylor

As President and Chief Strategy Officer, Matt’s key focus is on new product research and market entry strategies.  As founder, Matt led the Healthphone initiative from its inception through mid 2007.  He continues to work with the CEO to establish the strategic relationships that will enable Healthphone to enter and succeed in international markets.

 Matt has significant experience in the health sector, having managed a range of projects including organizational change, process redesign, strategy development and IT implementation. Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science degree. Matt is a frequent speaker at health and IT conferences and guest lecturer at various universities and other learning institutions.

 Roger Lampen

Roger is currently chairperson of the Workchoice Trust and Geneva Health International in New Zealand, Australia and United Kingdom.  He was previously Managing Director of The Lampen Group and prior to that Managing Director of Lampen Associates Ltd, a leading executive recruitment company established in 1972.  Roger's community involvement includes being a trustee of the Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Education and founding Chairperson of the northern Life Education Trust.  He also played a major role in establishing Auckland's Performing Arts School and is a trustee of the Fledging Trust, which supports youth development projects through the arts.

Jim McLay, Chairman

Jim McLay practised as a barrister before becoming a Member of the New Zealand Parliament in 1975.  Until his retirement from politics in 1987 he held, at various times, the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Attorney General and Minister of Justice.  He received the Queen’s Service Order (QSO) for public services (1987) and was made a Companion of the Order of New Zealand (CNZM) for services to conservation (2003).

 In addition to his chairmanship of Healthphone Solutions Limited, Jim is Executive Chairman of Macquarie New Zealand Limited, Chairman of Goodman (NZ) Limited (manager of the publicly-listed Goodman Property Trust), Chairman of publicly-listed Just Water International Limited, Chairman of Metlifecare Limited (publicly-listed owner of retirement villages); and is a director of several other companies.  He was founder Chairman of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development (and remains its Patron), is Honorary New Zealand Chair of the Trans Tasman Business Circle, Circle and, from 2004 – 2007, has been a New Zealand delegate to the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum.  He is trustee of several charitable trusts.

Jim McLay has previously served as a director of Motor Race New Zealand Limited (administrator of New Zealand motor racing), Neuren Limited (a bio-tech start-up, now listed on the Australian Stock Exchange) and Evergreen Forests Limited (publicly-listed forest owner); and was, for seven years, Chairman of Pharmacybrands Limited (licensor of the Unichem, AMCAL and Dispensary First retail pharmacy brands).

 From 1993 to 2003, Jim McLay was the New Zealand Commissioner on the International Whaling Commission, and is one of ten members of the Humane Society of United States’ International Council of Advisers.  He has served as an adviser to the New Zealand Government on reviews of the wholesale electricity market, defence funding and financial management, accident compensation and reform of road funding and management.

Stephen Panckhurst

Stephen is currently Chief Executive Officer at Private Health Care (NZ) Limited, the principal company associated with Cliff Cook’s business interests. Prior to joining Cliff, Stephen had a 20 plus year career in banking and corporate finance, including Fletcher Challenge Group, Citibank N.A., The New Zealand Treasury, Westpac Banking Corporation and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has extensive experience in business valuation, mergers and acquisitions.

Stephen holds a bachelor’s in management studies and a master’s in business administration.