‘COVID curve crusher’ recognised for contribution to public health

As Director-General of Health between 2018 and 2022, Sir Ashley led the country’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The response included implementing contact tracing, widespread community testing, an isolation and quarantine system at the border, lockdown protocols, and a national vaccination programme. 

His leadership in communicating with the public throughout the pandemic contributed to high levels of trust in the Government’s evidence-based response and to New Zealand’s relatively low mortality from COVID-19. 

Sir Ashley has also provided national and international leadership on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.  

As the National Director of Tobacco Control, he worked with a wide range of stakeholders to strengthen New Zealand’s smokefree legislation, implement smoking-cessation programmes, and prevent smoking uptake by young people.

"What really inspired me on that journey was the fantastic people doing great work, day in, day out, across the health and public sectors" – Sir Ashley Bloomfield

When Sir Ashley joined the Ministry of Health as part of his training, he thought we would stay there for 6 months to get some “policy experience”.

“I found I really enjoyed the nexus between public health, science, policy, and politics – and stayed for 15 years!” 

Missing out on a senior role at the Ministry in 2012 was a challenge for Sir Ashley that proved to be the best outcome in hindsight.

“Given I had been acting in the role for nearly 2 years on and off, my confidence was rocked, and I wondered if that was the end of my executive leadership journey."

“As is often the case, it transpired to be the best outcome. I was soon in a new role working in district health boards, which lead to a fantastic role as CEO at Hutt Valley District Health Board."

“A few years later, I was back in the Ministry of Health as Director-General, with a much broader network and wider experience of the health system.”

Sir Ashley said that being Director-General at the time of the global COVID-19 pandemic was an opportunity (albeit not one he had expected nor wished for) to put all his experience into practice in a highly public way.

“What really inspired me on that journey was the fantastic people doing great work, day in, day out, across the health and public sectors.” 

Reflecting on how we can address challenges facing our health sector – which he stresses are not new nor unique to New Zealand – he says two things are essential:

“First, great leadership – which means valuing and investing in our health leaders, who are working in the most complex organisations and systems there are."

“And second, a 10-year plan that maps out the investments and changes that need to happen to ensure the health and care that people need is available for them in the future, and that it is equitable.”