Health NZ has appointed Gary Baird as its new National Director, Digital Services and Technology, effective 31 August 2026.
The newly created National Director role reflects Health NZ’s increasingly national approach to digital services, bringing together local expertise and national leadership to deliver more consistent and connected technology services across the country. The position replaces the Chief Information Technology Officer role held in an acting capacity by Darren Douglass since October 2024.
Mr Baird joins Health NZ from EY, where he led the firm’s Digital Government practice. He brings experience across both the public and private sectors – including senior leadership roles with Inland Revenue and ANZ. His background spans large-scale digital transformation and operational delivery across tax, immigration, social services, transport and infrastructure.
Mr Baird will lead Digital Services and Technology with an immediate focus on improving operational service performance, maintaining delivery of key programmes and projects and advancing the Health Digital Investment Plan (HDIP), Health NZ’s long-term roadmap for digital investment and transformation.
Following Mr Baird’s arrival, Darren Douglass will return to his substantive leadership role after serving as Acting Chief Information Technology Officer and guiding Digital Services through a period of significant organisational change and service stabilisation.
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