We are a charitable trust with the primary purpose of improving the health of the people of Hawke’s Bay. Our trust is governed by seven board members and chaired by Jacqui Gray. We all share the vision of a healthier Hawke’s Bay and are driven by the desire to support projects that make a real difference to our region and benefit our communities
We have a long history in Hawke’s Bay that goes back to the original Royston Hospital in Hastings, founded in 1921 by a group of local doctors. Following the 1931 earthquake, the hospital was re-established on its current site as a community hospital. The doctor owners settled the hospital into a charitable trust in 1953 once the original loan was repaid. During the intervening years the Royston Hospital Trust (as we were named then) has overseen the hospital being redeveloped, firstly in partnership with local specialists and following its amalgamation into the Acurity Health Group, as part of a wider corporate group. The trust sold out of its private hospital interests in 2016 and rebranded as the Royston Health Trust to reflect the change in trust objectives, which are now more broadly focused on benefiting Hawke’s Bay communities through targeted funding.
MEET THE BOARD
Jacqui Gray
CHAIR
I have been involved with the Royston Health Trust for more than 20 years; as a trustee, chairperson since 1999 and as a director in the various companies operating Royston Hospital during this time. Personally, it is a very satisfying organisation to be a part of, having the ability to assist the Hawke’s Bay community and support our locals’ health needs. We’re looking forward to working with other organisations to reduce inequities in access to health services and assist in improving the health of the people of Hawke’s Bay.
Stuart Signal
We have a huge opportunity to make a positive impact on the health of the Hawke’s Bay community. The funding support we can provide for a wide range of health-related initiatives not funded by the public system is very rewarding. I have been with Royston since 1987, as a trustee, a director and through the provision of administration and accounting services. During my time I have seen the organisation grow from ownership of a cottage hospital, through several major building projects, ownership and direction changes. It has been an exciting journey and we’re all looking forward to what the future holds.
Rhod Murray
I have been a general practitioner in Hastings for 40 years and involved with the Royston Health Trust since 1981. Working with the people of Hawke’s Bay over this time has been extremely rewarding and being able to support the trust on its journey is very exciting. Through our funding we are able to provide services that the District Health Board and other organisations can’t, which gives us the ability to improve the health of the people of Hawke’s Bay.
Jessica O’Sullivan
My background is in public health and I have worked within the Hawke’s Bay health system for the last twelve years. In this time I have come to understand the challenges we face as a region and how these impact on the health of our people. As a trustee of the Royston Health Trust I look forward to working with the Hawke’s Bay health community to identify areas where, together, we can raise the bar and make Hawke’s Bay a healthier place for everyone who lives here.
Murray Cowan
We live in a wonderful community that sadly has several health challenges. As a newly appointed trustee, I join the Royston Health Trust board to make a difference to the health and well-being of our Hawke’s Bay community. Having worked throughout my professional career in human resources management, I bring both a pragmatic, humanistic and empathetic focus to evaluating funding applications with a focus on positive and tangible outcomes for our community.
John Lockie
On retirement from 45 years in financial markets, I was keen to find ways to give some time and energy back to worthwhile causes in the community. There may be no better goal than Royston Health Trust’s aspiration to improve the health of the people of Hawkes Bay. Having closely followed the progress of the Trust for around 20 years, I saw joining the board as my opportunity to contribute to decisions that would lead to improvement in the good health of the people of Hawkes Bay, as well as opportunity to utilise my financial markets experience and assist in the prudent investment of the Trust’s asset base.
Denise Primrose
I have worked in healthcare within Hawke’s Bay for over 35 years, with my background in leadership positions in both the public and private hospital sector.
In my position as General Manager of Royston Hospital, my long association with the Royston Health Trust has enabled me a depth of understanding and appreciation of the significant contribution the Trust has made to the Hawke’s Bay community over many years.
The Trust’s purpose to be `At the heart of health and well-being for all in the Hawkes Bay Community’ resonates with my values and I’m delighted to be appointed as a new trustee in 2024.
I see this as an exciting opportunity to work alongside my fellow trustees, engaging with wider networks to further promote the Trust and partner with organisations who can help make a real difference to healthcare outcomes for our community.
Rochelle Robertson
Te Matau o Māui (Hawkes Bay) is a wonderful place to live and raise our families. Thanks to the foresight of the founding doctors, the Royston Health Trust is in a unique position to provide funding support to health and wellness initiatives for the wider Hawkes Bay community. I am a newly appointed trustee and a locally trained Registered Nurse and business owner. I have worked across healthcare in our region for 36 years and understand the importance of working together (Kotahitanga). As trustees, we look forward to supporting work that will improve the health and well-being of our community.
“Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi “
With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive.