Our Team

Adjunct Associate Professor Simon Keating

Group Chief Executive Officer

Simon is a seasoned senior executive with extensive experience in the healthcare sector internationally across both the public and private sectors, including private equity and not-for-profits. Among many qualifications, he holds a Bachelor of Nursing from La Trobe University (1997 a Master of Health Science from La Trobe University (2008), a Master of Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University (2019) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Simon was also selected to participate in the McKinsey & Company Executive Leadership programme in 2012 as a top ASX100 emerging talent.

Following a successful clinical career, Simon became Director of Medical and Critical Care Services at Cabrini Health Australia before joining Healthscope. He became the CEO of three health services (La Trobe Hospital, North Park Private Hospital and North Eastern Rehabilitation Centre) with 1000 staff. In developing his career opportunities and a desire for public health exposure, Simon became Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer with Northern Health in 2018, running Pathology, Radiology, Pharmacy, Mental Health, Language Services and Aboriginal Health. He has also specialized in growth in private equity-backed companies with a tenure as the Managing Director of iMedX Australia and New Zealand.

His most recent role was as a CEO of McKenzie Aged Care Group, successfully growing and divesting the business in February 2023.

Simon has a very warm, pragmatic and open leadership style. He has had broad experience in driving outcomes and growth within complex stakeholder environments during his twenty-five years in healthcare. He has a significant breadth of medical and commercial experience, which is a perfect fit for Evolution.

Matthew Clarke

Chief Financial Officer

Matthew Clarke brings extensive experience providing strategic financial leadership across a portfolio of businesses with over 20 years of experience in finance and commercial management roles across the services and resources sectors. Returning to New Zealand in 2019 after 15 years spent mostly in the UK and Australia, Matthew has previously held senior finance positions with global quality assurance provider Intertek Group, including Group Treasurer in London and most recently Regional CFO based in Sydney.

Rebecca Atkins

Human Resources Manager

Jeff Arthur

General Manager Property & Projects

Michael Quirke

Chief Executive, Hospitals & Day Surgeries

Dr. Christine Howard-Brown

CEO of Health and Wellbeing

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio includes:
• ABI Rehabilitation
• Proactive
• Evolve
• Proactive Occupational Health
• Evolution Care Pathways.

Health quality and equity improvements have been the backbone of Christine’s career, originally training as a registered nurse and since then holding senior leadership positions in health, rehabilitation and disability within large government organisations and as a consultant. This mahi has involved leading (and sponsoring) several national strategies, action plans and service developments / designs that have focused on achieving equitable access and outcomes for people requiring rehabilitation following serious trauma (including spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)).

As current Chair of the National Rehabilitation Providers Group and Governance Group Chair of the Spinal Cord Register, her mantra of ‘the little things matter’ remains unwavered. Discovering what the little things are for kiritaki, whānau, kaimahi, you really have to genuinely connect with them through every interaction and that’s what Chris holds firm to her approach to mahi.

Prior to this, Chris led the team at ABI Rehabilitation as Chief Executive Officer for four and a half years. With a Master of Business Administration and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Medicine, coupled with her health qualifications and experience, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that supports advancing healthcare services in Aotearoa.

Chris takes a practical, collaborative and innovative approach to her role, and takes time to build relationships to strengthen outcomes.

Tony Young

General Manager

Andria Bayer

Northern Regional Manager

George Brown

Midlands Regional Manager

Shirley Harvey

Whangārei Facility Coordinator

Shirley has a background in the Disability Sector having Managed Adult Disability Day Programmes, Very High Needs funding and Transition from school to adult life.
She has also worked at Workbridge placing people with disabilities into employment. She has a diploma in Career Guidance.
Shirley is also the current Chairperson of the Blomfield Special School. Blomfield specialises in Education for children with disabilities aged 5-21 years.
Shirley enjoys making a difference in her community and helping people live their best lives. She likes to bring a focus of continual learning and improvement and healthy workplace culture.
Shirley enjoys family time and tropical gardening.

Zigma Zigma

West Auckland Facility Coordinator

Zigma was born and brought up in India. Came to New Zealand in 2017 and was in Auckland for 5 years. A Dentist by profession & still runs her business back in India.

Zigma enjoys new Challenges and loves to do something new every day – always aiming to do better and to be better. She also enjoys working with multicultural team, exploring new places and doing art & crafts.

Anel Owen

South Auckland Facility Coordinator

Bianka Kruger

Hamilton Facility Coordinator

Mereana Whanarere

Gisborne Facility Coordinator

Mereana was born in Gisborne and raised in a beautiful coastal village called Whangara.
Her and her husband moved to Biloela, Qld, Australia in 1999, then to Brisbane in 2001 where they raised a family of 5. They then returned home in 2019 to be closer to Mereana’s mum.

“My background is in Rehabilitation and Aged Care and I strongly believe everyone deserves a better quality of life, and I am very passionate about how that care is provided.
I love that I am able to interact daily with the clients and that they trust they can talk to me anytime if needed. I am excited about evolving with Evolution Healthcare and making a difference.”

Sarah Stoney

Palmerston North Facility Coordinator