Meet The Team

General Manager
Mark Watson
Mark Watson
General Manager
Mark Watson brings over 30 years of healthcare experience across the UK and New Zealand, with a strong clinical foundation and a proven record in hospital leadership. He has held senior roles at Ormiston Surgical Hospital, Braemar Hospital, TRG Imaging, the Elective Surgery Centre at North Shore Hospital, and most recently Southern Cross Hamilton Hospital, where he led operational improvements and fostered a culture of clinical excellence.

Originally trained as an Operating Department Practitioner with the Royal Air Force, Mark's frontline experience and strategic leadership continue to shape Grace Hospital's commitment to outstanding patient care, community-focused growth, and innovation in healthcare delivery.
Corporate Manager
Roberto Romersa
Roberto Romersa
Corporate Manager
Roberto joined the team in February 2015. He previously worked for an asset management firm in London that specialised in tailored investment strategies for institutional and sovereign clients. He specialises in data management, contracts management, projects, and cost analysis. He also worked for 10 years for Standard and Poor's.
Perioperative Service Manager
Mesha Premlall
Mesha Premlall
Perioperative Service Manager
Perioperative Support Services Manager
Anne Heke
Anne Heke
Perioperative Support Services Manager
Anne has been a registered nurse since 1974 and has worked for Norfolk Southern Cross since 1985. Her special interest in orthopaedics led her to become Orthopaedic Theatre Manager for Grace in 2004. In 2022 Anne moved into a new role managing the Sterilising Unit and Procurement Team.
Ward Manager
Keely Rackham
Keely Rackham
Ward Manager
Keely previously worked in ICU at Greenlane Hospital, and as Duty Manager at Starship and Waitakere Hospitals. She has been a registered nurse since 1989. Keely came to our Grace Road Hospital in 2005 as ward manager, and has continued her role at Grace Hospital. She has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing.
Day Stay Manager
Ross Turner
Ross Turner
Day Stay Manager
Ross has been a registered nurse since 1994. He commenced at Grace hospital in May 2020 after 25 years at Tauranga Hospital, where he was most recently the Clinical Nurse Manager of the Orthopaedic Ward. He has a Master's Degree in Health Science (Nursing) and his passion is promoting patient focused care through clinical excellence.
Safety, Quality & Capability Manager
Marie Russell
Marie Russell
Safety, Quality & Capability Manager
Marie joined the team in 2014 and has held various Nurse Manager roles, including OR, Day Surgery and Endoscopy; she also has experience as a Nurse Educator and Quality Facilitator, and holds a MBA. Marie's passion is improving the patient journey by enabling continuous quality improvement and change management.
Support Services Manager
Sally Cogswell
Sally Cogswell
Support Services Manager
Sally joined the Grace team in May 2023 and has held a variety of leadership positions in the healthcare industry over the last 13 years. Sally has experience working in both the public and private sectors of healthcare, including 8 years as the Medical Centre Manager at The Doctors Tauranga. Sally is passionate about providing exceptional customer service, which has been a big part of her previous roles.
Facilities Manager
Jon Thompson

021 914 217 Email Jon
Jon Thompson
Facilities Manager
- 021 914 217
- jon.thompson@gracehospital.co.nz
Jon has been working in the building industry in leadership roles for most of his career. He joined Grace Hospital in February 2024 moving into the Facilities Manager role after several successful projects in the local construction market. Jon is a full member of FMANZ ad the Chartered Institute of Building. Jon has a passion for people, buildings and the environment.

Infection Prevention Control, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Claire Fuller
Claire Fuller
Infection Prevention Control, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Claire came to us as a registered nurse in 2001 and has held the IPC/OSH role since 2008. Claire has a Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Prevention/Control and a Master's Degree in Applied Professional Studies (Infection Prevention and Control).
Occupational Health & Safety
Karen Porter

Email Karen
Karen Porter
Occupational Health & Safety
- karen.porter@gracehospital.co.nz
Karen is a registered Physiotherapist and previously worked at Tauranga Specialist School for seventeen years with the students and led the health and safety team. Karen has a NZQA certificate in Health and Safety Representation. She is passionate about staff health and safety.
Safety Quality & Risk Facilitator
Lou Higgins
Lou Higgins
Safety Quality & Risk Facilitator
Lou has worked at Evolution Southern Cross since 1987 as a registered nurse, with a special interest in paediatrics. She has been involed in quality and risk since 2000. More recently she has been instrumental in facilitating quality systems at Grace, achieving a high level of compliance in meeting Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability service standard. Lou has completed a certificate in Quality Management in healthcare.
Educator
Sue Whitley
Sue Whitley
Educator
Sue became a registered nurse in 1978 and joined our team in 2004. Sue took on our educator role in 2007 and has continued her own studies by achieving her post graduate diploma in 2007 and her clinical master's degree in nursing in 2013.

The Senior Management Team

Mark Watson

Roberto Romersa

Mesha Premlall

Anne Heke

Keely Rackham

Ross Turner

Marie Russell

Sally Cogswell

Jon Thompson

Safety, Quality & Capability Team

Claire Fuller

Karen Porter

Lou Higgins

Sue Whitley

Get in touch