Key People

Ginny has held this role since 2006, leading the delivery of specialist palliative care in Otago and building capacity, capability and confidence in the team of professionals delivering that specialist care.

Ginny is passionate about her role, and believes Hospice holds a privileged and unique position in the community. She comes from a nursing background but since 1995 has held health management positions with NZ Blood and the Otago District Health Board (now Southern DHB). She is an active Rotarian and is on the University of Otago Human Ethics Committee (Health).

David has been in Medicine for nearly 30 years. He trained in three specialties in the U.S. (Palliative Medicine, Internal Medicine and Paediatrics) before arriving in Dunedin in 2015 and attaining certification in Palliative Medicine. His varied career and broad experience as a GP, Specialist in Hospital Medicine and Palliative Medicine doctor have informed his desire to refine care delivery models and fostered a keen interest in educating others in the healthcare field around effective communication with patients/family/whanau and within the healthcare teams. All with the goal of providing the best care possible to patients/families and supporting those who are given the responsibility and privilege to care for people faced with life limiting disease.

Louisa is an experienced palliative care Nurse Practitioner, who has been with Otago Hospice for 12 years. A strong clinician, Louisa holds a Clinical Masters degree and is an active advocate for upskilling palliative care nurses throughout the country. A respected voice in palliative care in New Zealand, Louisa is the current clinical advisor for Hospice New Zealand and a member of the palliative care specialist guideline group. At Otago Community Hospice, Louisa is focussed on building the Hospice clinical team to deliver outstanding equitable palliative care service for all of Otago.

Megan Vintiner joined Otago Community Hospice in April 2023, tasked with the new role of leading our finance and support team. She previously had roles as Director: Finance Services, Te Pūkenga – Otago Polytechnic and before that as a Manager in the Accounting and Advisory (Private) team with Deloittes. Megan’s excellent financial and management accounting capability means that Otago Community Hospice – with over 120 employees, and growing complexity around budgets and funding – is well future-proofed. Megan will lead a programme of continuing improvements to the finance systems and processes, to create efficiencies and ensure focus is on creating a financially sustainable future.

Deb Connor joined Otago Community Hospice as our Office Manager in July 2020, stepping up to the Operations Manager role in July 2021 and now the Director of Quality and Risk. Originally from Invercargill, Deb has worked in numerous roles in the health sector in Dunedin and has for many years been involved with Diabetes NZ at both a branch and a national level as a board member and as National President. Her most recent role was as Quality and Compliance Manager at Tuapeka Gold Print and she completed her Masters of Public Health in 2017. Deb lives in Outram and is involved in pony club and her local library. 

Sally, an experienced palliative care nurse practitioner, manages this integral service that supports residential care providers, patients and whānau across Otago. Sally ensures the Residential Support Service Team is focussed on improving palliative care delivered in ARC facilities, as well as exploring and developing new strategies and improvement opportunities for the service.

Holly Dunbar joined the Otago Community Hospice in June 2024. Her background is rooted in both aged residential care and education. Before joining the Hospice, Holly held nursing management positions where she honed her skills in overseeing clinical operations and leading teams. She also worked as a clinical lecturer at Otago Polytechnic, delivering undergraduate nursing education. An advocate for excellence in palliative care within the aged care sector, Holly has led several initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of care, including a pilot program for entry-level nursing education in aged residential care. She brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges and needs in palliative care to the Hospice.  

Cat comes from a design business and retail background, and is a skilled and knowledgeable curator of second hand goods. She joined the Hospice in 2012, establishing the thriving Bond St homewares shop. More recently Cat took on the broader role of Retail Development Manager with a focus on building the Hospice's seven shops revenues. She enjoys being part of the fundraising team and working with dedicated staff and volunteers to raise as much money as possible for Hospice. 

Amy joined the Fundraising team in 2018 and quickly became the go-to expert for planning and executing successful fundraising events. With a background in community-focused administration, Amy has a natural flair for event management, ensuring each occasion runs smoothly and leaves a lasting impact. Her role extends beyond event coordination; she is also dedicated to building and nurturing strong relationships with key supporters and partners. Amy plays a pivotal role in securing sponsorships and creating mutually beneficial partnerships that support the organization's fundraising goals. Amy helps drive sustainable growth for our fundraising efforts by continuously developing new ideas and innovative approaches, ensuring long-term success.

Rebecca Shaw has coordinated Otago Hospice's 400 volunteers for over eight years. With a background in education and mental health,  a life-time interest in organisational development and having been a volunter for education and social services, Rebecca knows volunteering from both sides of the fence. She has lead a strong induction and training model for all of our volunteers -  shop and kitchen assistants, gardeners, receptionists and biographers - which has seen the development of a healthy volunteer network, as well as strong volunteer retention across the board.