Dr Ashley BloomfieldBHB 1988, MBChB 1991, MPH 1997
Director-General of Health, Ministry of Health, Wellington, NZ Dr Ashley Bloomfield is Director-General of Health and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Health. He was appointed to this position in June 2018, after more than 20 years in the public service, working to improve health and address inequalities in New Zealand and globally. In March 2020 he became known as the face of New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing daily updates with the Prime Minister through the lockdown that led to New Zealand’s elimination approach to the pandemic.
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After completing medical qualifications at the University of Auckland in 1990, he spent several years in clinical work before specialising in public health medicine, with a particular interest in non-communicable disease prevention and control. In 2010-11 he worked for the World Health Organisation in Geneva, as Partnerships Advisor, Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health.
From 2012-18 he held leadership roles at Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa District Health Boards, including as Chief Executive of Hutt Valley District Health Board from 2015-17 and Acting Chief Executive at Capital and Coast District Health Board from January to June 2018.
Dr Bloomfield fronted New Zealand’s response to the Auckland measles outbreak in 2019 and the health response to the aftermath of the Whakaari/White Island eruption in 2020.
From 2012-18 he held leadership roles at Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa District Health Boards, including as Chief Executive of Hutt Valley District Health Board from 2015-17 and Acting Chief Executive at Capital and Coast District Health Board from January to June 2018.
Dr Bloomfield fronted New Zealand’s response to the Auckland measles outbreak in 2019 and the health response to the aftermath of the Whakaari/White Island eruption in 2020.
