The General Practice Owners Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (GenPro), the only national representative body directly
mandated by, and acting wholly for contracted providers running general practice and urgent care centres across New
Zealand, has today confirmed the election of its inaugural substantive chair.
Dr Tim Malloy, who had previously held the position of interim chair during GenPro’s establishment, was unanimously
elected as substantive chair at the first meeting of the new GenPro board of directors – who were themselves all
appointed by GenPro members following an overwhelming 98% response rate in the board election process recently
undertaken by the Association.
Announcing Dr Malloy’s appointment, GenPro’s interim chief executive, Philip Grant, said, “The board was unanimous in
supporting Dr Malloy’s nomination and appointment. They recognised his expertise, credibility and hard-hitting political
skills which have served GenPro members well during the Association’s establishment phase and its strong early growth.
To secure a chair of Dr Malloy’s standing speaks directly to the importance and expectations of what GenPro aims to
achieve for its members”.
Dr Malloy was typically forthright in accepting the nomination and his appointment, saying, “The sustainability of
general practice and urgent care providers is under increasing threat. I cannot and will not stand by and let New
Zealand’s network of essential first-contact health providers disappear. The sector has needed GenPro’s credible and
robust voice acting on its behalf for many years. Having reassured my board colleagues that my historical health issues
are now well managed, I am flattered that they have indicated their support for me to continue to assist with something
that I feel so strongly about. Front-line, owner-operator general practices deserve more and that is what I will offer
them”.
GenPro also confirmed the election of previous interim deputy chair, Dr Angus Chambers, to the role of substantive
deputy chair, an appointment which Dr Malloy said speaks to Dr Chambers passion and growing credibility across the
sector, “Angus has worked tirelessly and has been instrumental in the success of GenPro to date. He understands the
sector, the contracts, the legalities as well as the political processes. Above all, he is prepared to speak up for what
is right and is not afraid to challenge the system where it is failing to support its providers or serve their
patients”.
GenPro was only launched in April 2020 and yet its membership growth already includes providers encompassing one-quarter
of the country’s enrolled patients. Membership continues to grow on a weekly basis and now includes almost every known
general practice ownership model including community trust ownership, owner-operator GPs, nurse owners, practice manager
owners and corporate owners.
As well as the election of GenPro’s chair and deputy chair, the first meeting of the substantive board also started a
process for ensuring the board has the capacity and capability to appropriately represent GenPro’s broad membership as
well as to oversee the achievement of its objectives. That process will be considered further at the board’s next
meeting, which Dr Malloy says, “Reflects the fact that this is a new board which needs to review its existing skills as
well as the capability needed to deliver the strategic priorities identified by our members. That is an important
governance process and should not be rushed”.