Trustees

MATTHEW REID, CHAIR OF MSF NEW ZEALAND

Matthew Reid is a founding MSF New Zealand Trustee, and was appointed by the Board of MSF Australia in 2016. He has worked for MSF in Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Russia and South Africa as a doctor, project coordinator and medical coordinator. He represented MSF Australia at the MSF International General Assembly, the highest governing body of MSF, from 2011 until 2017. Matthew served on the MSF Australia Board from 2007 to 2010 and from 2015 to 2018, and as MSF Australia president from 2008 to 2010. He is now a public health medicine specialist working in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand, for the National Public Health Service, Te Whatu Ora, and has a Master of Public Health and a Diploma in Child Health.

 

KATRINA PENNEY,  MSF NEW ZEALAND TRUSTEE

Katrina was appointed founding Trustee to the MSF New Zealand Charitable Trust in 2016. Katrina, a New Zealander with a nursing and midwifery background, began working with MSF in 2002 and has since worked in Afghanistan, Nepal, YemenHaiti and Sierra Leone as a nurse, midwife, hospital manager and field coordinator. From 2006 to 2009 Katrina worked in the Human Resources department of MSF Australia and she served on the MSF Australia Board from 2013 to 2019. In 2021, Katrina was re-elected to the MSF Australia Board by the Association and elected as President by the Board. Katrina was a founding member of the Auckland support network group and now enjoys being an active member of the MSF New Zealand support network group. Katrina also managed the Refugee Health Screening Service in Auckland, which provides healthcare services to refugees and asylum seekers. 
 

BETH HILTON-THORP, MSF NEW ZEALAND TRUSTEE

Beth is a non-practising lawyer with experience in government and private legal practice. She has undertaken one assignment for MSF and has been a member of the Board’s Governance Committee since 2011. Since 2000 she has worked in international health and development assistance in varying roles for a number of organisations, including not-for-profits, universities and government agencies. Prior to that, Beth held several positions (legal, academic and in business) in Australia and whilst living overseas. Beth is qualified in law and social work and has a BA (ANU), B Soc. Stud (Sydney), LLB. Beth is admitted to practise in the HCA and Supreme Courts ACT and NSW. In addition to being a founding MSF New Zealand Trustee, Beth served on the MSF Australia Board from 2013 to 2022. 

 

Siva

Sivapalan (Siva) Namasivayam, MSF New Zealand Trustee

Sivapalan (Siva) Namasivayam was appointed by the Board of MSF Australia as an MSF New Zealand Trustee in 2024. He is an Anaesthetist who joined MSF in 2011 and a year later became an Association member. He has been on nine field missions in Yemen, Nigeria, Syria and Iraq. He is currently also serving on the MSF Australia Board. His main contribution to the Board would be his experience from the field as a medical doctor and thereby an understanding of MSF’s field projects and their challenges, he also brings knowledge in health management from his work with a District Health Board in New Zealand. Siva has also participated in governance roles with a professional medical association and several health care facilities. He is multilingual and his tertiary education has included an undergraduate medical degree from India, a Masters degree in Anaesthesia from Malaysia and thereafter a Postgraduate diploma in Health Service Management from New Zealand.