Dr Lara Hopley 

Chief Clinical Informatics Officer, Data Digital Service & Clinical Anaesthetist, Waitematā, Te Whatu Ora, NZ 

Dr Lara Hopley described as an anaesthetist by trade and temperament is the Chief Clinical Informatics Officer, Te Whatu Ora Data Digital Service and still works part time as a clinical Anaesthetist at Waitematā. 

As a Specialist Anaesthetist she was drawn by necessity into the murky world of clinical information management, specifically to foster virtuous cycles. After arriving in New Zealand 20 odd (very odd) years ago, she was first drawn into the world of Human factors and continuous quality control, this led into an appreciation of ergonomics and the importance of "making it easy to do the right thing, hard to do the wrong".  What followed was a lot of years of working with and for various digital teams, more because of "access envy" than she will admit, but also to make the working lives of clinicians better through technology. 

​With the inception of - Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, New Zealand finally joined the world in having a place at the executive table for clinical informatics a role she feared but picked up to bring a legitimate, whole-of-system clinical perspective with the person and whānau not just at the centre, but having the ability to lead. Championing just one basic need - find ways to remove the re-work that is rife in our systems.

---