Chai Chuah has been the Director-General of Health since March 2015. Originally from Malaysia, Chai studied Commerce at the University of Canterbury before commencing a career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in New Zealand and internationally.

He has been a prominent figure in the New Zealand health sector for 25 years, first with Canterbury DHB where he was Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Manager and acting Chief Executive, before spending over seven years as Chief Executive of Hutt Valley DHB. He has been in national leadership roles with the Ministry of Health since 2010 when he became National Director of the National Health Board.

He has a passion for working with partners to build a health system that is powered by the needs of the people it serves and that is prepared for rapid changes in technology and demographics.

He is focused on changing the way the health system works with other public services, communities and other non-public service partners to improve health outcomes, increase access to quality care, improve financial and clinical sustainability and develop a unified health system.