Management Team
Our leadership team remains true to our vision and values, putting Tongan families' evolving needs at the centre of our activities and holding up excellence, collaboration and integrity as the hallmarks of our organisation.
CEO/Clinical Director/Board Secretary
Dr Glenn Doherty +
MB ChB 1999 Otago; FRNZCGP 2014
Dr Glenn Doherty has spent more than 16 years helping Māori and Pacific people with their health and wellbeing. As CEO and Medical Director of the Tongan Health Society (THS), he runs an integrated primary health service for 6000 registered clients and approximately 2000 non-registered clients (largely Tongans without residency or visiting from the Pacific Islands).
Since 2013, Doherty has rescued the THS from financial collapse and boosted services at its health centres in Onehunga and Panmure to include dentistry, midwifery, podiatry, psychiatry and dietician services. More recently Dr Doherty has implemented a new Integrated Outcomes Unit focused on justice, housing, immigration, education and employment and community initiatives, as well as clinical issues under a new model of care for families.
Dr Doherty is a practice teacher for the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. He is also on the Royal College Education Advisory Group that oversees general practice fellowship training and examinations. More recently he has begun an international strategic collaboration in the Kingdom of Tonga, working with the Tongan Government and Royal Family on a Tongan Outreach Project, and looking at setting up a satellite clinic in Tonga. He is also a key figure in advocating improvement of hepatitis B programmes in Tonga and early screening, diagnosis and treatment of largely undiagnosed chronic conditions. In addition, Dr Doherty is working with a number of NGOs, including the Hepatitis Foundation of NZ, the Blind Foundation of NZ and Arthritis NZ.
Clinical Services Manager
Mrs Mele Finau Fetu’u Vaka +
PBCert Nursing, BHSc Nursing, PGCert Pacific Health, RN (Tonga and NZ)
Mele uses her qualifications, experience and people skills to successfully lead and supervise our clinical staff. Her compassion and attention to detail ensure our clinics operate efficiently and provide a high standard of care for all clients.
“I really enjoy the daily challenge of working to ensure the best outcomes for our staff and clients. No two days are the same and I get plenty of opportunities to learn more about leadership”, says Mele.
Both a Tonga and New Zealand-registered nurse, Mele holds a Post Basic Certificate in Nursing, a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) degree and a Post-graduate certificate in Pacific Health. Before joining Langimalie, she had been a nurse manager at the paediatric ward of Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa, a nurse manager at Niu’ui Hospital in Haapai and a co-ordinator at the neuro services ward of Starship Hospital in Auckland.
Clinical Administration Manager
Wendy Allen +
Wendy Allen is a Med Tech Specialist from Med Tech NZ who oversees the clinical administration of the Society medical centres and medical administrators.