Executive Leadership Team

Cath Byrne - Chief Executive/Registrar

As the Nursing Council Chief Executive and Registrar, Catherine Byrne is responsible for the safe regulatory practices for the Nursing Council which includes the legislative, management and leadership functions. 

Catherine is a highly respected and experienced nursing leader with over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles in the public sector with the most recent being the Director of Nursing at Taranaki District Health Board. Catherine has a Master of Nursing. 

Catherine’s strong leadership and connection to the nursing workforce fosters a practice reality to the setting of professional nursing standards to protect public safety.  
Catherine in her leadership roles has driven a number of successful initiatives to protect patient safety and optimise professional nursing standards.

Pam Doole - Director: Strategic Programmes

Pam Doole has worked for the Council in a variety of roles including professional standards manager where she was responsible for the approval of PDRP programmes, the recertification audit and competence review. In her present role her strategic projects have included the review of the Code of Conduct and proposals for nurse prescribing. Before joining the Council she was Director of Nursing at Hutt Valley DHB for six years and the professional development and recognition programme coordinator for two years. She has also worked as a nurse in various clinical areas at Wellington Hospital. Pam has a Bachelor of Arts in history, a Diploma in Nursing and a Master in Philosophy (Nursing) (with Distinction).

Lindsay Hiener - Director: Business Innovation

Lindsay Hiener worked in finance prior to joining the Nursing Council in 2007. She brings experience in local government management, business, finances, human resources and project management.  She has studied business administration and project management, developed executive leadership programmes, consulted extensively on change management, championed ethical behavior and provided mentoring.

Clare Prendergast - Deputy Registrar/Senior Legal Advisor

Clare Prendergast manages the legal team and provides general legal advice to the Council. Clare registered as a nurse in 1977 after completing the Wellington Hospital programme. She completed a law degree while continuing to work part time at Wellington Hospital. Clare commenced work as a legal editor for Brookers in 1992 and has worked at the Nursing Council since 1995. She is a contributing author to Health Care and the Law and the Fundamentals of Nursing 3e on the Evolve website. She has managed the Health and Conduct areas since 2012.