Tell us what you thought about this episode
What happens when you stop treating technology as a cost centre and start viewing it as a strategic enabler for your organisation? Anna Campbell, Chief Support Services Officer at Whakarongarau Aotearoa (New Zealand's telehealth services), provides compelling answers in this thought-provoking conversation about breaking down traditional silos.
Anna's unique portfolio encompasses technology, data, people, marketing, and Māori services development – creating a powerful integration point that puts service users at the heart of operations. Rather than maintaining artificial boundaries between departments, this structure focuses everyone on a shared mission: delivering essential 24-7 health and wellbeing support across New Zealand, helping one in four Kiwis access care when they need it most.
The conversation explores how organisations can shift from viewing technology initiatives as budget items to seeing them as strategic solutions for real pain points. "Keep your mission critical and strategically aligned," Anna advises, emphasising the importance of measuring impact and articulating value in terms that matter to the broader organisation.
Particularly valuable is Anna's insight into responsible AI implementation. Starting with clear ethical principles, Whakarongarau Aotearoa has developed governance frameworks that prioritise privacy, transparency, and data sovereignty. From internal efficiency tools to clinical note summarisation, their AI applications follow the guiding principle of "nothing about us without us" – ensuring that technology enhances rather than replaces human connections.
For leaders navigating technological transformation, Anna offers practical wisdom: understand both the capabilities and limitations of tools like generative AI; focus on reimagining work rather than merely automating existing processes; and remember that change management requires acknowledging what's not changing alongside what is. By meeting people where they're at and maintaining trust throughout the journey, organisations can harness technology to deliver truly human-centred services.
Ready to transform how your organisation approaches technology? Listen now for insights that bridge the gap between technical possibilities and meaningful organisational impact.
