About us

Julie Nelson

Julie is joint chief executive of the Wise Group and has been instrumental in growing the organisation from one employee to over one thousand people who work nationwide to help those with mental illness live great lives. Julie has vast knowledge and experience in the areas of governance, infrastructure services, leading complex services and development of solutions.

Julie is a strong advocate for quality housing and effective wrap-around support services for our most vulnerable people. Julie is proud of the pioneering role she has played in bringing Housing First to New Zealand through the establishment of The People’s Project, and for providing support to the Housing First Auckland collective.

Julie is regarded as an authentic leader who engages deeply with people and builds strong enduring relationships.

Bruce Sheridan

Bruce Sheridan has been involved with the Wise Group since it began more than 20 years ago. He is on the boards of various charitable trusts, NGO, and commercial enterprises. For many years he was a partner in accounting firm KPMG, acting as a business advisor.

He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Bruce also chairs the Wise Trust Board.

Hine Martin

Hine Martin has worked within the Wise Group for the last eleven years in operational and strategic management roles. Hine holds a Master of Public Health and has an extensive background in community and workforce development. Areas of research and work experience include health indicators, health outcomes, healthy public policy, Māori health and the social determinants of health.

Hine is committed to work which influences the economic and social conditions among vulnerable populations and to reduce inequalities in health status.

Paul Bennett

Paul Bennett is currently CEO of Braemar Hospital Ltd. He has strategic and operational oversight of one of the largest private surgical hospitals in New Zealand. He has recently led a three stage $60million land acquisition and hospital construction project.

Paul has held CEO or general manager positions in several different industries, both profit and not-for-profit, in New Zealand and Australia. His experience covers plastic manufacturing and exporting, the export meat industry, public and private health sectors, and the cordage industry.

Paul’s governance roles in the health sector include: Chair of Enrich+, Chair of Work Outcomes GP Ltd and Trustee of Spectrum Energy.

Paul is the Deputy Chairman of the Waikato branch of the Institute of Directors and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.

Penny Hulse

Penny has been a councillor and local body elected member for the last 27 years. She served as deputy mayor for Waitakere City and then deputy mayor for the newly amalgamated Auckland council for six years.

She has been closely involved in city planning and development of housing policy chairing a variety of committees responsible for these areas.

Penny has also been a member of the Auckland Housing First governance group, and was appointed to the board of Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) in January 2020.

Dr Polly Atatoa Carr

Polly is a Public Health Physician within Child and Youth Health at Waikato District Health Board, Associate Professor of Population Health at the National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis (NIDEA) at the University of Waikato, and National Director of Training for the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine.

Polly’s career to date focuses on the broader determinants of population health and equity, particularly for tamariki and rangatahi/mapū. Access to appropriate, secure, sustainable, stable and quality housing is one of these critical wellbeing influences.

Within her governance, academic and clinical roles, Polly supports strategic opportunities to achieve, measure and monitor health equity. She manages a number of research and practice leadership roles in the health and housing sectors, as well as research partnerships with other government sectors, non-government agencies, community and whānau.

Polly is passionate about developing robust evidence to support population health and policy translation, and is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity, social justice and community empowerment.