About us

The Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand (bpacnz) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation. Our role is to deliver educational and continuing professional development programmes to medical practitioners and other health professional groups throughout New Zealand.

bpacnz advocates for best practice in healthcare treatments and investigations across a wide range of health service delivery areas, and we are recognised nationally and internationally for our expertise and innovation.

Kia hanahana ai te tīwhanawhana a Kahukura i te rangi
Let the arch of the rainbow glisten

Our History

bpacnz was established in Dunedin in 2003 to disseminate and communicate “best practice” evidence to General Practitioners throughout New Zealand. Since this time, bpacnz has held contracts for nationwide programmes with PHARMAC, DHB Shared Services (formerly DHBNZ), Ministry of Health, individual DHBs and PHOs and other healthcare organisations. These programmes have included responsible use of pharmaceuticals, laboratory testing to improve clinical practice and support of the PHO Performance Programme. bpacnz is also a leading provider of Continuing Professional Development resources for health professionals in New Zealand. bpacnz has a sole shareholder, the South Link Education Trust.

Our People

The bpacnz publications division currently employs staff members within the following teams:

  • Medical writing, editing and review
  • Report development, data analysis and evaluation
  • Design and web development
  • Management and administration

Emeritus Professor Murray Tilyard BSc, MBChB, DipObst, MD (Otago), FRNZCGP (Dist)

Editor-in-Chief, Chief Clinical Advisor, bpacnz, Chair of the South Link Education Trust

Professor Tilyard graduated in 1980 and entered into General Practice in 1985. He became a member of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners in 1990. He gained his Doctorate in Medicine Degree in 1995, was made a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners in 1996 and received a Distinguished Fellowship in 2006. He recently retired from his role as a Professor of General Practice, at the Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago. His research interests are in general practice, health services utilisation, medical informatics, diabetes and chronic disease management. He has published over 100 papers in refereed journals.


Rebecca Harris BSc, MSc (Distinction) (Otago)

Editor & Publications Manager

Rebecca has worked at bpacnz as a researcher and medical writer for over 15 years, formally undertaking the role of Editor in 2010. Rebecca provides editorial oversight for all written material produced at bpacnz, including Best Practice Journal, online content and other publications. In addition, she liaises with specialist expert reviewers, develops clinical content for these publications and co-ordinates production and design.

Rebecca has a background in general practice research, having worked for several years in the RNZCGP Research Unit at the Department of General Practice, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago. During this time Rebecca published multiple papers in peer-reviewed journals and presented general practice research at both national and international conferences, including the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG). Rebecca has also worked as a Poisons Information Officer at the National Poisons Centre, providing acute management advice to health professionals and members of the public, and developing material for a national toxicology database. Rebecca is a member of the Australasian Medical Writers Association.

Dr Sharyn Willis BSc(Hons), MBChB (Otago), Dip Obst (Distinction)

Senior Medical Advisor

Dr Willis has worked for bpacnz since 2007, as a General Practice clinical advisor to the publications team, and a medical writer. Her role is to provide clinical oversight and to assist in developing clinical content for bpacnz publications. Sharyn also takes a lead role in the development of continuing medical education resources, including clinical audits, for General Practitioners.

Sharyn has almost 30 years experience as a General Practitioner. She worked full-time in her own practice for ten years and since joining bpacnz has continued to work part-time in a local general practice. Sharyn has previous experience in teaching as a clinical tutor for medical students in her own practice and as a tutor in the Department of General Practice at the University of Otago. She has co-authored research publications and has provided general practice support for research projects with Professor Jim Mann in the Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago.


Dr Adrian Patterson BSc (Hons First Class), PhD (University of Otago), PGCertPH

Senior Medical Writer

Adrian joined the bpacnz publications team in 2018 after gaining experience in medical writing. He had previously completed his doctoral studies at the University of Otago in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, where his research focused on the mechanisms controlling a form of bacterial adaptive immunity known as CRISPR-Cas. Adrian has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and has a passion for communicating unbiased and concise healthcare information.


Sam Betty BBiomedSc (Otago) BPharm (Distinction)

Medical Writer

Sam joined the bpacnz Publications Team in 2022. His role is to research and write articles for bpacnz publications. Sam completed his Biomedical Sciences degree at the University of Otago, majoring in Drugs and Human Health, before training as a pharmacist. Sam has a special interest in cardiovascular and renal pharmacology. Sam has also worked as a Poisons Information Officer at the National Poisons Centre.


Dr Anna Gray MBChB, PGCert

Medical Advisor

Anna joined the bpacnz Publications Team in 2021 in a remote capacity. She is a dual Rural Hospital/General Practice registrar, who graduated from the University of Auckland with a MBChB in 2015. She has past experience in clinical writing as an intern for various NGOs and a post graduate certificate in Narrative Medicine with a focus on equity. She has worked in Rotorua, Whāngarei, Kaitaia and Ruapehu regions. She looks to provide a trainee, and North Island perspective on the clinical review team.


Tayla Hope BBiomedSc (Otago)

Medical Writer

Tayla joined bpacnz in 2021, following completion of the summer graduate scholarship programme. Her role is to research and write articles for bpacnz publications. Tayla recently completed her Biomedical Sciences degree at the University of Otago, majoring in Drugs and Human Health, with Council Commendation for Exceptional Performance. During her studies, Tayla worked for a local pharmacy undertaking medicine delivery duties, including responsibility for signing in controlled drugs. She has particular interest in cancer biology and applying molecular pharmacology to improve the burden of disease.


Justine Broadley BCom, PGDip Sci (Otago)

Senior Data Analyst

Justine has a long history with bpacnz, having begun with the organisation in 2000. She has a degree in Information Science from the University of Otago.

Justine’s role at bpacnz is to analyse data from the Pharmaceutical Dispensing Data Warehouse (Pharmhouse database) and to produce individual reports for general practitioners and other organisations such as PHOs and DHBs. This entails having a thorough knowledge of the data in the Ministry of Health Pharmaceuticals Claims and Laboratory testing databases, and the ability to interpret data requirements in order to produce reports. In addition to report writing, Justine analyses data to produce meaningful information to supplement bpacnz’s clinical programmes.

Justine has had extensive training in Business Objects to facilitate the extraction of data from the Pharmhouse and to produce individualised reports.

Michael Crawford BSc (Hons) (Otago)

Graphic designer

Michael began working at bpacnz as a graphic designer, in November, 2007. His main role is design and layout of all bpacnz print publications, including Best Practice Journal and Best Tests. Michael also provides design expertise for the bpacnz website and various other bpacnz projects, as well as illustration and photography as required.

Michael previously worked as a Multimedia and Computer Assisted Learning Consultant for the University of Otago (1999-2007) where he assisted with the production of a wide range of teaching and learning support material for University course work.


Ben King

Web designer/developer

Ben started with bpacnz in January, 2013 to take on the role of completing a new-look website. Since then, the website has continued to evolve with new features, user experience enhancements and mobile optimisation. Ben also works on a variety of other websites for bpacnz and our partner organisations.

Karl Andrews

Chief Executive Officer

Kaye Baldwin

Corporate Manager

Kaye has worked for BPAC since its initial instigation in 1997. Key aspects of her current role as Corporate Manager include; human resources, financial/accounts, contracts and quarterly reporting, Board Secretary, governance, CLAG coordination.


Also see our Frequently asked questions page

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