Our leadership

Anoop Singh is Awanui’s Chief Executive Officer and has been leading the business since 2011.

Brendon is the CFO of Awanui, bringing with him over a decade of extensive commercial experience in the food service and oilfield services industries across Europe, USA, and New Zealand. He began his career in audit at PwC before transitioning into commercial finance roles. Brendon is a Chartered Accountant in New Zealand.

Since joining Awanui in 2020, Sam has been a senior HR business partner and people leader throughout one of the most challenging and busiest times for the pathology sector. She brings broad and valuable experience across a diverse range of industries including healthcare, professional services, digital entertainment, and retail.

Sam has a proven track record of optimising organisational structures, refining processes, implementing effective policies and systems, and equipping managers and senior leaders with the essential skills to nurture and develop their teams.

Sam is focused on building motivated, empowered and effective team members who are supported throughout their careers.

Sam holds a Bachelor of Commerce – International Business and Management from Victoria University of Wellington.

Nick joins Awanui from Australian Clinical Laboratories Group and brings over 38 years’ experience in the laboratory and health sectors, predominately in diagnostic pathology (human and veterinary).

Nick holds a Masters in Clinical Microbiology and Bachelors of Biomedical Science, and has a longstanding and well-established laboratory background, having worked in many departments. He brings a strong focus on creating sustainable customer orientated service and creating a supportive and rewarding culture for teams and businesses.

As a member of the Corporate Leadership Group, Nick works closely with the General Managers, Operations Managers and Quality and Health & Safety departments.

Dr Richard Steele has extensive experience in laboratory services both here in Aotearoa and in Australia, returning to Awanui in 2022 as Medical Director, Clinical Pathology, and mid 2024 was appointed the Chief Medical Officer role.
Dr Steele has previously been Medical Director of Wellington SCL, and the New Zealand Vice President of the College of Pathologists Australasia.

He has experience in all aspects of clinical immunology and immunopathology including allergy, autoimmune diseases, primary immunodeficiency and HIV. Dr Steele has a particular interest in autoimmune disease including coeliac disease, neuroimmunology and quality assurance.

He is currently an examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Pathologists and also sits on the Medical Technical Advisory Committee for IANZ. He holds academic positions with the University of Otago (clinical lecturer) and Victoria University Wellington (Adjunct Professor).

Brent Glanville is the Chief Information Officer at Awanui, a role he has held since 2019. Before this he was the General Manager of Applications for Healthscope NZ for over a decade, and the head of IT at Southern Community Laboratories between 1995 and 2019.

This makes Brent one of NZ’s most experienced laboratory IT professionals, in a career that has seen him lead the implementation of Laboratory Information Systems at 19 different sites across the country.

Working for over 25 years in the New Zealand pathology and health sector has enabled Brent to forge long established relationships with both vendors and key personnel within District Health Boards and the Ministry of Health.

Brent has a Bachelor of Science from Canterbury University.

Heather has been with the group since 2021 and is the Chief Strategy Officer, responsible for shaping and delivering the organisation’s long-term strategic direction. Her remit spans enterprise strategy, corporate affairs, brand and reputation, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications across the group.

Prior to joining the business, Heather founded and led a digital communications agency based in Wellington, working across the health, property, IT, pest control and horticulture sectors. Her experience includes leading complex public affairs and engagement programmes, particularly within the health sector, supporting patient advocacy organisations including Crohn’s & Colitis, Multiple Myeloma, CLL and prostate cancer groups.

Heather holds a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from Victoria University of Wellington.

Ben is Awanui’s Chief Digital Officer, leading the organisation’s digital, data and AI strategy to improve outcomes for patients, clinicians and employees.

He brings more than 20 years of experience across New Zealand and the United Kingdom, leading digital transformation, customer experience, technology and large-scale business change across retail, consulting, utilities, technology and agribusiness.

Ben is focused on making digital transformation practical and human-centred, using technology and data to simplify work, improve services and support better decision-making across the organisation.

Ben holds a Bachelor of Business Studies in International Business Management from Massey University and a postgraduate diploma in organisational leadership.

Vicki has more than 35 years experience in public and private medical laboratories in NZ & the UK. Prior to becoming General Manager Vicki held a number of laboratory operations and management roles.

Andrea is Awanui Labs General Manager for Te Waipounamu/ South Island region. Andrea has been part of the Awanui team for 19 years gaining broad experience in laboratory operations and management.

Prior to Awanui she worked in a variety of public and private hospital and community laboratories in Australia, the UK and New Zealand, developing extensive laboratory experience across multi-disciplinary roles.

Andrea‘s focus is to deliver an exceptional patient-centred diagnostic laboratory service and build a culture which puts the needs of patients and healthcare referrers first.

Andrea holds a Bachelor of Applied Science In Medical Laboratory Science.

Trevor English is the Head of Stakeholder Relations at Awanui. Joining the group in 2016, Trevor was Southern Community Laboratories Relationship Manager for five years.

With extensive leadership experience in both the New Zealand and Australian health sectors, he played a pivotal role in navigating Awanui through the challenges of the country’s testing response.

Trevor has active interests in science, technology, innovation, and information systems, particularly how their practical application and integration can lead to improved health outcomes.

Trevor holds post graduate degrees in science in Clinical Biochemistry and an MBA from Macquarie University.