Who we are

We are a New Zealand maternal and perinatal clinical trials network. Our Network is led by a central National Executive Committee with regional representatives across each district health board site (Site Network Leaders and Site Network Coordinators). A national Network Manager is responsible for day to day running of the Network supported by project managers and students for individual projects. The Network is supported by a Steering Group.

ON TRACK Network National Executive Committee (NEC)


The NEC aims to be representative across the disciplines of Maternal and Perinatal medicine, and across ethnicity and geography in Aotearoa New Zealand. Original members of the National Executive Committee were appointed following a national call for expressions of interest in 2016.

Members are clinicians, nurses, midwives, researchers and consumers. The Committee meets on a regular basis and is responsible for directing the activities of the ON TRACK Network. Terms of reference for the committee are available here.

Site Network Leaders & Coordinators

We have invited all 20 District Health Boards within New Zealand to become ON TRACK Network members asking the DHB multidisciplinary teams in maternal and perinatal health to nominate a Site Network Leader (SNL) and Site Network Coordinator (SNC) for their sites. Below we provide details of what the roles entail together with who current SNLs and SNCs are throughout the country. Some DHBs have vacancies in these roles. If you are interested in taking on one of the roles or would like to nominate someone please contact us.
Geo-map-New-Zealand

Whose who - SNLs across the country

Strategic Research Initiative Fund Steering Group

Five-year funding for the ON TRACK Network was secured from the University of Auckland Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Research Initiatives Fund in 2015. This grant has enabled the establishment of the Network and the development of the Health Research Platform (formerly the Clinical Data Research Hub) to facilitate the conduct of clinical trials in maternal and perinatal health. Whilst responsibilities for reporting to the funder continue, the Steering Group oversees the overarching project.

Once the Network is self-sustaining, the Steering Group will transfer all governance to the ON TRACK Network National Executive Committee.

The Health Research Platform is synergistic to the ON TRACK Network. Based at the University of Auckland, it provides methodological, data management and bio-statistical expertise to support clinical trials around Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.

Access the Health Research Platform
Members of the Steering Group:

  • Professor Caroline Crowther (Chairperson) is Professor of Maternal and Perinatal Health at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland and subspecialist in Maternal Fetal Medicine.
  • Dr Jane Alsweiler is a Neonatologist at Auckland City Hospital and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Auckland.
  • Professor Frank Bloomfield is Director of the Liggins Institute, Professor of Neonatology at the University of Auckland and Neonatologist at Auckland City Hospital.
  • Associate Professor Katie Groom is Obstetrician and subspecialist in Maternal Fetal Medicine at National Women’s Health, Auckland City Hospital and Associate Professor in Maternal and Perinatal Health in the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland.
  • Distinguished Professor Jane Harding is Professor of Neonatology at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland.
  • Professor Lesley McCowan is Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland and subspecialist in Maternal Fetal Medicine at National Women’s Health, Auckland City Hospital.
  • Dr Chris McKinlay is Neonatologist at Counties Manukau Health and Senior Lecturer at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland.
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