Caroline McElnay

Caroline Ann McElnay QSO (/ˈmæk.ɪlˌneɪ/) is a medical officer in New Zealand.^[1] She was the director of public health for the New Zealand Ministry of Health from 2016 to 2022, and chaired the Pandemic Influenza Technical Advisory Group, which advises the Ministry on matters concerning the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.^[2]

Caroline McElnay QSO
McElnay in 2020
Director of Public Health
In office 2016–2022
Personal details
Born	Bushmills, Northern Ireland
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast University of Manchester
Occupation	Public health official

Biography

McElnay, one of seven children, grew up on a farm in Bushmills, Northern Ireland.^[3] She studied medicine at Queen's University Belfast and then public health at the University of Manchester.^[4] During her studies in Manchester she completed a one-year exchange in New Zealand, including six months in Napier.^[5]

She was appointed director of population health for Hawke's Bay District Health Board. She advocated for health equity in the region and in 2014 she published a major report on the subject.^[5] While at the board she was involved in the response to Havelock North's gastro outbreak, the first case of the SARS virus in New Zealand and a listeria outbreak.^[2]

McElnay was appointed to the role of director of public health at the Ministry of Health in 2016.^[2]

McElnay's resignation as director of public health was announced to Ministry of Health staff in February 2022. Her last day in the role was 7 April.^[6]

Honours and awards

 

McElnay (left), after her investiture as a Companion of the Queen's Service Order by the governor-general, Dame Cindy Kiro, at Government House, Wellington, on 25 May 2023

In the 2023 New Year Honours, McElnay was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order, for services to public health.^[7]

Personal life

McElnay later moved with her husband to Napier in 1995.^[3] She has three children.^[4]

Publications

• McElnay, C., & University of Manchester. (1991). The epidemiology of hip fractures in the elderly and the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation as a preventive strategy. Manchester: University of Manchester.^[8]
• McElnay, C., & Hawke's Bay District Health Board,. (2014). Health inequity in Hawke's Bay.^[9]

References

1. "Confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 61, bringing total to 708". TVNZ. 1 April 2020. from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
2. Morton, Jamie (6 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Meet the experts advising the NZ Government on Covid-19". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
3. Witton, Bridie (25 September 2021). "Caroline McElnay - piloting the pandemic response". Stuff. from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
4. "Meet the Irish woman near the top of New Zealand's Covid-19 response". The Irish Times. 9 April 2020. from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
5. "McElnay: Building the fence at the top of the cliff". Stuff. 2 December 2016. from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
6. Cheng, Derek (6 April 2022). "Public health exodus: Chiefs Caroline McElnay, Niki Stefanogiannis join Ashley Bloomfield in departing from Ministry of Health". The New Zealand Herald. from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
7. "New Year honours list 2023". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
8. McElnay, Caroline; University of Manchester; Medical School (1991). The epidemiology of hip fractures in the elderly and the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation as a preventive strategy. Manchester: University of Manchester. OCLC 642940895. from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
9. McElnay, Caroline; Hawke's Bay District Health Board (2014). Health inequity in Hawke's Bay. ISBN 978-0-473-31294-7. OCLC 911035887. from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2020.