Our Purpose

PSRH is dedicated to:

🌸Promoting and providing continuing education in reproductive and maternal health care through workshops and distance education for health professionals.

🌸Offering a platform for addressing shared challenges and strategies to enhance reproductive health services across the Pacific.

🌸Supporting members in advocating for improved midwifery, obstetric and gynaecological services with governments and local authorities.

🌸Building a supportive network of health professionals to foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

🌸Developing and consolidating strategic partnerships between expert groups of health professionals, non-government organisations (NGO) and international agencies

🌸Facilitating the exchange of ideas, expertise and resources to strengthen health programmes and services.

Our Strategic Focus

PSRH works to achieve its purpose by concentrating on:

🌸Providing continuing education in reproductive, midwifery and neonatal health care.

🌸Facilitating forums for discussing shared challenges and strategies for improvement.

🌸Advocating for better obstetrical, midwifery and gynaecological services with governments and health authorities.

🌸Supporting the professional growth of its members and strengthening links with global professional bodies.

Mission-Focused Subcommittees

PSRH drives its mission forward through five strategic subcommittees, each focused on addressing key reproductive health priorities outlined in the organisation’s strategic plan. Identified by the membership, these subcommittees are led by regional champions and supported by the Board of Trustees, combining regional expertise and collaboration to achieve meaningful outcomes.

Strategic Subcommittees

🌸Pacific Maternal and Neonatal Emergency Training (PEMNeT)
🌸Family Planning (FP)
🌸Gynaecological Oncology (GynaeOnc)
🌸Midwifery Leadership
🌸Clinical Governance/Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR)
Learn More: For detailed information about each subcommittee’s work, visit our Programmes  page.

  • PSRH Board of Trustees
    • PEMNeT
      Chair- Sharron Bolitho

      Sharron Bolitho  is a  full time Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (FRANZCOG) at Christchurch Women’s Hospital. My passion is preventing mother and baby deaths throughout Aotearoa and the Pacific. The main activities I am involved in are multi professional ‘hands on’ skills and teamwork training, particularly in remote and low resource settings. In Aotearoa- NZ, this is through the PROMPT course, and in the wider Pacific region via PSRH’s Programme ‘PEMNeT’ – Pacific Maternal and Neonatal Emergency Training. I regard it as a privilege to have been appointed Leader for PEMNeT Facilitator Training in 2017 and Chair of the PEMNeT Subcommittee in 2024. I am excited to be involved in PEMNeT because it is a homegrown, sustainable Pacific initiative that continues to grow and develop which has great potential to improve outcomes for mothers and babies in the Pacific region!

    • Family Planning
      Chair - Kirsten Black

      Professor Kirsten Black is an academic gynaecologist at the University of Sydney. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians (RANZCOG) and chairs the college’s special interest group in Sexual and Reproductive Health. Kirsten has a PhD from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London and a Fellowship of the United Kingdom’s Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. Kirsten has been awarded over $10 million in research funding and has 150 peer reviewed publications. She practices clinically in the areas of contraception, abortion and preconception care and combines clinical work, research and teaching.

    • Gynaecology Oncology
      Chair-Andrew Vallely

      Andrew Vallely is Head of the Asia and Pacific Health Program at the Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney. He is a medically trained clinical epidemiologist with more than 30 years’ experience living and working in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific. In 2007, he jointly established an international collaborative research group in sexual and reproductive health at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) in Goroka, where he was Deputy Director from 2010-2015. At the PNGIMR, he led the first field trials in any setting of point-of-care human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection, testing and treatment for cervical screening (the HPV-STAT trial); and the first trial of antenatal point-of-care testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI) to improve birth outcomes (the WANTAIM trial). With colleagues at the Daffodil Centre (a joint venture between University of Sydney and Cancer Council New South Wales), the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC), Family Planning Australia (FPA), and in-country partners, Andrew jointly leads the Eliminate Cervical Cancer across the Western Pacific (ECCWP) program, a world-first initiative that brings together landmark philanthropic, industry, government, and development partner investments to advance elimination in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the region.

      • Gynaecology Oncology
        Chair- Ai Ling Tan

        Ai Ling Tan, a gynaecological oncologist trained in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, is a passionate advocate for advancing gynaecological cancer prevention and care. A founding trustee of the New Zealand Gynaecological Foundation, she champions awareness, education, and diversity in leadership as a member of Global Women. Her global health efforts include mentoring through the IGCS Training Program, playing a key role in training the first gynaecological oncologist in Fiji and expanding the program in the Pacific. With a vision to establish a Women’s Cancer Centre in the region, she aims to sustainably enhance cancer care through local expertise and international collaboration. Dr. Tan also serves on the AOGIN board and the Gynaecological Oncology Committee of AOFOG, contributing to research and leadership in the field.

    • Midwifery Leadership
      Chair -Litiana Takukivei

      Litiana Tatukivei is Based in Suva, Central, Fiji, Litiana Tatukivei is a highly experienced Senior Midwife and Clinical Nurse Educator. Passionate about maternal and newborn health, Litiana has dedicated her career to mentoring healthcare professionals and improving outcomes for mothers and babies in her community. As a Midwife Educator, she combines her extensive clinical expertise with a strong commitment to education, creating an inspiring and supportive environment for learning.

    • MPDSR
      Chair -Falahola Fuka

      Dr. Falahola Fuka is a proud Tongan Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with a Master of Public Health (obtained in Japan). She is deeply passionate about women’s health and is dedicated to ensuring all women receive high-quality, patient-centered care.Dr. Fuka brings a unique perspective to her work, combining her cultural heritage, medical expertise, and public health knowledge to make a meaningful impact in her community and beyond.

Beyond its core subcommittees, PSRH supports critical initiatives that contribute to improving reproductive health outcomes. These include:

🌸Addressing gender-based violence

🌸Ultrasound scanning

🌸Research

🌸Minimally invasive surgical training

While the primary focus remains on the strategic subcommittees, PSRH actively advocates for and provides support in these supplementary areas to enhance its impact.