Ten Years of Service, Leadership, and Heart

When Jeremy Speight joined Peke Waihanga, there were around 55-60 staff across the country, supported by a national team of just five people. Stock was tracked on paper clipboards, and computers were largely shared, with only managers having dedicated devices available to them. 

Peke Waihanga was in the early stages of transformation, having appointed Sean Gray as Chief Executive Officer just 15 months prior. After Sean’s first hire (an HR Manager), his next priority was recruiting a Chartered Accountant to strengthen the organisation’s financial capability.

Jeremy joined as Chief Financial Officer with a clear mandate: improve the financial resilience of the organisation.

Jeremy Speight, General Manager - Corporate Services (formerly Chief Financial Officer)

Ten years later, Peke Waihanga has grown to more than 200 staff across nine locations throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Every centre now uses barcode scanning technology to accurately track stock, a new, bespoke patient management system was implemented, and the organisation’s 3D digital workflow is leading the way internationally. Alongside this growth has come significant investment in facilities including new builds, rebuilds and refits designed to create fit-for-purpose clinical environments for patients and staff.

Matthias Blattner, Southern Regional Manager/Clinical Prosthetist, reflects on the Christchurch rebuild. “We worked on that project closely together through some very difficult times. We would run out of money and have to find more, while identifying cost savings along the way. It was a tough project, but we ended up with a purpose-built centre for our patents and staff – a huge milestone.” The Christchurch Centre went on to become a finalist in Designers Institute of New Zealand’s 2024 Best Design Awards.

Matthias added, “Jeremy was always the one reminding us to embrace change and find ways to make it work – and he absolutely led by example.”

CEO Sean Gray and Southern Regional Manager Matthias Blattner standing in front of the newly rebuilt Christchurch Centre

CEO Sean Gray credits Jeremy as a driving force behind the organisation’s growth. “Financially, he has done incredibly for Peke Waihanga. He’s helped us backfill and build the organisation with the right people, systems and processes. Turnover has grown from $10.5 million when he started, to $45 million. These things don’t happen by accident. Outcomes like these require purposeful and agile thinking.”

Sean also highlights Jeremy’s broader influence across the health and disability sector. “Jeremy leaves behind a legacy of leaders across the sector who are now more informed and financially literate, able to hold stronger conversations about funding and impact. He helped clinicians and clinical leaders understand the value trade-offs that come with scarce resources to make more informed decisions.”

Raewyn Castle, Finance and Administration Manager, and one of the original five national office employees, speaks to Jeremy’s integrity and sense of responsibility. “Jeremy has always been deeply conscious that we are responsible for public money. He’s never been interested in frivolities or vanity projects.”

On a lighter note, Mike Byrne, National Stock Controller agrees, adding, “One of Jeremy’s greatest talents is being the yin to Sean’s yang – balancing ambitious ideas with fiscal reality.”

“Because of his role, Jeremy often has to say no. He must stick to budgets, rules, and policy. But he’s always done that in a respectful, non-patronising way, while understanding where we’re coming from with our constant demands,” said Matthias. “He isn’t your usual kind of CFO. He also has a huge heart for our patients and their needs.”

Sean also reflected on Jeremy’s leadership and the culture he helped shape. “Jeremy is a true gentleman – thoughtful, considered, and deeply caring in his approach. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have his stewardship for the patients we care for. There’s always the balance of trying to get the right outcome with the scarce resources we have. He’s always taken a caring approach in supporting the executive and frontline staff in a way that’s very unique to him. On a personal level, he’s made the job fun – and been part of the reason why you hang around.”

Raewyn says, “We’ll all miss the ease of the working relationship we’ve had with Jeremy. He’s made some truly genuine connections in the workplace and he’ll be missed. We’ve shared some big life milestones in ten years working together – watching our children grow up and leave home, sometimes to move to other countries, and caring for and losing parents.”

As Jeremy steps away, he reflects on the people at the heart of Peke Waihanga. “Everybody who works here is smart, empathetic, and here for the right reasons. For me, it was always about the patients and being able to do something positive for the people we care for and providing them with what they need to the best of our abilities."

Jeremy’s last day at Peke Waihanga is Friday, 29 May. His replacement is Michael Eales, who joins the organisation as General Manager – Corporate Services, a title that reflects the expanded scope and strategic importance of the role.