James Ritchie is moving from the picket line to the board table.
The former trade union educator, Coalition for Public Health chairman and nursing union organiser is one of the new breed taking over the running of our health system.
On January 1, Mr Ritchie - the northern area managerfor the Nurses' Organisation - will become a member of Health Waikato's new district health board, a role he says is an honour but also a challenge.
"I've been critical of the previous Government's health reforms and the direction they set for the public health sector, so I feel kind of obligated now to take up the challenge of being constructive and becoming part of the change."
He feels slightly nervous but not overwhelmed at the thought of helping to run a $600 million enterprise and being responsible for the health of 330,000 people living in the central North Island.
Although the Government will set rules that health boards must follow, Mr Ritchie believes there will be room to be innovative.
"We will be free to say 'this hasn't worked in the past, let's try a new approach'."
He would like health boards to put a greater emphasis on clinical standards and quality rather than measure performance by cost.
Mr Ritchie also believes it is vital to get health organisations working together and to ensure Maori and Pacific Islanders have a greater say in the running of hospitals.
Asked whether as a board member he would join the picket lines if nurses went on strike, Mr Ritchie says he would have to declare a conflict of interest.
"I would have to work through it to make sure I didn't compromise the interests of either the health board or the nurses."
