Fiona Michel, chief executive of Braemar Hospital, has been named Waikato's CEO of the Year for 2025 – a recognition that crowns her as one of the region’s most progressive and values-driven health leaders.

Fiona’s leadership is guided by what she calls her “Shining Eyes” philosophy, a mindset shaped through years of seeking purpose and meaning at work. “I know I’ve done a great job when someone just sparks. The moment when they say, ‘I can do that, I can lead that, I can make that change.’ That sense of ownership and drive, that’s what gets me out of bed,” she explains.​

This approach isn’t limited to upper management. Fiona is known for walking Braemar’s hospital wards with a basket of chocolates – sometimes non-sugary treats for good measure – using them as a gentle tool to start conversations.

“There’s method in my madness,” she laughs. “People flock to you when you have a basket of chocolates. I’ll ask them how their day is, what do they need? It changes dynamics. It’s much more effective for me to go to them than for someone to have to come to the CEO’s office, which can be intimidating. Every couple of weeks I do the rounds. Because I’m a familiar face, people feel like they can share with me… funny stories, busy days, something they noticed, whether good or bad. Catching little things before they become big things is what matters in a hospital running 24/7.”

​A diverse path to health leadership

Fiona’s route to hospital leadership wasn’t straightforward. Her career has zigzagged through banking, insurance, energy, technology, and healthcare. She describes herself as a business leader, with deep specialities in IT and HR, always seeking challenging environments that demand learning and adaptation. “You can’t just rinse and repeat. I need the stretch,” she notes.​

It was her time at Harvard Business School cemented her belief that innovation often comes from outside your own industry. “Seventy percent of innovation comes from outside of your industry. If we treat healthcare like a corporate, we will fail. That’s where my industry diversity has worked for me. I find the mix gives me an incredible selection of experiences and lots of possibilities to explore.”​

Building a legacy in Waikato

Fiona is determined that her tenure at Braemar will add to its legacy. “I love Braemar’s legacy story, but I’m constantly thinking about what I can bring back for Braemar and the Waikato. Health isn’t in a great place nationally or internationally, but there are ways through if we’re willing to think differently and work together,” she says. “It means all of us working together, if we value health in our community.”​

Her leadership has translated into significant achievements for the hospital: becoming Living Wage accredited, attaining sector-leading patient satisfaction, and introducing the Waikato’s first da Vinci Xi robotic surgery system. “Braemar has a tradition of going early on medical technology. Buying the surgical robot was a big investment. We did it to give patients a better experience, shorter recovery times, and because it attracts the best surgeons. They love new technology. They’ll work where the technology is, and that’s good for everyone.”​

She speaks with excitement about what the technology means. “If you look at a standard hysterectomy for an average woman in a public hospital that comes with a six-week recovery. With the robot, you could be home the next day and back to work in a week. The robot augments a surgeon’s practice. Surgeons are still guiding, but now more comfortably and precisely and in parts of the body that can be difficult to access using traditional keyhole surgery.”​

Not about the trophy

Asked about being nominated for CEO of the Year, Fiona is characteristically humble: “We had a team conversation about awards and opportunities for Braemar. I wasn’t keen on being nominated myself, but I went along with it because I thought it would be good for Braemar. It wasn’t about me.”​

Reflecting on the judging process, Fiona says it was rigorous and thought-provoking. “The nomination process took some time, and the judging interviews were really robust. The questions challenged me to think about our business, about our innovations, and whether we’re telling our story strongly enough. Sometimes things become business as usual for us, but it was nice to see what interested the judges.”

As Braemar approaches its centenary next year, Fiona hopes more of the community will come to know about its achievements and progressive spirit. “I feel like the community doesn’t really know us, and that’s something I want to change,” she reflects.

Something the community may not know about Braemar is the saying all staff live by: Make lives better.

“We all have our job. I’m not better than anyone else. We are all here to make lives better,” she says simply.

Embedding equity and culture

Cultural transformation is central to Fiona’s vision. She has rolled out initiatives such as neurodiversity training for surgeons and participation in the Wall Walk, an education programme about colonisation, embedding diversity, equity, and cultural understanding into the organisation’s operations.​

For Fiona, her personal values – learning, legacy, and hope – are more than just words.

Fiona wasn’t there to accept her award at the gala dinner. Instead, she was in the UK for a professional development program.

“Why am I prioritising that? Because of what I can bring back for Braemar and the Waikato,” she says. “It’s about contributing to the legacy, not just relying on it.”​

The road ahead

The award judges praised Fiona’s humility and openness, saying her leadership is grounded, visionary, and fundamentally human.

“I couldn’t be working in a more interesting environment,” she says with a grin.

Her legacy will be one of innovation, compassion, and shining eyes – lighting a way forward for staff, patients, and the wider Waikato community.