Passion For Health, Leading A Hospital Foundation'

Ruth Morse, Chief Executive of the Well Foundation, recently joined the Purposely Podcast to share her personal and professional journey, as well as the vital work her organisation does to support healthcare across Auckland’s North Shore and Waitākere regions.

The Well Foundation is dedicated to improving health outcomes for over 580,000 people—the population served by the Waitematā District Health Board (DHB), New Zealand’s largest. The Foundation exists to raise additional funds for high-priority projects and initiatives that fall outside the scope of government funding. Its mission? To enhance patient care, improve health outcomes, and help deliver world-class healthcare for the community. Every dollar donated is carefully allocated to agreed initiatives, ensuring it’s used where it’s needed most and kept entirely separate from the DHB’s core government funding.

During her interview, Ruth highlighted the critical importance of community support, saying, “We’re here to bridge the gap—to make a tangible difference in people’s healthcare experiences.” This could involve anything from purchasing state-of-the-art medical equipment to funding initiatives that improve patient comfort and wellbeing.

Ruth’s personal story is as compelling as the Foundation’s mission. Having qualified and briefly worked as a midwife, she soon transitioned into roles in management and communications. Her husband jokingly refers to her career pivot as her “midwife crisis.” After practising midwifery for a short time, Ruth moved into communications, marketing, fundraising, and events—eventually discovering her passion for leadership within the charitable sector. Today, she combines her professional expertise and deep sense of purpose to guide the Well Foundation towards meaningful and measurable impact in Auckland’s healthcare landscape.

As a parent, Ruth also juggles the demands of her professional role with family life. Originally from the UK, her husband’s roots mean the family regularly travels back to England to stay connected with loved ones. Her life, much like her work, is a delicate balance of purpose, passion, and connection.

The Well Foundation plays a crucial role in helping the Waitematā DHB realise its vision of “best care for everyone.” With more than 30 community healthcare sites and two major hospitals under its umbrella, the DHB depends on the Foundation’s ability to harness community generosity. Recent projects have included equipping hospitals with new technologies and funding initiatives that directly enhance patient experience.

Ruth’s leadership at the Well Foundation is grounded in a genuine commitment to creating positive change. Whether it’s fundraising, building partnerships, or inspiring a shared sense of purpose, her approach is both pragmatic and deeply human. As Ruth puts it, “At the end of the day, it’s about people helping people.”