Dr Francis Agnew is a pioneer in the development of Pacific Mental Health services in New Zealand and the region. In 2010 he was invested as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Pacific community.
Dr Agnew has been involved in delivering mental health services in the Cook Islands and Samoa. He has provided leadership in the development of Pacific mental health and addiction services in the wider Auckland region and has served on many government agencies and reviews. He is an Executive Board member of the Pasifika Medical Association. He is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and a Fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine. Dr Agnew has served as the Zonal Representative (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands) for the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). He is the Metua for the Pacific Mental Health Commission.