Simcock attended St John's College[2] before graduating from the University of Waikato with a M Soc Sci (Hons).
[3][4] Before entering politics, Simcock worked both as a deer farmer and as a clinical psychologist.
In the 1999 election, Gallagher retook the seat from Simcock, who returned to Parliament as a list MP.
[10] He resigned as chair and board member on 28 November 2017, following the resignation of Waikato DHB chief executive Nigel Murray, amidst a State Services Commission investigation into allegations of wrongful expenditure of public money by Murray.
[11] Murray was seen as Simcock's appointment by former CEO Craig Climo; Climo and former Labour MP Sue Moroney said they advised against hiring Dr Murray.