2023 speakers

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Confirmed speakers and panel members include:

 
Brian Cook
In October 2021 Brian was appointed Chief Executive Officer at Carlton Football Club after 23 years as the CEO of Geelong Football Club. 
 
Previous to this he was the CEO of West Coast Eagles from 1990-1999 and has been in directorship positions at the Geelong Cats Foundation, Chairman and Director of Barwon Health, Ambassador of Wombat’s Wish, Active Geelong and a member of the Male Champions of Change Sport Advisory Board just to name a few. 
 
Brian’s skills and experience include strong stakeholder management with local, state and federal governments, instilling high performance cultures within organisations, marketing, major events and capital investment programs. Brian possesses strong industry experience and networks within tourism, entertainment, sports, media, education, health and public planning.  Brian is also an adjunct Professor at Deakin University in Sports Management.

Elizabeth Koff AM
In April 2022 Elizabeth was appointed Managing Director of Telstra Health, Australia’s largest digital health company and a subsidiary of Telstra Corporation. 

Prior to this Elizabeth was Secretary, NSW Health for a six year term. As Secretary, Elizabeth was responsible for the management of the NSW health system, the largest health system in Australia with a $30 billion budget and 124,000 FTE. Key strategy achievements include the implementation of value based care across NSW, the progression of e-Health initiatives and a $2B/year capital infrastructure program. In 2020/2021 Elizabeth lead the NSW Health system through the COVID-19 pandemic and advised NSW crisis cabinet on the management of COVID-19 in NSW, and the subsequent vaccination roll out.  

Elizabeth was chair of the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) and its subsequent iteration of Health Chief Executives Forum. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women. 

Elizabeth was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours. In September 2022 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Western Sydney University for her contribution to healthcare in Western Sydney. 

Dr Andrew Wilson was appointed Group Executive – CEO Health Services in May 2021. Previous to this, he held the roles of Group Executive – Healthcare & Strategy since September 2016. He is responsible for Medibank’s growing role as a broader health services provider. This includes responsibility for the health services we deliver to Medibank customers, government and other funders, including virtual healthcare, in-home care, and services into residential aged care. Andrew is also responsible for Medibank’s hospital and healthcare investments and joint venture healthcare partnerships, which support both Medibank customers and other Australians in acute care and community settings.
 
Andrew has more than 25 years of experience in the health system, and remains a practising clinician and lecturer. Under Andrew’s leadership, Medibank Health Solutions has recently changed their name to  Amplar Health. They remain Medibank’s health service delivery company, providing innovative solutions to the community’s health needs - working to support the sustainability of the Australian healthcare system.  

Professor Eugenie Kayak (FANZCA, MBBS, MSc, MPH) is the Enterprise Professor in Sustainable Healthcare at The University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Medical School. She is also a Melbourne based consultant anaesthetists in public (Austin and Alfred Health) and private practice.

For over a decade Eugenie has been a leader and champion, working with Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), her own specialty, the AMA and wider medical profession, to raise awareness of, and address, the health impacts of climate change and environmental degradation – including health care’s own impact.

Work with the AMA has resulted in a collaboration calling for the Australian healthcare sector to be net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and engagement of Australia’s specialist medical colleges to advocate for action from government and the health sector.

Eugenie is a member of the Chief Medical Officer Advisory Group for development of the National Health and Climate Strategy, Convenor of DEA’s national Sustainable Health Care Special Interest Group and a past (DEA) Board member and Co-chair.

Eugenie has presented, taught and contributed to numerous sustainable health care publications, including DEA’s Net zero emissions: responsibilities, pathways and opportunities for Australia’s healthcare sector Report and Proposal for a National Sustainable Healthcare Unit, as well as ANZCA’s Statement on Environmental Sustainability in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine.

Robert Skeen has traditional ties to the Gubbi Gubbi of the Qld Sunshine Coast, Mununjarli of Southeast Qld, and Waanyi of Northwest Qld. 

He has worked in the Government and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Sector (ACCHO) for 25 years. in Queensland, Northern Territory and New South Wales. Robert was CEO of Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) in these three (3) states a total of 7 times. Robert has also worked at the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and helped establish the Central Queensland Regional Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (CQRAICCHO). Before becoming the CEO, he was an alternative Director for the AH&MRC and also a member of the AH&MRC Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). 

Robert has been an integral participant in the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO), taking on the role of co-chair, and being recently appointed as the NSW representative for the National Joint Council. Robert’s most recent appointment has been as the co-deputy chair to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council to inform the next National Plan to end family, domestic and sexual violence.

Robert has developed into a Strong Leader who has a proven track record of high-level Leadership, Change Management, and Innovation. His focus as CEO of AH&MRC, is to use his talents to develop and strengthen the ACCHO Sector, ensuring our Organisations have influence and are viewed by all stakeholders as a viable business, has collective accountabilities at the operational and governance level and is both healthy and smart. 

Tom Symondson is the new CEO of ACCPA.  He was previously the CEO of the Victorian Healthcare Association, the peak body for the public health, aged care and community health sector in Victoria, since 2015 after serving for two years as Director of Policy and Strategy. Before moving to Australia in 2011, he had a career in local government most recently serving as a political advisor in Southwark Council in London, one of the UK’s largest local authorities. 

Tom sits on the board of Aware Super, one of the largest superannuation funds in the country, with members across the health, aged care, education and public service sectors. He serves on a range of government boards and taskforces including the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee for Mental Health, The Victorian Quality and Safety Council and the Public Sector Residential Aged Care Expert Advisory Group. He is also chair of the International Federation of Community Health Centres. 

Kate Whyman is currently an Executive Director in the Victorian Department of Health and is responsible for the Health Service Response Centre, a team dedicated to supporting the Victorian Health System through the Pandemic. She has considerable health service operations experience and was previously a General Manager of one of Australia’s largest tertiary teaching hospitals. From providing care at the bedside as a physiotherapist through to delivering Covid 19 policy, strategy and State-wide system coordination , she has a career spanning twenty five years in public healthcare.

Kate is recognised as an authentic, empathic and accountable leader with a deep commitment to empowering and enhancing the experience for patients, healthcare providers and researchers. She has a special interest in transformation, implementing new technologies and developing new models of care to improve equity and access to care for patients. 

Professor Benjamin Cowie is an infectious diseases physician and epidemiologist, with appointments at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Doherty Institute. In addition, Ben serves as Acting Chief Health Officer in the Department of Health, Victoria. He is a Professorial Fellow in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Melbourne. During the COVID-19 pandemic,

Ben has supported the Victorian Government’s responses with a focus on community engagement, clinical care for people living with COVID-19, control of community transmission of infection, and in helping establish Victoria’s COVID-19 vaccination program. 

Briana Baass has more than 20 years of experience in the health sector across Australia, including clinical treatment, health service operations, various roles in a government department and seven years of consulting in a large global firm.

She is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management, a graduate of the College’s Management Residency Program and in 2017, she was appointed to the National Board. Her experience is aligned to organisational performance as well as health system reform; particularly in the areas of health sector governance and connecting touchpoints across the system.

With a background in clinical prosthetics and orthotics, Briana has provided direct care to people with acute, chronic and complex needs. She has also spent several years focusing on mental health including working together with Beyond Blue on evaluating the NewAccess program, with a particular focus on reaching men across Australia.

Dr Linda Mellors has been Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Regis Aged Care since September 2019. Linda has 20 years of executive experience in health and aged care. Prior to joining Regis, Linda held a range of roles in hospital and health systems predominantly in Victoria, as well as a national aged care service. Linda was also the Co-Chair of the Victorian Metropolitan Hospital Chief Executive group.

Linda is currently a Board Director of Mackillop Family Services, Board Director of the Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA), and Member of the Aged Care Advisory Group to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC). Linda was formerly Chair of the Aged Care Guild, Chair of the Aged Care Reform Network, Chair of the North Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Care Service, Board Member of the Parent Infant Research Institute and Board Director of the South West Melbourne Medicare Local. Linda has a PhD in cardiac physiology, Bachelor of Science with first class Honours, Bachelor of Arts and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is also a graduate of the Williamson Community Leadership Program, operated by Leadership Victoria.

Bernadette Loughnane is the Chief Executive Officer of Cohuna District Hospital, Victoria. Prior to that Bernadette held General Manager / Executive Director roles in NSW Health and Queensland Health.

Bernadette is an Assessor with Australian Council on Health Care Standards since 2006. She was appointed to the Council of Australian Council on Health Care Standards representing Australian College of Health Service Managers in 2021. She was awarded Fellow of Australasian College Health Service Managers, by exam, in 2013. She is an Examiner for Fellowship of Australasian College Health Service Managers. She is a Graduate of AICD. She completed executive leadership studies (Women and Power) at Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education, Boston in 2017. She is Board Director Lodden Mallee Network. She is Foundation Member of Margaret Olley Art Gallery, Murwillumbah and Executive member of Tweed Performing Arts Centre Development. She completed Executive Fellows Program (2022) with Australian New Zealand School of Government. She is incoming Chair of Victorian Small Rural Health Service CEO forum. 

Bernadette is committed to a multi-pronged approach to workforce leadership. Leadership experience in quaternary, tertiary regional and rural enforces this approach. Workforce culture is a key priority for CDH Joy in Work program with IHI and SCV. Using this approach CDH has recently refreshed their organisational values using the People Matter Survey as a platform to generate this change. Strategies for retention of staff is of particular interest and responds well to local leadership and innovation. Bernadette is a strong advocate for the current and previous version of the ACHSM competency framework and uses this frequently to enable future leaders to self-assess and identify opportunities for professional development.

Professor Rachel Huxley was appointed to the role of Executive Dean for the Faculty of Health at Deakin University in October 2019. Prior to this, she was the Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research) for the College of Science, Health and Engineering at La Trobe University, Australia where she was also the Co-Director of the Research Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease. 

Professor Huxley completed her undergraduate studies at St John’s College, Oxford and obtained her doctorate in epidemiology and public health from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Oxford University and completed her post-doctoral training also in Oxford before relocating to the George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales in 2002, where she continues to hold an honorary professorial appointment. In 2017 she was made a Visiting Professorial Fellow in Epidemiology within the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford.  

Between 2002 and 2009, she was awarded three internationally competitive fellowships including the inaugural Career Development Fellowship from the Heart Foundation and the NSW Office for Science and Medical Research.  In 2009, Professor Huxley relocated to the United States where she became a co-investigator on the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis in the Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Minnesota. In 2013, Professor Huxley returned to Australia to take her the Chair in Epidemiology at the University of Queensland, before moving into the role of Head of School of Public Health at Curtin University in Perth in 2015.  Her research has two main foci; the first is on the determination and quantification of major and modifiable risk factors for chronic disease and sex and ethnic disparities in these relationships; and the second area is in evaluating the health impact of climate change and air pollution. She has published more than 200 research articles, has a H-index of 62 (Web of Science) and currently holds several competitive National Health and Medical Research Council research grants as Principal or Co-Investigator in areas related to obesity, diabetes and women’s health.

Dr Richard Olley is the Cultural Integration Manager, Bolton Clarke Group and has an Adjunct Associate Professorial appointment at the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Australia. His research interests include health services leadership; management in health services; health services law and regulatory controls; corporate and clinical governance in health and social care, quality and safety in healthcare; and workforce in the acute healthcare, aged and community care sectors.

Richard commenced his career in health services as a nurse. He specialised in mental health, emergency, operating room, and intensive care working clinically and teaching in each area. He has over 30 years of experience in leadership and management of Australia’s public and private health care sectors.

Richard now works for Bolton Clarke Group, one of Australia’s largest aged care providers and is also an academic appointment at Griffith University in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. He has taught post-graduate courses in health care systems, health workforce, health workforce planning, applied ethics and law in health services management to Master of Health Services Management students. Richard is a Director of the ACHSM National Board and vice-president of the Queensland Branch of ACHSM.

John Fogarty is the CEO of Royal Freemasons Limited a Victorian based aged care, retirement living and home care provider. Prior to joining Royal Freemasons in May 2022 he had been providing high level consulting to a range of aged care and health care organisations for the previous four years. John previously worked with St. John of God Health Care in Western Australia for five years. He served as CEO for St. John of God Murdoch Hospital, as well as Executive Director of Perth Southern Hospitals and then as Executive Director (COO) of Western Australian Hospitals where he held strategic accountability for a portfolio of 7 hospitals in WA with turnover of $1.2B.

Earlier in his career, John was Chief Operating Officer of Mercy Health Australia (Vic, NSW, ACT) and Chief Executive Officer of St. John of God Hospital Ballarat. A nurse by background, John has completed a Master of Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sue Williams was appointed Chief Executive of Cabrini Australia in December 2019. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the healthcare industry at senior management level in both the public and private sectors. She has held various roles including the Director of Nursing at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Chief Operating Officer of 44 hospitals at Healthscope and Chief Executive Officer at Peninsula Health.

Sue originally trained as a nurse and has postgraduate qualifications in business management and a Master of Business Administration from Monash University. She has completed an Advanced Management Program at Harvard University and the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. She joined Cabrini as Chief of Health Operations in October 2017.

Cam Ansell is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ experience working in the aged care and retirement living sector in Australia, New Zealand and the United Stated.

He provides advice to governments on policy impacts on aged care quality and viability and advises investors and financiers on investment trends. Over the past 20 years, Cam has led merger & acquisition projects worth over $5 billion. He also works closely with turnaround specialists, regulators, and banks to support aged care providers through crisis.

He is the Managing Director of Ansell Strategic which has offices located in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Christchurch.