Hugh Mackayis a social psychologist and researcher, and the bestselling author of 25 books, including nine novels. His most recent books include The Kindness Revolution, The Way We Are (the basis of his conference presentation) and Just Saying.
Hugh has had a 60-year career in social research, and was also a weekly newspaper columnist for 30 years. He established and ran The Centre for Communication Studies in Bathurst from 1975-1990, and was one of the founders of The St James Ethics Centre (now known as The Ethics Centre). Among other appointments, he has been deputy chairman of the Australia Council for the Arts, chairman of the board of trustees of Sydney Grammar School and an honorary professor at Macquarie, Charles Sturt, Wollongong and ANU.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Royal Society of NSW. In recognition of his pioneering work in social research, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by five Australian universities. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015.
Mark Gordon is an international healthcare executive with over 30 years of leadership experience across public and private health systems. He has served in CEO and senior executive roles across some of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals, including Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and as COO at St George’s Hospital.
He has also held CEO roles in private healthcare in Ireland and led an international long-term care organization operating across 8 countries with more than 10,000 beds. His international experience includes senior advisory roles in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, including work with KPMG on large-scale healthcare transformation programs.
As Founder and CEO of Health System Intelligence, Mark has developed a proprietary healthcare intelligence platform (“HSi Insight”) that uses advanced analytics and AI to optimize system performance, improve access, and enhance patient outcomes across complex healthcare environments. The platform combines advanced analytics with operational expertise to support better decision-making at system level.
His work has influenced programs impacting over 25 organizations, 100,000+ patients, and $3B+ in healthcare budgets.
Mark is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a former Royal Marines Commando Officer.
Harold (Hal) Wolf is the president and CEO of HIMSS, a global non-profit advisor and thought leader supporting the reform of the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology.
Wolf is respected internationally as a healthcare and informatics leader, with areas of expertise in Digital Health, product development, integrated care models, marketing, distribution, information and technology, and large-scale innovation implementation.
Before joining HIMSS, Wolf served at The Chartis Group as director, practice leader, information and digital health strategy. Prior to The Chartis Group, he served as senior vice president and COO of Kaiser Permanente’s The Permanente Federation, representing more than 16,000 physicians. Wolf also held executive positions at MTV Networks and Time Warner, and served as senior health advisor to McKinsey & Co.
Adjunct Professor Janine Mohamed is a proud Narrunga Kaurna woman and a nationally respected Aboriginal leader in health, research, and disability policy. Over more than 25 years, she has held influential roles across the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector, including senior positions at AHCSA, NACCHO, and as CEO of CATSINaM, where she led the landmark embedding of cultural safety into national health practitioner registration legislation.
A foundational leader in establishing NAATSIHWA, Janine helped build national training and registration pathways for Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners, earning the organisation’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
As CEO of the Lowitja Institute, she strengthened Indigenous-led research and established the Lowitja Journal, an international peer reviewed journal. Janine also serves as Deputy CEO, First Nations Group at the NDIS, driving culturally safe disability reform.
Her leadership has been recognised with numerous honours, including an Atlantic Fellowship, a Doctor of Nursing honoris causa, and 2024 Victorian Australian of the Year.
Dr Rolf Gomes is an electrical engineer-turned-cardiologist and the Founder of Heart of Australia – a groundbreaking mobile healthcare program bringing specialist medicine to the doorsteps of rural, remote, and First Nations communities.
Under his leadership, Heart of Australia delivers a suite of healthcare and education programs to people in the bush, including delivery of mobile lung cancer screening in rural and remote Australia on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. Recently, he was named the 2026 Australian of the Year for Queensland.
Bio to follow
Noelle Cridland is a values-driven Chief Executive shaping the future of healthcare across one of Queensland’s largest and most complex health services. With oversight of more than 21,500 staff delivering care across hospitals, community settings and patients’ homes, she leads with a clear focus on advancing safe, high-quality, and accessible care for the communities she serves.
Stewarding an annual budget exceeding $4 billion, Noelle balances strategic vision with operational excellence. She works in close partnership with the Metro South Health Board and Executive to anticipate emerging challenges, harness innovation, and build a health service ready for the future.
A passionate advocate for patients, their families and staff – Noelle is committed to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. She champions workforce wellbeing, recognising that a resilient, supported team is fundamental to delivering exceptional care.
Health equity is one of Noelle’s key priorities. She actively listens to and learns from First Nations peoples and culturally diverse communities, driving meaningful action to close health gaps and ensure care is inclusive, respectful, and responsive.
Beginning her career as a registered nurse and midwife, Noelle brings strong clinical insights to her executive role. Her experience across frontline care, education, and leadership has shaped her approach in both compassion and capability.
Known for her authenticity, energy, and collaborative style, Noelle Cridland is leading a health service where people, innovation, and equity come together to improve lives every day.
Dr Karen Luxford is the Group CEO, Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) & ACHS International. Dr Luxford has extensive experience in governance, strategic planning, safety and quality, healthcare standards, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and leading organizational change. Dr Luxford is a senior executive in health with over 30 years’ experience in a range of leadership roles in the public, not for profit and private sectors.
Dr Luxford is an Accreditation Council member of the International Society of Quality in Healthcare (ISQua EEA), the Immediate Past President of the Asian Society for Quality in Healthcare (ASQua), a former ISQua EEA Board member, an ISQua Expert, Council member of Standards Australia, Board Director of Camp Quality and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Dr Luxford is an alumni Harkness Fellow in Healthcare Policy & Practice, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA and is passionate about health care.
Holly brings extensive experience working with people in the organisational development environment. She commenced her career in the Resources sector, working in safety culture change and fatality prevention. A passion for deeply understanding how to create an environment for individual and group behaviour change, saw Holly work globally, leading psychology-based change programs across all layers of leadership.
Holly led the growth of the leadership and learning practice at a Big Four Consulting Firm, working across a variety of industries including healthcare, federal and state government, high-performance sports, and in the private sector. Her health care work included supporting the top 100 nonclinical leaders to effectively drive financial system transformation in Queensland, coaching Senior Executives in complex healthcare environments and working with leaders and teams to develop their leadership and reform strategies.
Holly chose to start her own business after becoming a mother to three beautiful children. She is the founder and Director of North, a consulting business specialising in building and sustaining high-performance. This work includes building courageous leaders, uniting leadership teams and securing higher levels of business performance.
Holly is passionate about applying psychology and neuroscience principles to the development of people, enabling individuals and organisations to achieve and sustain their best.
Bettina McMahon is the Chief Executive Officer of Healthdirect Australia. She is on the Board of SNOMED International, and former Board Chair of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.
She has considerable experience in digital transformation in the health sector over the past 15 years, and across the public sector prior to that. Prior to joining Healthdirect, Bettina was the Interim Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Digital Health Agency, where she had also held executive roles since 2009. Bettina has postgraduate qualifications in public policy, applied finance, business and technology.
Dr Tanya Kelly is Deputy Director-General, eHealth Queensland at Queensland Health, leading the digital health vision for Queensland’s public health priorities in support of broader health system reforms.
A Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA), Dr Kelly is also an experienced and active senior clinician, who has held clinical leadership roles including as Chair of the Queensland Clinical Senate, and as Director of Anaesthesia and Clinical Director for Digital Health within the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Dr Kelly recognises that digital health is a key change driver within the health system and is passionate about ensuring digital health is enabling both positive outcomes today but also amplifies innovation into the future. Dr Kelly is also an advocate for the broader collaboration needed across the ecosystem, particularly alignment with the national digital health agenda in addressing whole of system challenges and enabling reforms.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr Kelly has qualifications in clinical redesign, business and is a Certified Health Informatician of Australasia (CHIA). Dr Kelly is also a member of the Australian E Health Research Centre Board and the Australian Digital Health Agency Board.
Malcolm is a Health Informatics specialist with over 30 years of experience, including 25 years of commercialising clinical technology. He co-founded Alcidion Group, which was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2016. As CMO at Alcidion, he led the development of real-time hospital systems to improve patient safety and operational efficiency.
Malcolm holds a medical degree from the University of Adelaide and a PhD in Medical Informatics from Stanford University, specialising in AI and decision theory. He is also a founding fellow of the Australian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH).
Currently, Malcolm is an Adjunct Professor in Digital Health at the University of Sydney and has recently founded a new company, Wattle AI, that (reliably) automates complex regulations such as Enterprise Bargaining Agreements and clinical guidelines.
Renee brings over two decades of experience dedicated to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. She is an experienced health executive with a focus on empowering communities across the health, research, and not-for-profit sectors.
Currently she is serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Torres Health Indigenous Corporation. In her role Renee spearheads initiatives aimed at fostering healthy lifestyles and providing vital educational resources to the vibrant community of Torres Strait Islands.
Renee has a Masters in Public Health, an Associate Degree in Business Administration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies) and an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management.
Renee is a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman. She has cultural links to the Bindal and Juru people in North Queensland and maternal linkages to the Wakka Wakka people, along with Mer and Erub Islands in the Torres Strait.
Ms Renee Williams is Chair of Board, Chair of the Finance and Performance Committee and Chair of the Board Executive Committee.
Ben Edwards commenced as Chief Executive Officer of UnitingCare Queensland in January 2026. Ben is committed to creating inclusive, empowered workplace cultures.
He values-driven and is passionate about strengthening connections across the health, community, government and for purpose sectors. He believes genuine partnership is essential to achieving long term, system level solutions and is focused on listening and learning as he begins his time with UnitingCare. Born and raised in the north of England, Ben began his career in the National Health Service before moving into management consulting, with EY then PwC. This brought him and his wife to Australia 15 years ago. Since then, he has dedicated his career to health and human services across the public, private and for purpose sectors. Ben joins UnitingCare from St John of God Health Care, where he served as Group Chief Operating Officer. Prior to this he was the CEO of several hospitals in the Group's portfolio.
Until his move to Queensland Ben was also a Non-Executive Board Director of Juniper Aged Care. His experience spans healthcare, aged care, disability services and community services within a mission led environment. He has led significant service improvements, secured financial sustainability and guided organisational change, always with a focus on compassion, clarity and community impact.
Ben is confident that UnitingCare’s strong foundations, clear mission and dedicated people position the organisation very well to continue delivering meaningful outcomes for Queenslanders and Territorians. Ben and his wife have relocated from Perth to Brisbane and look forward to becoming part of the Queensland community.
Dr Neale Fong has more than 40 years’ experience in medical, health care and aged care leadership roles. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Bethesda Hospital, Chair of the WA Country Health Service Board, a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed companies Little Green Pharma and InteliCare, a NED at the Digital Health CRC, Chair of Mineral Resources Ltd (Health) and Chair of the WA Institute of Sport.
He was formerly, the Director General of the WA Department of Health, Chief Executive Officer of St John of God Hospital Subiaco, Project Director for the establishment of the Curtin University Medical School, and Chairman of the WA Football Commission.
He has been awarded the Gold Medal from the ACHSM and the ACHS as well an Honorary Doctor of Medicine from Curtin University in recognition of services to health care, and especially leadership development.
He currently consults widely through Australis Health Advisory to a number of key health clients in Australia.
He holds Bachelor Degrees in Medicine and Surgery, a Masters in Theological Studies and a Master’s in Business Administration.
Appointed to the ACHSM Board in 2011 and elected President in 2016.
