Northern Queensland PHN (NQPHN) is overseen by a highly qualified Board of Directors who are experienced health professionals and business experts, and who have a wealth of knowledge working within our region.
Tara Diversi
Co-Chair
Tara Diversi is the CEO of Sophus Nutrition, a digital nutrition platform that improves accessibility and affordability of expert nutrition and dietetic care through the combination of evidence-based ...
Tara Diversi is the CEO of Sophus Nutrition, a digital nutrition platform that improves accessibility and affordability of expert nutrition and dietetic care through the combination of evidence-based nutrition with psychology, behavioural economics, and technology. She also holds current roles as the President and Chair of Dietitians Australia, National Dietetic Adviser to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Entrepreneurship Facilitator for Cairns.
Tara is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Advanced Sports Dietitian starting her career in Cairns in private practice in 2003 and working in almost all areas of dietetics. To complement her dietetic studies (MND, BHSc), Tara holds an MBA, two post-graduate psychology qualifications (GDipPsyc; PGDipPsyc) and Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. She is the author of four books, nine textbook chapters, and six peer-reviewed papers.
After growing up in Kunnunurra and Cairns, Tara’s initial passion and work focused on Indigenous health in Australia and Papua New Guinea which drives her continued interest in improving health and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She has also worked extensively in sports nutrition, mental health, and incorporating behavioural economics into healthcare.
Outside of work, Tara enjoys seeing people stretch their comfort zones – whether it is her daughter learning something new, clients swimming over insane distances or in extreme temperatures, or a new health professional seeing their first client. She believes in the power of individual contribution to make significant positive impact on individuals, groups, and communities.
Ben Tooth
Co-Chair
Ben is an Executive Manager with over 15 years of experience in executive management, finance, and accounting roles. Ben is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Ramsay Health Care’s Cairns facilit...
Ben is an Executive Manager with over 15 years of experience in executive management, finance, and accounting roles. Ben is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Ramsay Health Care’s Cairns facilities; the Cairns Private hospital, the Cairns Day Surgery, and The Cairns Clinic (inpatient mental health facility).
Ben is currently a company director of Cairns Penny Bank Limited, and is Chair of the Audit Committee. Ben is also a director of the Cairns Catholic Diocese Development Fund and has previously held board roles including Far North Queensland Regional Development Australia.
Ben is a chartered accountant having gained many years of experience at KPMG.
Ben’s primary interest outside of work is spending time with his wife and two children.
Topaz McAuliffe
Deputy Chair
Topaz McAuliffe is the founder and CEO of 15 Times Better, a 100% Indigenous owned company focused on empowering every organisation in Australia to make their greatest contribution to Indigenous enga...
Topaz McAuliffe is the founder and CEO of 15 Times Better, a 100% Indigenous owned company focused on empowering every organisation in Australia to make their greatest contribution to Indigenous engagement.
Topaz was the driving force behind Coles Group’s award-winning Indigenous participation program, assisting Coles to become the largest corporate sector employer of Indigenous Australians and one of Australia’s largest supporters of Indigenous businesses, gaining recognition from Fortune, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Topaz has a proven track record of delivering significant social and business benefits through some of Australia’s largest corporate sector partnerships, including Bunnings, Coles Group, Wesfarmers, and Qantas. She also has significant experience working closely with Indigenous businesses to build capability and capacity, including a particular focus on supporting the growth of Indigenous suppliers as part of the aquaculture, agriculture, and bush food supply chain.
Topaz is highly regarded and extremely passionate about her work. She appreciates what it takes to build voice, equity, and mutual benefit at the partnership table and brings these skills to all her work in Indigenous affairs.
Suzanne Andrews
Board Director
Sue is the Chief Executive of Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service, a community-based health organisation that delivers holistic primary health care to the people of Yarrabah, an Aboriginal community nea...
Sue is the Chief Executive of Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service, a community-based health organisation that delivers holistic primary health care to the people of Yarrabah, an Aboriginal community near Cairns.
During her time as CEO, Sue has led the drive for the transfer of responsibility for delivering primary healthcare services from the Queensland Government to Gurriny Yealamucka, a first in Queensland, with Gurriny now looking after all primary healthcare services in the community, including women’s and maternal health, sexual health, chronic disease, and social and emotional wellbeing.
In 2016, Sue was also a key driver for the establishment of the first pharmacy to open in Yarrabah in nearly 20 years, ensuring the Yarrabah community had a wider range of primary and allied health services.
Prior to her appointment as CEO in 2012, Sue was the Finance Manager at Gurriny Yealamucka for more than five years, leading and managing the day-to-day financials of the organisation with a budget of $8 million.
Sue has also previously worked with Cape York Digital Network, implementing and rolling out projects within each Cape community around the use of technology, and Gindaja Treatment and Healing Centre in Yarrabah, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential rehabilitation service which caters for both men and women with drug and alcohol-related problems.
A proud Aboriginal woman who grew up in Yarrabah, Sue is passionate about closing the gap in Indigenous health disadvantage. Sue was appointed a director of Northern Queensland Primary Health Network in 2017.
Dr Konrad Kangru
Board Director
Dr Konrad Kangru is a general practitioner with a particular focus on primary care in rural and remote communities. He has been the independent Chair of the NQPHN Clinical Council for the past three y...
Dr Konrad Kangru is a general practitioner with a particular focus on primary care in rural and remote communities. He has been the independent Chair of the NQPHN Clinical Council for the past three years and is an active member of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland.
Nick Loukas
Board Director
Nick Loukas is a local Pharmacist in Cairns. Nick finished his schooling in Cairns and owned his first pharmacy at 22 years old in Mareeba. He then returned home to Cairns in 1995 where he owned a num...
Nick Loukas is a local Pharmacist in Cairns. Nick finished his schooling in Cairns and owned his first pharmacy at 22 years old in Mareeba. He then returned home to Cairns in 1995 where he owned a number of pharmacies in Cairns and Smithfield. He founded and developed the V Pharmacy and Alive Pharmacy Warehouse brands.
At present, Nick is the Director and Brand Manager of Alive Pharmacy Warehouse Group with business interests in Cooktown, Cairns, Townsville, and Gladstone. In 2011, Nick was invited to work with JCU as Chair of the Pharmacy Advisory Committee and continues to hold this position. He also has a Bachelor of Business and studied at Harvard Business School. Nick is a fellow of the Australian College of Pharmacy Practice and Management and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Nick is a director of the Tour of the Tropics Bicycle race and a keen bike rider and triathlete. His passions are his family and growing businesses, the Cairns region, and leadership.
Dr Nadeem Siddiqui
Board Director
Dr Nadeem is originally from the United Kingdom where he trained as a general practitioner. He has been interested in medical administration leading services within the UK, Gulf and now Australia sinc...
Dr Nadeem is originally from the United Kingdom where he trained as a general practitioner. He has been interested in medical administration leading services within the UK, Gulf and now Australia since 2013. He has taken up executive director roles for an Aboriginal medical service in Canberra, Latrobe community health services in Victoria and currently for North West Hospital and health services at Mount Isa.
Luckbir Singh
Board Director
Luckbir is a Director at MacDonnells Law, one of the leading Queensland law firms. He has been recognised for his legal skills and client outcomes by Lawyer’s Weekly as a finalist in the 2016 Australi...
Luckbir is a Director at MacDonnells Law, one of the leading Queensland law firms. He has been recognised for his legal skills and client outcomes by Lawyer’s Weekly as a finalist in the 2016 Australian Partner of the Year Awards and Queensland Young Lawyer of the Year in 2008.
Luckbir has over the last 20 years been involved in many of the most significant, highly publicised and complex corporate law matters in North Queensland. His areas of expertise are corporate advisory, governance and mergers and transactions.
Mr Singh is also a Director of Cairns COUCH Limited, Deputy Chair Cairns and Hinterland and Hospital Health Service, Queensland State Council member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and member of the Finance and Audit Committee for Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
Luckbir was born and raised in North Queensland, with his family having lived in the region since the 1890s.
Cate Whalan
Board Director
In her early career, Cate graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Queensland, interned at Mater Hospital Pharmacies in Brisbane, and registered in 1995 to be appointed as a pharma...
In her early career, Cate graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Queensland, interned at Mater Hospital Pharmacies in Brisbane, and registered in 1995 to be appointed as a pharmacist in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. She had postings in charge of barracks Medical Centre dispensaries, medication supply warehouses, and saw operational service with the Combined Health Element of the Peace Monitoring Group in Bougainville in 1998.
Cate retired from the army to locum and part-time pharmacist in charge positions. In 2006 she purchased her first pharmacy in Townsville, and rebranded it ‘Cate’s Chemist’ with a shopping centre development in 2007. In 2017, Cate purchased another pharmacy in a Townsville GP Superclinic, and rebranded it to Cate’s Chemist Hyde Park with a junior partner. In 2018, Cate opened her third pharmacy at the Townsville Aboriginal & Islander Health Service.
Cate maintains a clinical interest in chronic disease management for the elderly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In practise, she emphasises continuity of care, building health care teams across acute, primary, and specialist care, and between community and hospital pharmacy. Cate is a director of the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre, a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Townsville Chamber of Commerce, Townsville Enterprise, Committee Member for the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (Queensland Branch), a member of the JCU Pharmacy Advisory Committee and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
