Board and Governance
The Clinical Council provides a critical overview of the NQPHN regions to ensure that overall investment is in line with the regional HNA.
The council acts in an advisory capacity to the NQPHN Clinical Governance Committee which has the delegated responsibility of the NQPHN Board.
Membership of the council is comprised of GPs, allied health professionals, mental health clinicians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals, community/practice nurses, and public health/health promotion representatives. They meet four times a year.
Name
|
Role
|
Region
|
---|---|---|
Dr Konrad Kangru (Independent Chair) | General Practitioner Whitsunday Doctors Service Airlie Beach | Mackay |
Dr Yvonne Doveren | Senior Medical Officer Primary Health Care, Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland Section | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
Ms Melanie Dunstan | Nurse Practitioner, Ngak Min Health / True Relationships and Reproductive Health | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
Dr Lisa Fraser | Director, Practice Principal / General Practitioner, Gordonvale Family Medical Centre | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
Ms Caroline Giles | General Practice Liaison Officer, Mackay Hospital and Health Service | Mackay |
Ms Julie Goodall | Podiatrist, Phoenix Podiatry Centre | Townsville |
Ms Karalyn Huxhagen | Pharmacist, KH Pharmacy Consulting | Mackay |
Dr Jason King | Director of Clinical Services / Senior Medical Officer, Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
Mr Shane Macdonald | Pharmacist | Townsville |
Ms Kath McFarlane | Advanced Public Health Officer, Sexual Health Services, Tropical Public Health Services | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
Mr Tom McMillan | Executive Director / Specialist Physiotherapist, Physio Plus | Mackay |
Ms Natalie Musumeci | Project Worker (Frequent Presenter) Social Worker, Mental Health and Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Service | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
Ms Kath O'Brien | Registered Nurse / Practice Owner / Manager, South Side Medical | Mackay |
Dr Virja Panday | Senior Medical Officer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service | Mackay |
Dr Chris Stelmaschuk | General Practitioner | Townsville |
Ms Allison Wolf | School Based Youth Health Nurse, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
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Board and Governance
Jeff is an experienced Chair, Director, Chief and Senior Executive with a passion to see individuals, teams, organisations, their boards, communities, and regions thrive - now and into the future. He ...
Read bioSharon has more than 42 years of experience working in the health sector across a range of rural regional and tertiary health care services in the public sector for both Queensland and South Australia...
Read bioSue 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...
Read bioDuring 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.
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 ...
Read bioTara 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.
Dr Konrad Kangru B.App Sci, MBBS, FRACGP gained his MBBS from the University of Queensland in 2000, has been in private rural General Practice in the Whitsundays region of Queensland since 2005, where...
Read bioDr Kangru has also undertaken and presented his research on the self-care of rural doctors, and has special interests in medical education and diabetes management, particularly in up-skilling colleagues about this important condition. He is passionate about reducing the disparity in outcomes for patients living in rural and remote communities, and ensuring that every clinician providing care to these areas is as well supported as they possibly can be.
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...
Read bioLuckbir 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 the Deputy Chair Cairns and Hinterland and Hospital Health Service and Queensland State Council member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Luckbir was born and raised in North Queensland, with his family having lived in the region since the late 1890s.
Toni has been part of the Townsville medical community since arriving as a medical student in 1998, 20 years of that as a specialist General Practitioner. As part of her passion for providing high lev...
Read bioGerard has extensive strategic management experience in complex healthcare environments both within the profit and not-for-profit private healthcare sectors at CEO level. His broad and diverse experi...
Read bioAs a qualified CPA with extensive healthcare management training and experience, he has contemporary governance experience at a board level with several companies (for-profit and not-for-profit), working collaboratively with other directors ensuring good governance and achieving strategic healthcare service outcomes.
During his career, Gerard has developed strong professional relationships with some of Queensland's leading medical specialists, general practitioners, and major healthcare service providers – collaboratively developing successful business partnerships with leading national radiology, pathology, pharmacy, medical, and allied health service companies.
His most recent role being Executive Director of a group of private hospitals, having strategic and executive management oversight of major hospital and healthcare services in Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville. Having a focus on health service planning and growth, he oversighted the delivery of a number of successful infrastructure projects.
Having now lived and worked professionally in North Queensland for over 10 years, he has a desire to continue contributing to the on-going development and delivery of healthcare services in our regional communities.
Gerard is currently Chair of NQPHN's Finance, Audit, and Risk Management committee.
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Board and Governance
Group members are comprised of health service users, consumers, carers, and community members, and act as a critical friend to NQPHN by bringing community perspective to advise the planning of activities and priorities. The Group's advice is aligned with NQPHN’s Health Needs Assessment and local and Commonwealth priorities.
The aim of the Group is to enable health system improvement and reform in local regions and for identified community groups. They ensure that community ideas drive improvements in person-centred care to deliver better health outcomes that are locally-relevant and aligned to local care experiences and expectations.
The Group also guides and advises NQPHN to improve its social impact, cultural security, and patient safety of programs it commissions throughout the region.
As champions of change, members maximise and leverage their own community networks to improve health outcomes through coordinated care.
The Community Advisory Group plays a key role in helping to guide NQPHN in ensuring activities are connected to and supported by the communities it serves.
Name
|
Role
|
Region
|
---|---|---|
Ms Deb Rae (Chair) | Consultant, Author, and Coach, Deb Rae Solutions | Mackay |
Dr Anne Butcher | Social Worker | Mackay |
Ms Cara Gjuzi | Team Leader, Community Programs, Mackay Regional Council | Mackay |
Ms Donna Jackson | Principal Inclusive Communities - Future Cities, Townsville City Council | Townsville |
Mr Jeremy Audas | Community Mental Health - Executive Manager (NQ), Richmond Fellowship Queensland | Townsville |
Mr John Buttigieg | Regional Director Far North Queensland, Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts | Cairns |
Ms Karen Thelan | Principal Community Services Officer, Department of Child Safety Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs | Cairns |
Ms Margaret Stewart | Nurse Practitioner / Midwife, Gidgee Healing | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
Ms Matilda Christiansen | Chronic Care Coordinator, Mackay Base Hospital (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit) | Mackay |
Ms Melanie Sheridan | Far North Regional Coordinator, CheckUP | Cairns |
Cr Patricia Yusia | Mayor, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
Mr Peter Lenoy | State Manager QLD Region, Indigenous Community Volunteers | Cairns |
Ms Robyn Boundy | Chair, CHHHS Hinterland Community Consultation Committee | Cairns, Cape and Torres |
Sgt Steven Smith | Crime Prevention, Queensland Police Service | Mackay |
A membershipbased organisation, NQPHN is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.
The NQPHN Board is a skills-based Board, which has four key committees. All committees have levels of delegated authority for core decision making.
This committee makes recommendations to the Members for director appointments and re-elections, and assists the Board to fulfill its corporate governance responsibilities regarding performance, induction programs, and continuing professional development for directors and remuneration of directors.
View the Nomination and Remuneration Committee Charter here.
This committee provides oversight of organisational culture and other aspects of Human Resources. The committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding Senior Executive succession planning, remuneration and performance evaluation, reviewing compliance with the Corporate Code of Ethical Conduct, and overseeing any investigation of improper conduct initiated under NQPHN’s Protective Disclosure (Whistle-blower) Program.
This committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility to exercise due care, diligence, and skill in relation to budget planning process and monitoring of performance. It also focuses on financial investment strategy, contracting arrangements, the integrity of NQPHN’s financial reports and statements, adequacy, and performance of NQPHN’s internal control framework, external and internal audit processes, and the framework established by management to identify, assess, and manage risk.
This committee provides the Board with contemporary advice and recommendations on matters of clinical governance, commissioning (specifically, planning and design of services), stakeholder engagement, and continuing development and refinement of the Health Needs Assessment (HNA) and related strategic planning documents.