News


Movers & Shakers In Healthcare - QTR 2

December 19, 2018

New South Wales


David Bergman  recently joined Catholic Healthcare in Sydney as their CFO. David brings extensive executive level leadership credentials to this role, most recently from his 11 years with Calvary Health (LCM). David joins Catholic Healthcare at a time of exciting growth and development of the business, infrastructure and the team.


Professor Elizabeth Sullivan  joins the University of Newcastle, NSW in February 2019 as the new Deputy Head of Faculty, for the Faculty of Health and Medicine. Professor Sullivan is an internationally renowned scholar and distinguished Professor of Public Health, and most recently held the role of Assistant Deputy Vice Chancellor Research (ADVCR) at the University of Technology, Sydney. Prior to this, she held senior academic appointments at UNSW.


John Gibbs stepped down as CEO of Pacific Smiles Group in October 2018, after 14 years at Pacific Smiles and 11 years in the role. He has been succeeded by Philip McKenzie , who was previously CEO of Audiology Management Group, a leading audiology services business, as well as Widex, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hearing aids.


John Slaven  joined Mid North Coast Local Health District as their new Director of Finance. John is a highly experienced Health Services CFO and most recently led Finance, Business and Operational Services at Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Queensland.


Josh Keech  recently joined The Benevolent Society in Sydney as their Executive Director of People, Culture and Engagement. Josh’s track record of leading innovation and sustainable organisational growth within the human services sectors is one of the many attributes he brings to the role.


Kelly Doran  joined Ochre recruitment as General Manager in November 2018. Kelly is a highly motivated executive with 20 plus years of combined health care, sales operations and medical recruitment experience.


Professor Maralyn Foureur  joins the University of Newcastle, NSW in February 2019 as the new Professor of Nursing and Midwifery Research, working closely with the Hunter New England Local Heath District and other key stakeholders. Professor Foureur brings world class research credentials and contemporary academic leadership, developed from her previous roles with University of Technology, Sydney and other international appointments.


Pete Lomas  recently joined Potential (x) as Client Relationship Manager, one of several recently created roles within this growing organisation focused on healthcare data, analytics and consulting. Pete brings extensive client relationship and technical skills honed from his previous roles in medical devices, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.

 

Queensland


Alison Deans  joined Ramsay Health Board as Non Executive Director in November 2018. Alison has more than 25 years’ experience in senior management – founding and launching eBay in Australia in late 1999 and establishing clear market leadership and profitability within 18 months. 



Ben Deverson  joined the AEIOU Board of Directors as Non Executive Director in August 2018. Ben is an experienced senior executive with 21 years’ experience across numerous industry sectors including professional services, infrastructure, defence, resources and the public sector.


Dr Claudia Sussmuth Dyckerhoff joined Ramsay Health Board as Non Executive Director in October 2018. Claudia has expertise in market growth strategies, business development, and operational performance improvement in hospitals, and extensive global experience in hospitals and health care across Europe, Asia, and the USA.


Lincoln Hopper  joined St Vincent’s Health Services as CEO – Aged Care Services in August 2018. Prior to this role, Lincoln was working in the disability sector as CEO and Company Secretary for MS Queensland. Lincoln has worked in the health and community services sector for the last 28 years.


Richard Boys  joined the Endeavour Foundation Board as Non Executive Director in September 2018. Richard is a highly experienced and qualified CFO with over 30 years of exposure in the energy, mining and resources sectors.


Richard Haire  joined the Endeavour Foundation Board as Non Executive Director in October 2018. Richard’s career has spanned accountancy, merchant banking, finance, chief executive and global executive roles, in primary production, agricultural marketing and commodity companies.

 

Victoria


Alistair Barkhouse , a 25-year veteran of global pharmaceutical and healthcare organisations, was appointed General Manager Sales & Marketing at Medical Developments International in October. Al brings with him a track record of strong commercial results and success in world leading product launches across a variety of therapeutic areas.


Brian Gordon  will be joining Bionic Vision Technologies as Chief Scientific Officer in January 2019. After an extensive career at Cochlear, Brian will be leading the research, development and manufacturing process for a ‘bionic eye’ to help restore vision to the blind.


Chris Forbes  joined Kidney Health Australia as their new CEO in October of this year. Chris’s leadership experience in the commercial and For Purpose sectors as Chief Executive Officer at Ticketek Australia and Chief Commercial Officer at Swimming Australia will be invaluable in driving growth through new revenue pathways and breaking new ground in the area of early detection and prevention.


Dale Fisher  has recently commenced her new role as CEO of Silver Chain Group, responsible for leading this national organisation on its next phase of growth and development. Dale previously led Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre as CEO, steered the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) redevelopment project, oversaw the transition to Peter Mac’s new home in Parkville, and built the service and research capacity of the enterprise.


Damian Gibney , recent Divisional Director - Emergency, Medicine & Cancer Services and General Manager Sunshine Hospital – Western Health, has been appointed to the role of Executive Director, Clinical Excellence and Systems Improvement at The Royal Women's Hospital. This role will provide executive and strategic leadership to the quality and safety function at the Women's as well as oversight of service improvement initiatives.


Lisa Lynch,  Chief Operating Officer at Women’s and Children’s Health Network SA, is returning from Adelaide to Melbourne to take up the role of Executive Director Clinical Operations at The Royal Women’s Hospital in 2019.


In October, former General Manager Service Development - Calvary Healthcare,  Tim Watts , was appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer at Stile Education.

 

Western Australia


Anthony Smith  has recently been appointed as MercyCare’s new Chief Executive after an extensive career with St John Ambulance including 6 years as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Anthony has a track record in delivering commercial success and societal impact in roles across community services and member-based organisations. Anthony will continue to drive the strategic growth of the organisation.


Elizabeth Barnes  has joined 360 Health + Community as their new Chief Executive after a successful career as Chief Executive Officer with Directions Disability Support Services. With extensive corporate and clinical governance experience Elizabeth is tasked with driving real, long term change to 360 Health + Community’s customers.


Ian Carter, after 25-years has announced his resignation as Chief Executive of Anglicare WA, to be succeeded by Mark Glasson, the Group’s Director of Services. Prior to joining Anglicare WA in 2013, Mark spent many years in a range of human services organisations, as well as holding senior executive positions for the Government of Western Australia.


Jacqui Thomson  has recently been announced as the new Chief Executive of the Ability Centre. Jacqui previously held the position of General Manager Lottery Operations at Lotterywest together with various strategic roles expanding 16-years.


John Atkins,  Western Australia’s former Agent General to the UK and Europe, has taken on the role as the new Chair of Anglicare WA. Mr Atkins replaces John Barrington and will play a crucial part in the successful transition in CEO leadership.



Rebecca Brown , former Deputy Director of Health has been appointed as the new Director General of Western Australia’s industry and tourism department, the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Rebecca has extensive experience across the public sector, holding senior positions in a range of departments. Most recently Rebecca successfully oversaw transformational change within Health to deliver better outcomes for the community.

Share this Article

Recent Articles

By Eliza Alford June 29, 2025
On Wednesday 25 June, Derwent was delighted to host a breakfast event in Perth to discuss "Building Resilience for Organisational Excellence” . The event bought together over 50 senior HR leaders, offering a unique opportunity for professional development and networking. The session explored the question: How do we help leaders and organisations build resilience to deliver sustainable success? Today's business environments are more complex, and conventional notions of leadership are no longer fit for purpose. The challenges for leaders in 2025 are not just about making the right moves, but the ability to make them under extreme uncertainty – political and international tensions, market volatility, the ongoing evolution of AI, technological advancements, and shifting customer expectations. Layered into this are greater expectations and focus on regulatory changes, sustainability, transition to net zero and psychosocial safety – all while remaining focused on strategy, budgets and creating long-term value for shareholders, customers, teams and other stakeholders. We were joined by Ben Pronk , co-author of The Resilience Shield and a specialist in Risk, Resilience and Leadership in high pressure situations, and Megan McCracken , experienced Executive, Board Member and Leadership Coach. Ben and Megan shared their perspectives on: What makes a resilient leader? What are the signs of organisational resilience – green flags, red flags? How can we improve resilience in organisations to achieve better outcomes? What are the key considerations for talent – current and future? Some key themes and takeaways included: High functioning organisations are characterised by “agreeable disagreement”, where healthy conflict is fostered and a culture of “ritual dissent” is the norm. The relationships between Chair, Board and CEO play an important role in cultivating a resilient culture. They “set the tone to do the things they are here to do”. Decisions should have a strong link to the purpose and vision of the organisation. The adoption of personal mindfulness practices offers a huge opportunity to enhance performance through some relatively simple changes in approach. This is supported by scientific data and an important practice to share with leaders. Psychosocial safety has a significant impact on organisational resilience. Organisations that prioritise psychosocial safety are better equipped to navigate challenges, adapt to change and maintain high performance levels. Personal traits for resilience include internal calm, curiosity, self-efficacy, and courage to respectfully challenge – importantly, these traits can be cultivated and taught. Businesses that continue to invest in personal and organisational resilience and leadership through the cycles are the most likely to have sustainable success. We extend our thanks to Eliza Alford , Principal HR & Legal, and Mike O’Sullivan , Managing Partner, for hosting the event. A special thank you to our guest speakers, Ben and Megan, and to all attendees for contributing to such a valuable and engaging discussion. If you’re interested in learning more or attending a future event, get in touch with us at events@derwentsearch.com.au
June 1, 2025
Private Equity (PE) is orchestrating a fundamental shift in portfolio company leadership, with the implications reshaping organisations and C-suites across industries. As PE firms continue to adjust to a rapidly changing business landscape, their leadership strategies are evolving to meet new challenges and opportunities. The Strategic Imperative With uncertain exit timelines and valuations under increasing scrutiny, private equity owners are making decisive talent moves to position their assets for the next phase of growth. Many portfolio companies have been held for longer periods, and the need to be “investor-ready” requires an executive team that is future-focused, energised, and able to deliver tangible impact. The shift from traditional leadership to growth-driven teams has become a central component of these strategies. Critical Talent Trends
May 22, 2025
On Wednesday 21 May, Derwent was delighted to host our "Women in Tech" event in Sydney, bringing together female Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers, GM Tech leaders in the Digital and Technology industry. This session explored navigating the path to the boardroom, offering insight into why it matters to be Board ready in an evolving landscape – where digital transformation, emerging technologies, and strategic innovation are reshaping the expectations of board directors. Recently, there's been a notable shift in boardroom mandates emphasising digital transformation and a deep lense on people and culture background to bring boardroom table.
Show More
By Eliza Alford June 29, 2025
On Wednesday 25 June, Derwent was delighted to host a breakfast event in Perth to discuss "Building Resilience for Organisational Excellence” . The event bought together over 50 senior HR leaders, offering a unique opportunity for professional development and networking. The session explored the question: How do we help leaders and organisations build resilience to deliver sustainable success? Today's business environments are more complex, and conventional notions of leadership are no longer fit for purpose. The challenges for leaders in 2025 are not just about making the right moves, but the ability to make them under extreme uncertainty – political and international tensions, market volatility, the ongoing evolution of AI, technological advancements, and shifting customer expectations. Layered into this are greater expectations and focus on regulatory changes, sustainability, transition to net zero and psychosocial safety – all while remaining focused on strategy, budgets and creating long-term value for shareholders, customers, teams and other stakeholders. We were joined by Ben Pronk , co-author of The Resilience Shield and a specialist in Risk, Resilience and Leadership in high pressure situations, and Megan McCracken , experienced Executive, Board Member and Leadership Coach. Ben and Megan shared their perspectives on: What makes a resilient leader? What are the signs of organisational resilience – green flags, red flags? How can we improve resilience in organisations to achieve better outcomes? What are the key considerations for talent – current and future? Some key themes and takeaways included: High functioning organisations are characterised by “agreeable disagreement”, where healthy conflict is fostered and a culture of “ritual dissent” is the norm. The relationships between Chair, Board and CEO play an important role in cultivating a resilient culture. They “set the tone to do the things they are here to do”. Decisions should have a strong link to the purpose and vision of the organisation. The adoption of personal mindfulness practices offers a huge opportunity to enhance performance through some relatively simple changes in approach. This is supported by scientific data and an important practice to share with leaders. Psychosocial safety has a significant impact on organisational resilience. Organisations that prioritise psychosocial safety are better equipped to navigate challenges, adapt to change and maintain high performance levels. Personal traits for resilience include internal calm, curiosity, self-efficacy, and courage to respectfully challenge – importantly, these traits can be cultivated and taught. Businesses that continue to invest in personal and organisational resilience and leadership through the cycles are the most likely to have sustainable success. We extend our thanks to Eliza Alford , Principal HR & Legal, and Mike O’Sullivan , Managing Partner, for hosting the event. A special thank you to our guest speakers, Ben and Megan, and to all attendees for contributing to such a valuable and engaging discussion. If you’re interested in learning more or attending a future event, get in touch with us at events@derwentsearch.com.au
June 1, 2025
Private Equity (PE) is orchestrating a fundamental shift in portfolio company leadership, with the implications reshaping organisations and C-suites across industries. As PE firms continue to adjust to a rapidly changing business landscape, their leadership strategies are evolving to meet new challenges and opportunities. The Strategic Imperative With uncertain exit timelines and valuations under increasing scrutiny, private equity owners are making decisive talent moves to position their assets for the next phase of growth. Many portfolio companies have been held for longer periods, and the need to be “investor-ready” requires an executive team that is future-focused, energised, and able to deliver tangible impact. The shift from traditional leadership to growth-driven teams has become a central component of these strategies. Critical Talent Trends
More Posts