Hello from the new Chair

I am delighted to join InGeNA as Chair, taking over from David Bunker. I look forward to working with the team to continue the great work already underway.

After moving around a lot as a kid, I went to ANU where I studied Economics and Accounting. After gaining my professional accounting qualifications, I quickly volunteered to get involved in implementing new systems, policies and processes. Accounting was too boring for me (apologies to all accountants) but it was a great basic training which I still use in many settings. I worked in investment banking for many years where I established groups which acted as the bridge between the more technical IT areas and the business. I also ran and remediated a number of major projects.

I have worked in healthcare for over 20 years. My roles have included being a CIO, running major projects impacting thousands of people, and consulting. I was instrumental in the building of Australia’s first HIMSS accredited digital hospital. I have worked across Australia and internationally. My work has been with NFP and government providers of hospitals, aged care, community and NDIS services; with clinical/research alliances (including those working in genomics) and research organisations; and with federal and state agencies.

I have over ten years’ experience on major Government and NFP Boards covering hospitals, aged care, primary care and community services. I am a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

I am a Fellow of AIDH. I initiated and was the inaugural Chair of the Precision Health Community of Practice. As part of that COP I have followed the work of InGeNA since its inception. I am passionate about improvement and innovation in healthcare ensuring equity of access for all. I look forward to the day when genomics is a core part of our day-to-day healthcare, well understood by GPs and other health professionals, to bring benefits to all relevant patients. Ultimately, I want to ensure that people, no matter their health conditions, live the best possible life they can.

Outside of my professional life, I enjoy exercise, catching up with friends, and travel. I have lived in 28 homes, 10 different towns/cities (some of these more than once), 5 Australian states and territories and 3 countries. I have been to over 50 different places across the world on work trips – consulting, site visits (including leading groups on site visits) and conferences – and I have given up counting the number of places I have visited on holidays. I love experiencing new cultures, meeting new people, and seeing amazing landscapes across Australia and overseas.

I am married to Ian who I met at Uni, who says that he carries the bags and takes the photos on our adventures. He lives with multiple hereditary health issues and works, travels, socialises and exercises within the limitations placed on him by his conditions. We put a priority on eating well and minimising the chemicals in our home.