Board Members 2022-23

The Board establishes the Commission’s strategic direction, including directing and approving its strategic plan and monitoring management’s implementation of the plan. The Board also oversees its operations and ensures that appropriate systems and processes are in place so that the Commission operates in a safe, responsible and ethical manner, consistent with its regulatory requirements.

Board membership

The Australian Government Minister for Health appoints the Commission’s Board, in consultation with all state and territory health ministers. The Board includes members who have extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of healthcare administration, provision of health services, law, management, primary health care, corporate governance and improvement of safety and quality.

The Board is established and governed by the provisions of the National Health Reform Act and the PGPA Act.

Professor Villis Marshall AC (Chair)

Professor Villis Marshall brings to the Board experience in providing healthcare services, managing public hospitals, and improving safety and quality. Professor Marshall has had significant clinical experience as a urologist, and as Clinical Director (Surgical Specialties Service) for the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Adelaide.

Professor Marshall was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2006 for services to medicine, particularly urology and research into kidney disease, to the development of improved healthcare services in the Defence forces, and to the community through distinguished contributions to the development of pre-hospital first aid care provided by St John Ambulance Australia.

His previous appointments include General Manager at Royal Adelaide Hospital, Senior Specialist in Urology and Director of Surgery at Repatriation General Hospital, and Professor and Chair of Surgical and Specialty Services at Flinders Medical Centre.

Qualifications: MD, MBBS, FRACS

Ms Glenys Beauchamp PSM

Ms Glenys Beauchamp had an extensive career in the Australian Public Service, serving as Secretary of three Commonwealth Government departments including the Department of Health from 2017-2020; Department of Industry, Innovation and Science from 2013–2017 and Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport from 2010–2013. She has much experience at senior levels in the Australian Public Service and ACT Public Service across social and economic policy areas and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Ms Beauchamp also has extensive board experience, in addition to serving as a board member of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, she is also a board member of the Australian Government’s Industry Innovation and Science Australia, board member of the McGrath Foundation Ltd, and Chair of the Australian Building Codes Board and Food Standards Australia New Zealand. She is also on the Advisory Boards of Region Group Pty Ltd and Medicines Australia.

Qualifications: BEcon, MBA

Dr David Filby PSM

Dr David Filby has worked extensively across the Australian healthcare landscape in several significant policy and executive roles. He has held senior national health policy roles and senior executive positions in Queensland and South Australia. In July 2016, he completed a term of six and a half years as Executive Consultant for South Australia Health and the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council.

Dr Filby was a board member of the National Health Performance Authority until June 2016 and a board member of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for 14 years. In August 2016, he finished a nine-year term, including six as Chair, with Helping Hand Aged Care. In 2008, he was awarded a Public Service Medal, and in 2007 was awarded the Sidney Sax Medal by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association. Previously, he was on the board of South Australia’s Child Health Research Institute Council.

Qualifications: PhD

Ms Christine Gee

Ms Christine Gee brings to the board extensive experience in private hospital administration, having held executive management positions for more than 30 years. She has been the CEO of Toowong Private Hospital, a mental health service, since 1997 and is Chair of the Commission’s Private Hospital Sector Committee.

Ms Gee is involved in a number of state and national boards and committees, including the Australian Private Hospitals Association, the Private Hospitals Association of Queensland, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Queensland Board of the Medical Board of Australia. She is the Chair of the Medical Board of Australia’s National Special Issues Committee. Ms Gee is the 2021 recipient of the Gold Medal of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.

Qualifications: MBA

Ms Wendy Harris KC

Ms Wendy Harris KC is a barrister who specialises in commercial law. She was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1997 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010.

Between 2011 and 2015, she was Board Chair of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia’s only public hospital dedicated to cancer treatment, research and education. Other past directorships include 10 years on the Board of Barristers’ Chambers Limited, which is the repository of the substantial property assets of the Victorian Bar, and provider of chambers accommodation and ancillary services to its members.

Ms Harris is also past President of the Victorian Bar.

Qualifications: LLB (Hons)

Professor Tony Lawler

Professor Tony Lawler is Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Secretary – Clinical Quality, Regulation and Accreditation with the Tasmanian Department of Health, and Professor in Health Services at the University of Tasmania.

Professor Lawler holds dual specialist qualifications in Emergency Medicine and Medical Administration. He is a past President of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. He has previously been a Medical Advisor to the Tasmanian Minister for Health, Deputy Head of the Tasmanian School of Medicine, and Tasmanian Branch President of the Australian Medical Association.

He is a member of the Australian Medical Council’s Special Education Accreditation Committee, the Medical Review Advisory Committee and the National Medical Workforce Reform Advisory Committee. He is a member of the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Audit Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council and a Director of the Postgraduate Medical Education Council of Tasmania.

Qualifications: BMedSci, MBBS, FACEM, GAICD, MBA, FIFEM, FRACMA

Dr Hannah Seymour

Dr Hannah Seymour is a practising clinician in geriatrics at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Western Australia, where she looks after older people in partnership with orthopaedic surgeons. Dr Seymour has experience in using data to improve care, and has been involved with the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry since its formation. Her passion is improving outcomes and experience for frail older people in hospitals.

Dr Seymour has extensive clinical leadership experience. She has held positions in the Western Australian Department of Health in falls prevention and aged care. She gained experience in transformation through the Four Hour Rule Program at Royal Perth Hospital and led the clinical commissioning of Fiona Stanley Hospital, where she was a Medical Director until recently. Dr Seymour was the clinical nominee on the Sustainable Health Review and is currently the clinical lead of the Western Australian Electronic Medical Records program.

Qualifications: BSc, MBBS (Hons), FRACP

Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward

Professor Kylie Ward’s story is grounded in service to others, a vision for a greater future and a tenacity to get the job done. Professor Ward’s strengths lie in breaking down the walls, reframing the issue for fresh thinking and bringing people together to create long-lasting solutions.

Professor Ward currently serves as CEO of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). She has led a program of transformation at the ACN, increasing revenue, tripling student numbers, raising awareness of the profession, and building a legacy of nursing leadership, policy, sponsorship and community.

Professor Ward is inspired to increase the recognition of nurses and women in society: articulating and amplifying the professional voice of nurses, and ensuring that they have a major seat at the table to develop health and social policy.

Professor Ward holds honorary academic appointments with five leading Australian universities.

Before joining the ACN, Professor Ward ran a successful consultancy specialising in transformation, executive coaching, leadership and change management. She is renowned for her business acumen, entrepreneurship and visionary style of leadership.

Qualifications: RN, MMgt, FACN, FCHSM (Hon), Wharton Fellow, MAICD

Dr Helena Williams

Dr Helena Williams brings to the Board active clinical expertise as a practising general practitioner currently working at the South Australia Refugee Health Service, and leadership experience as a previous Clinical Director of the Southern Adelaide-Fleurieu-Kangaroo Island Medicare Local. She is currently the Executive Medical Director, South Australia/East Coast, for the Silver Chain Group and a HealthPathways GP Clinical Editor in South Australia.

Dr Williams’ governance experience includes six years as the Presiding Member of the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network Governing Council. Past directorships include the Southern Adelaide Health Service, the Cancer Council South Australia, Noarlunga Health Services, the South Australian Divisions of General Practice, and the Australian General Practice Network.

Qualifications: MBBS, FRACGP