20 Hospital CEOs and Health Leaders in Victoria

Last updated: August 2026

If you want to understand who is leading hospitals and health services in Victoria, start with the people responsible for care, culture and change. This practical directory brings together 20 current CEOs and senior health leaders across public, private, regional and specialist services.

The list moves from metropolitan services to regional and specialist organisations, because Victorian healthcare is a connected system. A leader in a major city hospital may shape a statewide pathway, while a regional CEO may be solving access and workforce problems across a much larger geographic area.

I have kept the focus on people with a current public leadership role and a clear connection to a Victorian hospital or health service. Each entry gives you a quick reason to know the person and a useful place to learn more.

Why these leaders matter.

Hospital leadership is practical work. It means making hard choices about care, workforce, safety, access, technology and money while keeping people connected to the purpose of the service.

The leaders below show how varied that work can be. Some run large metropolitan systems. Some lead specialist hospitals. Others carry the responsibility for regional services where a single health organisation may support several towns and a wide range of care.

If you are researching the Victorian health sector, building a leadership team, or looking for people whose work is worth following, this is a useful place to begin.

1. Eugine Yafele.

Chief Executive Officer, Monash Health.

Eugine Yafele is chief executive officer at Monash Health. Eugine commenced as Chief Executive Officer of Monash Health in March 2024 after leading major health services in the United Kingdom. His public profile highlights value-based care and reducing health inequities. This makes Eugine Yafele a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

2. Jodie Geissler.

Chief Executive Officer, Austin Health.

Jodie Geissler is chief executive officer at Austin Health. Jodie brings more than two decades of strategic and operational experience in Victoria’s health system. Before Austin Health, she was Deputy Secretary of the Hospitals and Health Services Division at the Department of Health Victoria. This makes Jodie Geissler a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

3. Shelley Dolan.

Chief Executive, The Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Shelley Dolan is chief executive at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Shelley is the Chief Executive of The Royal Melbourne Hospital. The hospital’s current executive page places her above a team of executive directors covering strategy, digital, nursing, operations, quality and redevelopment. This makes Shelley Dolan a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

4. Russell Harrison.

Chief Executive Officer, Western Health.

Russell Harrison is chief executive officer at Western Health. Russell joined Western Health as Executive Director Operations in 2013 and was appointed CEO in 2017. His experience spans acute hospitals, mental health, community services and commissioning. This makes Russell Harrison a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

5. Helen Cooper.

Chief Executive, Eastern Health.

Helen Cooper is chief executive at Eastern Health. Helen leads Eastern Health’s acute, subacute, mental health, residential and community services. Her background includes major hospital infrastructure work, including the Peninsula University Hospital project. This makes Helen Cooper a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

6. Debra Bourne.

Chief Executive, Northern Health.

Debra Bourne is chief executive at Northern Health. Debra was appointed Chief Executive of Northern Health in December 2024. Her career has included nursing, rural and remote health, and senior operational and medical leadership roles at Northern Health. This makes Debra Bourne a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

7. Simone Alexander.

Chief Executive, Alfred Care Group, Bayside Health.

Simone Alexander is chief executive, alfred care group at Bayside Health. Simone is Chief Executive of Alfred Care Group within Bayside Health and is responsible for a workforce of close to 12,000 staff. She previously served as Alfred Health’s Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer. This makes Simone Alexander a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

8. Frances Diver.

Chief Executive, Barwon Health.

Frances Diver is chief executive at Barwon Health. Frances leads Barwon Health, a service with tertiary, regional and rural hospital responsibilities. Her public biography describes more than 20 years of senior leadership and previous work as CEO of the Country Fire Authority. This makes Frances Diver a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

9. Eileen Hannagan.

Chief Executive Officer, Bendigo Health.

Eileen Hannagan is chief executive officer at Bendigo Health. Eileen has been CEO of Bendigo Health since October 2023. Her earlier leadership includes Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and executive roles at Epworth Richmond and St Vincent’s Private Hospital. This makes Eileen Hannagan a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

10. Matt Sharp.

Chief Executive, GV Health.

Matt Sharp is chief executive at GV Health. Matt has served as Chief Executive of GV Health since June 2018. His background includes nursing and executive clinical operations leadership at Eastern Health. This makes Matt Sharp a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

11. Dale Fraser.

Chief Executive Officer, Grampians Health.

Dale Fraser is chief executive officer at Grampians Health. Dale leads Grampians Health across a broad regional footprint. Public health-sector material describes his role in strengthening regional partnerships, education and service development. This makes Dale Fraser a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

12. Libby Fifis.

Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Health Wangaratta.

Libby Fifis is chief executive officer at Northeast Health Wangaratta. Libby is responsible to the Board for the efficient and effective management of Northeast Health Wangaratta. Her public executive profile connects the role with operational planning, quality improvement, service efficiency and risk management. This makes Libby Fifis a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

13. Craig Fraser.

Chief Executive Officer, South West Healthcare.

Craig Fraser is chief executive officer at South West Healthcare. Craig brings more than 30 years of Victorian public health experience, spanning metropolitan, rural and regional settings. His public profile highlights access, quality and patient experience. This makes Craig Fraser a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

14. Peter Abraham.

Chief Executive Officer, Bairnsdale Regional Health Service.

Peter Abraham is chief executive officer at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service. Peter is a nurse by training and has led several regional health services, including Swan Hill, Kyabram, Boort, Omeo and Heathcote. His current role is centred on regional health partnerships and local access. This makes Peter Abraham a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

15. Matthew Jukes.

Interim Chief Executive Officer, Mildura Base Public Hospital.

Matthew Jukes is interim chief executive officer at Mildura Base Public Hospital. Matthew is the current Interim Chief Executive of Mildura Base Public Hospital while the service runs its CEO search. The current executive page lists him alongside the hospital’s clinical, people, support and finance leaders. This makes Matthew Jukes a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

16. Peter Steer.

Chief Executive Officer, The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Peter Steer is chief executive officer at The Royal Children’s Hospital. Peter was appointed CEO of The Royal Children’s Hospital in March 2025. He is a paediatrician with senior leadership experience at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Children’s Health Queensland and Mater. This makes Peter Steer a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

17. Jason Payne.

Chief Executive, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Jason Payne is chief executive at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Jason joined Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre as Chief Executive in November 2023. He brings more than 30 years of clinical, management and leadership experience and has a strong focus on engaged teams and continuous improvement. This makes Jason Payne a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

18. Sue Matthews.

Chief Executive, The Royal Women’s Hospital.

Sue Matthews is chief executive at The Royal Women’s Hospital. Sue is CEO of The Royal Women’s Hospital and an Adjunct Professor in Nursing and Midwifery. Her work spans clinical practice, research, education, governance and policy, with a focus on women and newborns. This makes Sue Matthews a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

19. Nicole Tweddle.

Chief Executive, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.

Nicole Tweddle is chief executive at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. Nicole was appointed Chief Executive of St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne in August 2022. She previously led acute services and was COO and Interim CEO at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. This makes Nicole Tweddle a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

20. Andrew Stripp.

Group Chief Executive, Epworth HealthCare.

Andrew Stripp is group chief executive at Epworth HealthCare. Andrew is Group Chief Executive of Epworth HealthCare. His role sits across a large private hospital network with clinical, nursing, medical, academic and operational leaders. This makes Andrew Stripp a useful person to know if you want to understand how Victorian healthcare is being led and improved.

Read the official leadership profile for the current role and organisational context.

What this list shows.

The strongest pattern is that hospital leadership is both local and connected. Leaders are accountable for the experience of patients and staff in one service, while also working with universities, government, community partners and neighbouring health organisations. It is also clear that the job is broader than a title. The people in this list work across clinical quality, workforce, infrastructure, research, regional access and long-term reform.

A practical way to learn from the list.

Start with the organisation that is closest to your own question. If you are thinking about culture, look at the people and nursing portfolios. If you are thinking about change, look at the chief executive and operations roles. If you are thinking about clinical quality, look at the medical and governance leaders around them. The useful next step is to ask what your own leaders need to make clear, safe and useful for the people they serve.

About Jonno White.

Jonno White helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. His work is practical rather than motivational, with ideas that leaders can use on Monday morning. If you want help with leadership, culture or team development, email Jonno at jonno@consultclarity.org.