20 Influential Health Leaders in Sydney to Know

Sydney's health system is shaped by leaders working across public health, hospitals, research, digital care, education and cancer control. Their roles sit at different points in the system, but each one connects leadership with the practical work of improving health and care.

This is a recognition directory, not a ranking. It is a starting point for understanding some of the people whose current work helps shape health in Sydney in 2026.

1. Susan Pearce AM

Secretary, NSW Health

Susan Pearce AM is Secretary of NSW Health. The current NSW Health organisation chart places her at the head of the Ministry of Health, with responsibility for the state's public health system.

That makes her role a useful example of system-level health leadership. Her work connects policy, public services and the many teams that deliver care across New South Wales. Read the NSW Health organisation chart.

2. Dr Kerry Chant AO PSM

Chief Health Officer and Deputy Secretary, Population and Public Health, NSW Health

Dr Kerry Chant AO PSM is Chief Health Officer and Deputy Secretary, Population and Public Health at NSW Health. The Ministry of Health organisation chart places her within the senior leadership structure for population health, health protection and public health programs.

Her role shows how health leadership extends beyond hospitals and individual treatment. It includes the systems that protect communities, support prevention and turn population evidence into public action. Read the NSW Health organisation chart.

3. Deb Willcox AM

Chief Executive, Sydney Local Health District

Deb Willcox AM is Chief Executive of Sydney Local Health District. Her official profile describes a career spanning clinical work, corporate services, government, research and senior health administration.

That range matters in a district that brings hospitals, community services, research and education together. Deb's path is a reminder that effective health leadership often depends on translating between professional groups and public responsibilities. Read the Sydney Local Health District executive profile.

4. Leisa Rathborne

Chief Executive, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District

Leisa Rathborne is Chief Executive of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. The District describes her as a health leader with more than 30 years of clinical, operational and infrastructure experience in NSW Health.

Her background includes senior work in Health Infrastructure and local health district leadership. That combination gives her a close view of how buildings, services, staff and community partnerships need to work together. Read the South Eastern Sydney announcement.

5. Adjunct Professor Anthony Schembri AM

Chief Executive, Northern Sydney Local Health District

Adjunct Professor Anthony Schembri AM is Chief Executive of Northern Sydney Local Health District. The District says he commenced in the role in July 2023 and leads services across hospitals, community health, mental health, public health and population health.

His work is especially relevant to the way large health systems coordinate different kinds of care. The District's recent work on clinical leadership councils also shows the value of bringing allied health, nursing and midwifery voices into governance. Read the Northern Sydney Local Health District leadership profile.

6. Graeme Loy PSM

Chief Executive, Western Sydney Local Health District

Graeme Loy PSM is Chief Executive of Western Sydney Local Health District. His work sits within one of Sydney's largest public health districts and its network of hospital, community and research services.

Western Sydney's health leadership has to connect local needs with major precinct development and service reform. That makes the role a useful example of leadership across place, infrastructure and care. Read the NSW Health organisations report.

7. Dr Jean-Frédéric Levesque

Chief Executive, Agency for Clinical Innovation

Dr Jean-Frédéric Levesque is Chief Executive of the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation and Deputy Secretary, Clinical Innovation and Research at the NSW Ministry of Health. His official profile also describes experience in clinical practice, health systems analysis, clinical governance and academic research.

He brings a clear link between evidence and improvement. The Agency's work spans clinical networks, implementation support, research and innovation, which makes his role relevant to anyone interested in turning good ideas into better care. Read the Agency for Clinical Innovation executive profile.

8. Richard Taggart

Chief Executive, eHealth NSW, and Chief Information Officer, NSW Health

Richard Taggart is Chief Executive of eHealth NSW and Chief Information Officer for NSW Health. eHealth NSW describes its role as providing statewide leadership on the planning, implementation and support of information and communication technology across the public health system.

Richard brings a clinical background in pharmacy and more than 20 years of ICT experience across public and private healthcare. His work shows why digital health leadership is not only about technology. It is also about making systems useful for staff and the people who rely on care. Read the eHealth NSW leadership announcement.

9. Cathryn Cox PSM

Chief Executive, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network

Cathryn Cox PSM is Chief Executive of Sydney Children's Hospitals Network. The Network says she was appointed in August 2020 after senior work in health policy, planning, infrastructure and strategic reform.

Her role brings together patient-centred care for children and young people with the needs of families, clinicians, researchers and the wider health system. It is a strong example of leadership where service quality and long-term system planning have to move together. Read the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network leadership profile.

10. Professor Cheryl Jones

Dean, UNSW Medicine and Health

Professor Cheryl Jones is Dean of UNSW Medicine and Health. UNSW describes her as a paediatric infectious diseases physician, clinician-scientist and health and medical educator.

Her leadership connects teaching, research and clinical practice. The faculty's work to prepare future health professionals makes the Dean's role important well beyond the university campus. Read the UNSW Medicine and Health leadership profile.

11. Professor Anushka Patel

Chief Executive Officer, The George Institute for Global Health

Professor Anushka Patel is Chief Executive Officer of The George Institute for Global Health. The Institute describes its work as rigorous research aimed at meaningful and lasting change in health outcomes, particularly for people facing the greatest barriers.

Anushka's role sits at the intersection of research, policy and global health. It is a useful reminder that Sydney's health leadership includes organisations whose influence travels through evidence and policy as well as direct services. Read the George Institute executive leadership team.

12. Professor Sophia Zoungas

Executive Director, The George Institute for Global Health, Australia

Professor Sophia Zoungas is Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health, Australia. The Institute lists her as part of the executive leadership team and identifies her role as leading the Australian operation.

Her work reflects the value of connecting research with the health priorities of the communities where it is carried out. Alongside her clinical and research background, the role helps link Australian health questions with the Institute's broader mission. Read the George Institute executive leadership team.

13. Professor Benjamin Kile

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Professor Benjamin Kile is Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Garvan describes his research leadership as spanning cancer, stem cells and inflammatory disease.

His role shows how research institute leadership has to hold two responsibilities together: creating excellent science and helping discoveries move towards better health outcomes. That translation from research to impact is a central part of Sydney's health ecosystem. Read the Garvan profile of Professor Benjamin Kile.

14. Professor Jason Kovacic

Director and Chief Executive Officer, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

Professor Jason Kovacic is Director and Chief Executive Officer of Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. The Institute's work is focused on cardiac research and on moving scientific discoveries towards better prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

That makes his leadership relevant to the full journey from laboratory research to patient care. It also highlights the role of specialist institutes in Sydney's broader health and research network. Read the Victor Chang Institute update from Jason Kovacic.

15. Professor Vlado Perkovic

Provost, UNSW Sydney

Professor Vlado Perkovic is Provost of UNSW Sydney. UNSW describes his background as including the former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health, a professorial role at The George Institute and clinical work in nephrology.

His current role connects university-wide leadership with a deep understanding of medicine and research. That combination matters in a university that is trying to improve education, research and engagement at the same time. Read the UNSW leadership and governance profile.

16. Associate Professor Adrienne Torda

Deputy Dean, Clinical Campuses, UNSW Medicine and Health

Associate Professor Adrienne Torda is Deputy Dean, Clinical Campuses at UNSW Medicine and Health. The current faculty leadership page places her in the management team responsible for the faculty's programs and operations.

Clinical campus leadership is where education, clinical practice and partnerships meet. Adrienne's role therefore offers a practical example of how health leaders help future clinicians learn in real service settings. Read the UNSW Medicine and Health leadership profile.

17. Professor Tracey O'Brien

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Institute NSW

Professor Tracey O'Brien is NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Institute NSW. The Institute describes her as a paediatric and adolescent haematologist and oncologist with more than 25 years of experience in cancer care and research.

Her work includes cancer control, research translation and system leadership. The role also demonstrates how public health agencies can connect prevention, treatment, research and policy around one major health challenge. Read the Cancer Institute NSW information guide.

18. Andrew Milat

Executive Director, Intelligence and Support for Innovation, Transformation and Evaluation, Agency for Clinical Innovation

Adjunct Professor Andrew Milat is Executive Director of Intelligence and Support for Innovation, Transformation and Evaluation at the Agency for Clinical Innovation. The Agency describes his background as combining public sector leadership, implementation science, research, evaluation and system capability building.

His work is about helping evidence travel into practice. That is a quiet but important part of health leadership, because good ideas only improve care when organisations can learn, adapt and sustain them. Read the Agency for Clinical Innovation executive profile.

19. Professor Louisa Jorm

Director, Centre for Big Data Research in Health, UNSW

Professor Louisa Jorm is Director of the Centre for Big Data Research in Health at UNSW. The current UNSW Medicine and Health leadership page lists her as the head of the Centre for Big Data Research in Health.

Her role represents the growing importance of using health data carefully to improve services, policy and outcomes. It is a reminder that health leadership now includes the ability to ask better questions of complex information. Read the UNSW Medicine and Health leadership profile.

20. Professor Anthony Kelleher

Director, Kirby Institute, UNSW

Professor Anthony Kelleher is Director of the Kirby Institute at UNSW. The Institute is a Sydney research centre working across infectious disease, prevention and global health.

His role brings research leadership into direct contact with major public health questions. The Kirby Institute's place within UNSW also shows how universities and specialist research centres contribute to the health of communities in Sydney and beyond. Read the UNSW Medicine and Health leadership profile.

Conclusion

The people in this list work across different parts of health, but several themes connect them. They are building systems, translating evidence, supporting staff, improving digital services, educating future professionals and keeping patients and communities in view.

That is what makes leadership in health so demanding. The work is rarely one simple decision. It is the patient, practical effort of helping many people and organisations move in the same direction.

About the Author

Jonno White is an Australian leadership consultant, keynote speaker and author. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at.

His work is practical rather than motivational, with a focus on what leaders and teams can use on Monday morning. For leadership work with your organisation, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Next Read

If you are thinking about leadership across a complex system, the Working Genius FAQ is a useful place to start. You can also explore the strategy and leadership consultant guide or the team offsite enquiry page.

If you want practical help building a healthier leadership culture, email jonno@consultclarity.org.