50 Health System Chief Executives in Australia and NZ
- Jonno White
- Aug 8
- 7 min read
Last updated: 8 August 2026.
Health systems are shaped by people who hold responsibility for patients, staff, services and long-term trust. This list brings together 50 current chief executives and equivalent leaders from Australia and New Zealand. It is a cross-system reference, not a ranking.
Why these leaders matter.
A chief executive can influence the conditions in which clinicians work, the way services join up, and the quality of the experience for patients and communities. Looking across public, private, national and regional organisations makes the shared leadership challenge easier to see.
50 health system chief executives.
1. Dr Dale Bramley
Dr Dale Bramley is the Chief Executive at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.
He previously led Waitemata DHB as chief executive for 11 years.
2. Audrey Sonerson
Audrey Sonerson is the Director-General of Health and Chief Executive at New Zealand Ministry of Health.
She was appointed to the role in April 2025.
3. Professor Sunny Collings
Professor Sunny Collings is the Chief Executive at Health Quality and Safety Commission New Zealand.
She joined as chief executive in August 2025 after leading the Health Research Council of New Zealand.
4. Nick Steele
Nick Steele is the Health Service Chief Executive at Metro North Health.
Metro North is part of Queensland's state health service model.
5. Leena Singh
Leena Singh is the Health Service Chief Executive at Cairns and Hinterland Health Service.
The service leads care across a large tropical and regional catchment in far north Queensland.
6. Lisa Blackler
Lisa Blackler is the Health Service Chief Executive at Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.
She was appointed in April 2024 after previously leading operations at Te Whatu Ora in New Zealand.
7. Anthony West
Anthony West is the Health Service Chief Executive at Central West Hospital and Health Service.
Central West is one of Queensland's public health service regions.
8. Frank Tracey
Frank Tracey is the Health Service Chief Executive at Children’s Health Queensland.
He brings more than 40 years of experience across health systems and large organisations.
9. Annette Scott PSM
Annette Scott PSM is the Health Service Chief Executive at Darling Downs Health.
Darling Downs is one of Queensland's regional hospital and health services.
10. Ron Calvert
Ron Calvert is the Health Service Chief Executive at Gold Coast Health.
Gold Coast Health is a large integrated health organisation.
11. Sean Birgan
Sean Birgan is the Interim Health Service Chief Executive at Mackay Hospital and Health Service.
His appointment at Mackay is interim.
12. Noelle Cridland
Noelle Cridland is the Health Service Chief Executive at Metro South Health.
She oversees more than 21,500 staff and a budget of more than $4 billion.
13. Andrew Quabba
Andrew Quabba is the Health Service Chief Executive at North West Hospital and Health Service.
He commenced as chief executive on 6 July 2026.
14. Anthony Brown
Anthony Brown is the Health Service Chief Executive at South West Hospital and Health Service.
South West is one of Queensland's regional hospital and health services.
15. Dr Peter Gillies
Dr Peter Gillies is the Health Service Chief Executive at Sunshine Coast Health.
He was appointed in October 2021 after more than five years leading Toowoomba Hospital and Health Service.
16. Rex O’Rourke
Rex O’Rourke is the Health Service Chief Executive at Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.
He was appointed in January 2024 after earlier regional executive work in Western Australia.
17. Kieran Keyes
Kieran Keyes is the Health Service Chief Executive at Townsville Hospital and Health Service.
Townsville is a major regional health service.
18. Hannah Bloch
Hannah Bloch is the Health Service Chief Executive at West Moreton Health.
She has more than 15 years in the Queensland public system and previously held a Gold Coast executive role.
19. Deborah Carroll
Deborah Carroll is the Health Service Chief Executive at Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service.
She has more than 40 years in the public sector and was appointed in May 2020.
20. Alison Zecchin
Alison Zecchin is the Chief Executive at Western Sydney Local Health District.
She brings more than 35 years in NSW Health and leads services for more than 1.2 million people.
21. Deb Willcox AM
Deb Willcox AM is the Chief Executive at Sydney Local Health District.
Her earlier roles include chief executive of Northern Sydney LHD and deputy secretary in NSW Health.
22. Brad Astill
Brad Astill is the Chief Executive at Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District.
He leads services across five hospitals and community centres with about 8,000 staff.
23. Mark Spittal
Mark Spittal is the Chief Executive at Western NSW Local Health District.
He brings more than 30 years across New Zealand and NSW health systems.
24. Margaret Bennett OAM
Margaret Bennett OAM is the Chief Executive at Southern NSW Local Health District.
She joined in March 2020 after leading Northeast Health Wangaratta.
25. Tracey McCosker
Tracey McCosker is the Chief Executive at Hunter New England Local Health District.
She leads one of NSW's largest local health districts.
26. Leisa Rathborne
Leisa Rathborne is the Chief Executive at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
She became chief executive in January 2026.
27. Scott McLachlan
Scott McLachlan is the Chief Executive at Central Coast Local Health District.
He has held public and private health leadership roles for more than two decades.
28. Sonia Marshall PSM
Sonia Marshall PSM is the Chief Executive at South Western Sydney Local Health District.
Her 30-year health career began in intensive care nursing and now spans district leadership.
29. Anthony Schembri
Anthony Schembri is the Chief Executive at Northern Sydney Local Health District.
He is the current chief executive for Northern Sydney LHD.
30. Dr Robyn Lawrence
Dr Robyn Lawrence is the Chief Executive at SA Health, Department for Health and Wellbeing.
SA Health manages the overall strategic direction of the South Australian health system.
31. Jenny Atta PSM
Jenny Atta PSM is the Secretary at Victorian Department of Health.
She became secretary in March 2025 after senior roles in education and treasury.
32. Chris Hosking
Chris Hosking is the Chief Executive at NT Health.
He leads NT Health, which provides system-wide health services across the Northern Territory.
33. Dale Webster PSM
Dale Webster PSM is the Secretary at Tasmanian Department of Health.
He was appointed to a five-year term after senior work across health and justice agencies.
34. Giles Nunis
Giles Nunis is the Chief Executive at WA Health Support Services.
He previously served as a WA government chief information officer and worked in digital transformation.
35. Valerie Buić
Valerie Buić is the Chief Executive at Child and Adolescent Health Service.
Child and Adolescent Health Service supports children and young people through Perth Children's Hospital and community services.
36. Robert Toms
Robert Toms is the Chief Executive at North Metropolitan Health Service.
He is the chief executive of North Metropolitan Health Service.
37. Neil Doverty
Neil Doverty is the Chief Executive at South Metropolitan Health Service.
He is the chief executive of South Metropolitan Health Service.
38. Jeffrey Moffet
Jeffrey Moffet is the Chief Executive at WA Country Health Service.
He is the chief executive of WA Country Health Service.
39. Natalie Davis
Natalie Davis is the Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Ramsay Health Care.
She started the group role in December 2024.
40. Chris Blake
Chris Blake is the Group Chief Executive Officer at St Vincent’s Health Australia.
His background spans Australia Post, consulting and the World Health Organization.
41. Julia Strickland-Bellamy
Julia Strickland-Bellamy is the Group Chief Executive Officer at Mater.
She became group chief executive in April 2025 after serving as an Australian healthcare CEO and director.
42. Damien Bruce
Damien Bruce is the National Chief Executive Officer at Calvary.
He became National Chief Executive Officer in September 2025 after leadership in health, social and public sector strategy.
43. Nicole Waldron
Nicole Waldron is the Interim Chief Executive Officer at Healthscope.
She joined Healthscope in 2021 as chief operating officer after earlier work at Epworth and as a nurse.
44. Mike Peters
Mike Peters is the Group Chief Executive at New Zealand Health Group.
New Zealand Health Group supports 10,000 people delivering healthcare in homes and communities.
45. Chris White
Chris White is the Chief Executive Officer at Southern Cross Healthcare.
Southern Cross Healthcare operates a nationwide network and Chris White is its chief executive.
46. Simon Keating
Simon Keating is the Group Chief Executive at Evolution Healthcare.
He brings 25 years across public and private healthcare, aged care and primary health.
47. Michael Woodhouse
Michael Woodhouse is the Chief Executive Officer at Forté Health.
He became chief executive in April 2024 after leading Mercy Hospital.
48. Fiona Michel
Fiona Michel is the Chief Executive Officer at Braemar Hospital.
She is chief executive within Braemar Hospital's executive team and brings public and private healthcare experience.
49. Dr Ian England
Dr Ian England is the Chief Executive Officer at Allevia Hospitals.
He leads Allevia Hospitals, one of New Zealand's largest surgical providers.
50. Angela Shaw
Angela Shaw is the Chief Executive Officer at Ormiston Hospital.
She was appointed in October 2025 and brings healthcare leadership and governance experience.
What these leaders show.
The strongest pattern is scale with proximity. Some leaders work across national systems, while others lead a district, region or specialist network. Their work still depends on the same habits: clear priorities, good decisions close to patients, and an ability to bring different professional groups with them.
A second pattern is that health leadership is not one job. It includes service access, safety, workforce, digital change, financial stewardship, community trust and the practical details that allow care to happen. The title may vary, but the responsibility is shared.
How to use this list.
Use the list as a starting point for planning, partnership mapping, conference invitations or thoughtful outreach. Executive roles can change, so treat it as a useful starting point rather than a permanent record.
Frequently asked questions.
Is this a ranking?
No. The names are presented as a recognition list, not in order of influence, performance or seniority.
Are these all hospital CEOs?
No. The list includes national health bodies, government health departments, local health districts, hospital and health services, and private health groups.
Why include secretaries and director-generals?
They are included where the role carries system-wide responsibility for health services or a health department.
Should I treat every role as permanent?
No. One interim role is labelled as interim, and executive appointments can change.
Conclusion.
Health-system leadership is a team sport played across policy, operations, clinical practice and community life. These 50 leaders offer a useful map of the people carrying that responsibility across Australia and New Zealand.
Related reading.
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About the author.
Jonno White helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. His work is practical rather than motivational, with ideas people can use on Monday morning.