New face for Metro North health board

An executive with a wealth of experience in indigenous health has become the Metro North Hospital and Health Board’s latest member.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick welcomed Adrian Carson to the board and congratulated four existing members for their reappointments.

Mr Dick said the board, chaired Dr Rob Stable AM, had provided strong leadership in the delivery of health services in Brisbane’s northern suburbs and the Moreton Bay region.

“The board welcomes Adrian Carson who has more than 20 years’ experience in the indigenous health sector,” the Minister said.

“Mr Carson has played a leading role in the establishment of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and contributed to the development of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, the state’s peak body for the community-controlled health sector.

“His experience and contribution will be invaluable.”

Former MP and registered nurse Bonny Barry, QUT School of Public Health and Social Work Head Professor MaryLou Fleming, healthcare manager Geoff Hardy and company director Mike Gilmour have been reappointed.

“I congratulate the members who have been reappointed and look forward to working with them towards achieving the goal of making Queensland’s health system the best in Australia,” Mr Dick said.

Mr Dick said the Metro North Hospital and Health Board was a diverse group with five women and five men – all with a range of backgrounds, experience and skills – combining to ensure the broader community is well represented in the health space.

Mr Dick said 82 people nominated Metro North as their preferred board during a public expression of interest process and the task of selecting candidates was a tough one.

The 16 boards throughout Queensland are responsible under the Hospital and Health Board Act 2011 for local performance of their health services and the delivery of public health services within their communities.

The board appointments will take effect on 18 May 2017.

A complete list of all Hospital and Health Board appointments has been published in the 12 May 2017 edition of the Queensland Government Gazette.

Metro North Hospital and Health Board

Dr Rob Stable AM (Chair) is Director / Chair of Health Workforce Queensland, and Director of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section), Rural Health Workforce Australia and North and West Remote (Primary) Health. Dr Stable was the Director General of Queensland Health for eight years – currently appointed until 17/05/2020.

Dr Kim Forrester (Deputy Chair) is a registered nurse and barrister at law, Dr Forrester’s clinical background includes intensive and coronary care nursing. She is a member of the Australian College of Nursing– currently appointed until 17/05/2018.

Dr Margaret Steinberg AM has expertise in governance and ethical decision making, as well as experience as a clinician, health administrator, academic and director of public, private and third sector organisations. Dr Steinberg is a former Commissioner of the Criminal Justice and Crime and Misconduct Commissions – currently appointed until 17/05/2018.

Professor Helen Edwards OAM is Head of School of Nursing at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane and a member of the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation. Professor Edwards is also a Program Leader for the Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre– currently appointed until 17/05/2018.

Dr Clifford Pollard trained in Queensland with post-Fellowship experience in the United Kingdom. Dr Pollard was staff surgeon and visiting medical officer at Redcliffe Hospital, prior to moving to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in 2008, as the inaugural Director of the Trauma Service, from where he retired in 2012 – currently appointed until 17/05/2019.

Mr Michael Gilmour is an experienced company director with a strong commitment to corporate governance, Mr Gilmour has over 30 years’ experience as a senior finance and commercial executive, primarily in healthcare and manufacturing – reappointed until 17/05/2018.

Ms Bonny (Veronica) Barry is a Registered Nurse currently working on the nursing team at a large Retirement Village in the Brisbane Northern suburbs, Ms Barry started her nursing career at the Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1977 and has worked at RBWH and TPCH and the Holy Spirit in Brisbane and is qualified in Oncology/Palliative care specialties.– reappointed until 17/05/2020.

Professor MaryLou (Mary-Louise) Fleming is Head, School of Public Health and Social Work at the Queensland University of Technology. Professor Fleming has over thirty years’ experience in teaching and research in higher education, public health and health promotion, and has been a member of a number of health-related committees in the non-government and government sectors – reappointed until 17/05/2020.

Mr Geoff Hardy has had extensive career in healthcare management covering over 30 years. He has held operational roles at several leading hospitals including Royal North Shore Hospital, Westmead and the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne – reappointed until 17/05/2020

Mr Adrian Carson is the current CEO of the Institute for Urban and Indigenous Health, Mr Carson played a key role in leading and managing change in Indigenous health including the implementation of the COAG Close the Gap and Health and Hospitals reform agenda. He has worked as CEO of Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, the peak body for unity controlled health services in Queensland, and consulted with State and Commonwealth Health departments – new appointment until 17/05/2020.

Media contact: Michelle Wellington 0437 323 834