Townsville health board to benefit from more clinical experience

A medical specialist with vast international experience in women’s health has become the Townsville Hospital and Health Board’s latest member.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick welcomed Professor Ajay Rane OAM to the health board and congratulated five other members for their reappointments.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said the board, chaired by former Townsville Mayor Tony Mooney AM, had provided strong leadership in the delivery of health services in Townsville.

“The board will welcome Professor Rane, a gynaecologist and urogynaecologist who has worked in several locations across the world to improve the health of people in developing countries,” Mr Dick said.

“Professor Ian Wronski, Dr Eric Guazzo, Sarah Kendall, Christopher Castles and Debra Burden have also been reappointed.

“I congratulate each of them and look forward to continuing to work with them towards achieving our goal of making Queensland’s health system the best in Australia.”

Michelle Morton, Donald Whaleboat and Professor Gracelyn Smallwood remain in their positions.

Mr Dick said the Townsville Hospital and Health Board was a diverse group with six men and four women – 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 55 people applied for positions on the board during the expressions of interest period 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.

Townsville Hospital and Health Board

Mr Tony Mooney AM (Chair) Former Townsville Mayor and Board member of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority; served on the boards of numerous government and community entities, including Ergon Energy, LG Super, Townsville Entertainment Centre Board of Management (Chair) until 2008, and as the inaugural Chair of the Willows Stadium Joint Board (currently 1300 Smiles Stadium) – currently appointed until 17/05/2020.

Mrs Michelle Morton (Deputy Chair) is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Managing Partner and Litigation/Workplace Relations Workgroup Partner at wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers. Michelle is currently the Chair of the Townsville Fire Limited and a member of the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army, Queensland Law Society, North Queensland Law Association and Townsville Solicitors Association – currently appointed until 17/05/2019.

Professor Ajay Rane OAM is a gynaecologist and urogynaecologist who has worked in several locations across the world to improve the health of people in developing countries – new appointment 17/05/2020.

Professor Ian Wronski AO is Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine at James Cook University; Chair of the Australian Council of Pro Vice Chancellors and Deans of Health Sciences, Queensland Clinical Education and Training Council and a Board Member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation - Life Sciences Innovation Forum – reappointed until 17/05/2019.

Dr Eric Guazzo has been in combined public/private neurosurgery practice based in Townsville since 1994 and is the Director of Neurosurgery for the North Queensland region – reappointed until 17/05/2018

Mr Robert (Donald) Whaleboat is a Senior Lecturer at the College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University where he plays a key role in the planning, development and delivery of the Indigenous health MBBS curriculum – currently appointed until 17/05/2019.

Professor Gracelyn Smallwood qualified as a registered nurse in 1972 and later as a registered midwife, working and volunteering in communities such as Alice Springs, Palm Island, remote Western Australia and South Australia; was named the Queensland Aboriginal of the Year in 1986 and an Order of Australia in 1992 for service to public health, particularly HIV-AIDS education – currently appointed until 22/10/2019.

Ms Sarah Kendall, a communications expert, is currently responsible for stakeholder engagement, supporting sector compliance and promoting quality improvement to the children’s education and care sector and community through her work with the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) – reappointed until 17/05/2021.

Mr Christopher Castles is a principal of the Ingham based accounting firm Coscer Accountants, as well as Zest Financial Solutions which has offices in Ingham, Townsville and Brisbane – reappointed until 17/05/2019.

Mrs Debra Burden is the General Manager of Canegrowers Burdekin.  Debra has a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting and Business Management and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management – reappointed until 17/05/2020.

ENDS

Media contact: Michelle Wellington 0437 323 834