Experienced leaders join Metro North Hospital and Health Board

• An experienced health sector committee chair has been appointed as the new Board Chair to govern the Metro North Hospital and Health Board.
• The board members bring a vast range of experience across the fields of health, business, politics and law.
• Boards set the strategic direction and oversee the management of their respective HHS in its delivery of healthcare under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.

A 10-person board with experience in health, politics and consultancy sectors has been appointed to govern the Metro North Hospital and Health Service (HHS).

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman announced the newly appointed board, led by Bernard Curran.

A member of the Board since 2018, Mr Curran previously chaired the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation.

Mr Curran comes from an accountancy and consultancy background, representing clients across medical practices, architecture, and civil construction. He has also held directorships on private company boards and actively serves on not-for-profit boards.

Five new members join the Board, bringing a wealth of experience across local government, emergency medicine, disaster management, community health, and law.  

These include Linda Lavarch, Dr Peter Aitken, Dr Shea Spierings, Dr Poya Sobhanian, Aimee McVeigh and the Honourable Jane Prentice.

Ms Linda Lavarch and Honourable Jane Prentice bring a range of skills to the Board having plated active roles in federal, state, and local government politics throughout their careers.

Dr Aitken brings extensive experience in disaster preparedness and management, having played a key role for Queensland Health during the pandemic, including serving as Chief Health Officer.

Dr Spierings, with a consultancy background in health, currently serves as Deputy Chair of Sunshine Coast Health Network and a Board Member of Health and Wellbeing Queensland. He is also a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland specialising in Indigenous health.

Dr Sobhanian brings considerable board experience from his recent appointment as member of the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Board and he is currently a board member, Gladstone Ports Corporation and member of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s Dentist Panel of Assessors.

Ms McVeigh comes from a legal background and is currently the CEO of the Queensland Council of Social Services.

Ms Nermina (Nera) Komaric and Mr Adrian Carson have renewed their membership for another term and join continuing member Dr Melissa (Meg) Cairns.

The new board, which will set the strategic direction and oversee the management of Metro North HHS, consists of:

• Mr Bernard Curran (Chair)
• Mr Adrian Carson
• Ms Linda Lavarch
• Ms Nermina (Nera) Komaric
• Dr Peter Aitken
• Dr Shea Spierings
• Ms Aimee McVeigh
• Honourable Jane Prentice
• Dr Poya Sobhanian
• Dr Melissa (Meg) Cairns

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman:

“The Metro North Hospital and Health Board is bolstered by the addition of six exceptional individuals this year.

“Their diverse expertise in local government, emergency medicine, disaster management, community health, and law will significantly contribute to Metro North’s continued success.

“I particularly commend the leadership of outgoing Chair Jim McGowan AM, whose dedication and commitment guided the Board since 2020.

“Looking ahead, I’m confident this newly assembled Board will play a vital role in delivering safe and timely healthcare for Queenslanders.”

ENDS