Our People

Western Health is incorporated as a metropolitan health service pursuant to the Health Services Act 1988 (VIC). Western Health operates under the authority of the Act and its own by-laws.

Western Health is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister for Health. The Board’s role is to govern the health service, consistent with applicable legislation and the terms and conditions attached to the funds provided to it.

The Board is responsible to the Minister for Health for setting the strategic direction of Western Health, within the framework of government policy, and ensuring that the health service:

• is effective and efficiently managed
• provides high quality care and service delivery
• meets the needs of the community; and
• meets financial and non-financial performance targets.

The Board has established several standing committees to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities.

The Board of Western Health consists of independent non-executive members from a range of backgrounds and with local ties to Melbourne's West.

• Organisational Chart July 2025 [PDF, 177KB] - July 2025

  
   

​​The Board of Western Health consists of independent non-executive members from a range of backgrounds and with local ties to Melbourne's West. Board Members are appointed to the Board by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister for Health.

July 2024 

BOARD MEMBER PROFILES
 

Prof the Hon Jill Hennessy (Chair)

GAICD

Professor the Hon. Jill Hennessy is a former Attorney-General of Victoria. Jill was also the Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services and Minister for Workplace Safety and led a series of ground breaking reforms in her time in Parliament. Jill is an experienced Chair and Company Director.

Jill is the Chair of the Monash Women's Health Alliance, Chair of Wellness and Infrastructure, Independent Chair of the AASW and the Vice-Chancellor's Professorial Fellow at Monash University. Jill is a Non-Executive Director at the Hudson Institute for Medical Research, Scope (Aust) Ltd, Melbourne Theranostic Innovation Centre (MTIC Pty Ltd) and Precision Molecular Imaging and Theranostics (PreMIT). She is a strategic advisor to the Susan McKinnon Foundation and an Ambassador for the McKinnon Prize for Political Leadership. Jill has previously served on the Board of Western Health and is a proud resident of Melbourne's West. A passionate Western Bulldogs supporter, Jill is the Deputy Chair of the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation.

Jill holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University and a Masters of Law (Public and International) from the University of Melbourne. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Prof the Hon Jill Hennessy is a Member of the Audit, Finance, Quality & Safety and Governance & Remuneration Committees.

Appointed Board Director July 2024; Appointed Board Chair July 2024
 

Hon Monica Gould

 

A former Victorian Minister, Monica Gould served as Victoria's first (and still only) female President of the Legislative Council. She began her career in the union movement, with a particular focus on advocating for poorly paid women in the manufacturing industry.

In Parliament, Monica served in both opposition and government and developed a reputation for effectiveness and efficiency, driving through legislation through advocacy and bipartisan engagement as Minister for Industrial Relations and then Minister for Education Services and Youth Affairs. She also played a significant role in advancing the representation of women through visible leadership and initiatives such as quotas for women in pre-elections.

Since retiring from government, Monica has applied her abilities in governance, diplomacy, strategy and stakeholder engagement in the service of non-profit organisations, holding board and chair positions in youth, community and environmental initiatives.

The Hon Monica Gould is the Chair of the Community Advisory Committee and a Member of the Governance & Remuneration Committee.

Appointed July 2020
 

Professor Andrew Conway

FIPA FFA FCMA FCPA (UK) MAICD FAIM BCom BTeach(Sec) GCertAIB

Professor Andrew Conway is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Public Accountants - one of Australia's largest professional accounting bodies. Andrew represents the Australian profession in a range of global Boards and committees and is a current member of the ASX Corporate Governance Council. In 2022, Andrew was appointed by the Australian Government as a member of the Tax Practitioners Board.

Prior to working with the Institute, Andrew was an Australian Government Treasury Ministry Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor. In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal and was subsequently awarded Australian Young Professional of the Year and AFR BOSS Magazine Young Executive of the Year. Andrew was appointed a Professor of Accounting at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (honoris causa) and is also a Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Fellow and Adjunct Professor at Deakin University. In 2011 he was appointed as a Board Director of Eastern Health. 2020 marked the completion of his final term at Eastern. In addition, Andrew is actively involved in research and co-founded the IPA-Deakin University SME Research Centre and co-authored the landmark Australian Small Business White Paper.

Andrew is a devoted husband and father of three children.

Professor Andrew Conway is the Chair of the Finance Committee and a Member of the Audit Committee.

Appointed May 2020
 

Adj A/Prof Elizabeth Kennedy

B.A,LL.B (Hons), LL.M, Grad Dip Health and Medical Law (Melb), GAICD

Adj A/Prof Elizabeth Kennedy has been a practising lawyer for over 40 years and was General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Corporate Counsel of Epworth Healthcare, The Royal Women's Hospital and The Royal Children's Hospital. She was the inaugural in-house lawyer of Southern Healthcare Network from its formation in 1998.

Elizabeth specialises in health and medical law.

Elizabeth is a currently a director of Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Care Network, the legal member of the Victorian Pharmacy Authority and a director of the Australian Psychological Society. She is also a member of the Council of Janet Clarke Hall. She  has held a number of not for profit Board appointments throughout her career, including Monash Medical Centre, Alzheimer's Victoria, Family Planning Victoria, and the Victorian Cytology Service.

Adj A/Prof Elizabeth Kennedy is the Chair of the Audit and Governance & Remuneration Committees.

Appointed July 2020
 

Ben Davison 

BA, MBA, GAICD

Ben Davison is a professional director and consultant with over 20 years experience in leadership roles across the for-purpose sector. In addition to being a director of Western Health, Ben is currently Chair of BGT Jobs and Training, a Trustee Director of the Industry Superannuation Fund HESTA, a Director of the Ballarat General Cemetery Trust and serves as a non-executive director for ACTU Member Connect

Ben has previously served as the Chief of Staff, Director of Operations and Director of Communications at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and as CEO of Southport Uniting Care, following a period in the leadership team at Diabetes Australia-Vic.

Ben's working life - coupled with his formal education - allows him to bring a broad range of general management, ethical governance, public policy, marketing, financial management, member engagement, campaign/project management, crisis management and corporate affairs experience to all of his endeavours.

As well as his board service, Ben provides management and governance consulting services to values-aligned clients. He runs a successful podcast with his partner and is active in a range of local community groups and organisations.

Ben Davison is a Member of the Finance and Community Advisory Committees.

Appointed July 2022
 

Deborah Cole

BDS GradDipHlthAdmin MBA GradCertLead&CathCult FAICD GAIST(Adv)

Dr Deborah Cole is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer predominantly in the health sector.

Deborah is the current and inaugural Chair of the Australian Centre for Value-Based Health Care and a Non-Executive Director of HESTA (Superannuation Fund) and Frontier Advisors.  Deborah is the immediate past Chair of Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association and the previous CEO of Dental Health Services Victoria. 

Deborah has broad experience in health, public dentistry, finance, corporate governance, and local government, and has worked in both the not-for-profit and public sectors. Deborah has held CEO positions at Calvary Health Care and Yarra City Council as well as senior executive positions at Mercy Health, St Vincent's Health Melbourne, Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and South Australian Dental Service.

Dr Deborah Cole is the Chair of the Quality & Safety Committee and a Member of the Primary Care & Population Health Committee.

Appointed July 2022
 

Harvey Newnham

MBBS, FRACP, PhD, GAICD, AICGG

Professor Harvey Newnham is an Endocrinologist and General Physician with extensive board and clinical leadership experience in the acute health sector. Harvey is also a board member of Bass Coast Health and was previously a member of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (Melbourne Health) and Better Care Victoria boards. Harvey chairs the board of Health Education Australia Limited (HEAL) which encompasses the Australasian Institute of Clinical Governance (AICG). He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed the AICD boardroom mastery course.

Harvey is experienced in organisational and unit review at health department, hospital and clinical unit level. Harvey's main interests are to improve the safety, quality and value proposition of acute care with particular emphasis on internal audit of clinical services, consumer engagement and interdisciplinary teamwork. In 2014 Harvey completed Brent James's "Advanced Training Program in Health Care Delivery Improvement" at the Intermountain Institute of Healthcare Delivery Research, Salt Lake City, USA.

Harvey was Program Director of Emergency and Acute Medicine at Alfred Health from 2009-20 and Director of General Medicine there from 2007-22. Harvey is an Adjunct Clinical Professor with Monash University. In his earlier career, Harvey was Director of Internal Medicine at Eastern Health and was extensively involved in education, developing both the undergraduate medical student program and the physician training program there. He was also chair of the Endocrinology Specialist Advisory Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Harvey has served for many years as a senior member of the National Examining Panel of the RACP.

Professor Harvey Newnham is a Member of the Audit and Quality and Safety Committees.

Appointed July 2023
 

Dr Elisabet Wreme

MSc, DBA, FAICD

Elisabet is an experienced C-Suite executive, non executive director and chair with a passion for service and technology businesses going through change. She is a highly professional leader with a genuine understanding of digital and cyber. Elisabet focus is to great customer experiences and strong performance outcomes at the same time.

Elisabet is an innovator with a patent to her name. Elisabet has broad experience across a range of strategic and operational roles, primarily across financial services and health related organisations. Her previous executive roles include COO for GuildGroup Holdings and senior executive roles with Telstra and NAB.

Elisabet is the Chair of BreastScreen Victoria, board director at HAMBS as well as board director at PWG. She has previously been on the board of Y Victoria and Ausmaq.

Appointed July 2024
 

Ian Meredith AM

MBBS, BSc(Hons) Ph.D, FRACP, FCSANZ, FACC, FAPSIC

Professor Ian Meredith AM is currently a Vice Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow at Monash University and a non-executive director serving on boards of private and public US and Australian Healthcare and life science companies. Currently he also serves on the Boards of Breakthrough Victoria and MTPConnect.

In mid 2023 Ian retired as the Executive Vice President and Global Chief Medical Officer at Boston Scientific in Massachusetts, USA - a fortune 100 global medical device and technology company. While in that role, he focused on driving a vision of transformative clinical science and innovative care for all patients with chronic non-communicable diseases through critical clinical input into the company’s new business development plan, M&A strategy and Venture portfolio.

Prior to joining Boston Scientific in 2017, Ian was Professor and Director of MonashHeart, the internationally recognised cardiology service within Monash Health, a position he held for 12 years, practicing as an interventional cardiologist for over 25 years. In 2003 Ian conceived and led the development of the Victorian Heart Hospital, Australia’s first dedicated heart hospital.

Ian has also served on numerous professional, state and federal government committees and advisory boards, including the Department of Human Services Cardiac Services Review and the Federal Government Department of Health & Aging Cardiac Prostheses Advisory Group.

Appointed July 2025
 

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Professor Russell Harrison

Russell Harrison commenced with Western Health on 26 February 2013 in the position of Executive Director Operations.

Russell came to us directly from the UK, where he held a range of senior positions over a period of 16 years within the National Health Service and prior to that, in private Health. His experience spans acute hospitals, mental health, the community sector and commissioning health services.

Russell holds a range of qualifications, including an MBA from one of the UK’s leading universities (Durham) and a Certificate in International Health Care Management from Yale Business School.

He has held a number of executive management roles and has a substantial track record in a many relevant areas including: executive leadership; clinical reform and governance; service innovation and models of care; risk and change management; workforce development; and managing demand within the constraints of tight financial resources. 
Russell was appointed as the CEO of Western Health in 2017.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Mr John Ferraro 

John Ferraro commenced with Western Health in August 2021 as Deputy Executive Director Operations before stepping into the Chief Operating Officer role.

John has more than 20 years’ experience in health including senior executive appointments at Austin Health as the Interim Chief Operating Officer, Eastern Health as the Executive Director Clinical Operations and most recently at the Department of Health as the Executive Director Commissioning and Logistics for Victoria’s vaccination program.

In addition to his extensive operational and executive experience, John has significant corporate governance expertise. He was previously the Board Chair of Banyule Community Health Service for 10 years, former Chair of the Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Care Collaborative Governance Group and a former Board Director of the Victorian Deaf Society.
 

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
 

Dr Abi Arul 

Abi joined Western Health in January 2022 as a Deputy Chief Medical Officer before stepping into the role of Chief Medical Officer (Acting) in November 2022.

Abi graduated with Honours from the University of Liverpool, in the UK in 2005 and has worked as a junior doctor both in the UK and in a variety of hospitals here in Victoria. She has also worked as GP prior to doing her Fellowship training with the Royal College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) and completing a Masters in Health Administration (MHA).

She has a keen interest in junior doctor wellbeing and is a member of the PMCV Workforce Committee and an accredited surveyor for prevocational training in Victoria. Abi is also an advocate for equity and inclusion in healthcare and the promotion of women in leadership.
 

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NURSING AND MIDWIFERY

Mr Shane Crowe

Shane commenced in the role of Executive Director Nursing & Midwifery in September, 2017. He joined us from Austin Health where he was the Acting Chief Nursing Officer. His wide-ranging experience in nursing workforce leadership and his managerial, interpersonal and analytical skills, combined with his extensive clinical knowledge, network and project management skills, are valuable attributes in the role.

In a previous role, as Project Director of the Olivia Newton John Cancer & Wellness Centre Transition, Shane led the development and implementation of the new model of care and the commissioning and opening of the facility.

Shane worked with the Department of Health and Human Services on an extended secondment, as Manager of Workforce Innovation and Reform and led the development and successful introduction of the Safe Patient Care (Nurse and Midwife to Patients Ratios) Act 2015 in Victoria. During 2016, Shane served as Director, Support Services and Project Director for the Commissioning of a Short Stay Unit/Psychiatric Assessment and Planning Unit at the Austin.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PEOPLE, CULTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS

Adj. Prof Ms Sandy Schutte 

Sandy Schutte was appointed Executive Director People, Culture & Communications in June 2022.

Sandy's previous role was the Interim General Manager of Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Caroline Springs. This role, in conjunction with the transition team, supported staff through the transition process whist ensuring excellent patient care continued to be delivered.

Sandy’s substantive role is the Director of Education and Learning at Western Health, where she has designed programs to build clinical and leadership capabilities to support Western Health's significant growth strategy.
 

Sandy is a passionate and positive leader with extensive operational experience leading large teams across multiple sites. Before joining Western Health in 2018, Sandy held the role of Director of Nursing at Austin Health.

In this role, Sandy had extensive clinical and operational experience managing an Austin Health Campus, overseeing the delivery of aged care, operating suites, subacute and mental health inpatient beds and extensive outpatient and community rehabilitation services.

In addition to leadership and management in public health, Sandy has considerable experience in the corporate as a lead consultant for multinational mergers. She holds a master's in Business Administration and a postgraduate qualifications in HR, OHS and Critical Event Management.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Mr Mark Lawrence

Mark joined Western Health in 2011 as Executive Director Finance. Mark has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a Diploma in Management.

Mark is currently Vice President of the Health Management Finance Association, the peak body for finance staff working in health services.

Prior to commencing at Western Health, for 11 years Mark was the CFO at Royal Freemasons, a large not for profit aged care provider. Prior to this Mark was with AMCOR for over 9 years in a variety of roles, culminating in the position of Commercial Manager for the Recycling division.

Mark has over 25 years’ experience in the Finance sector, with additional experience in supply, purchasing and warehouse management.

Privately Mark has held committee positions with a number of organisations such as the Standardbred Breeders and Stud Masters Association, 13th Beach Golf Club and is a former director of Chaplains Without Borders.

Mark is currently Western Health’s Chief Financial Officer.
 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, PARTNERSHIPS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Tess Lye (she/her)

Tess Lye joined Western Health as General Counsel in February 2022. Tess was appointed to the position of Executive Director, Strategy, Partnerships and Corporate Governance in February 2024, continuing as Western Health's General Counsel.

Tess is a commercial lawyer who has extensive company secretariat, in-house legal, corporate records and risk management experience in the healthcare, government, banking and mining sectors. Prior to joining Western Health, Tess held the position of General Counsel and Director, Corporate Governance and Risk with Epworth HealthCare.