Board

The Gold Coast Health Board, established on 1 July 2012, enhances decision making about local health services to benefit the local community. It is committed to:

  • Developing ways to involve the community in designing local health services
  • Exploring strategies to meet the growth in demand for health services
  • Considering innovative ways to increase resources to the region, including public / private partnerships
  • Working to improve access to hospital services while ensuring our world-class facilities are used to their capacity.

Gold Coast Health is committed to improved health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our community. Read the Reconciliation Statement. 

Board Chair

Prof Cindy Shannon AM

BA (Economics and History), Grad Dip Ed, MBA, DrSocSc (Pol Sci), GAICD, FQAAS (FQA)

A descendant of the Ngugi people from Moreton Bay, Cindy Shannon has most recently been the Pro Vice Chancellor (Indigenous) at Griffith University and an Emeritus Professor with the University of Queensland. She led the development and implementation of Australia’s first degree-level program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, has led major reforms in Indigenous health and played a key role in establishing the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health in South-East Queensland. Cindy served on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) from 2005-2012 and is the Chair of the Queensland Ministerial Advisory Committee on Sexual Health; Chair of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation; and a member of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Advisory Council. She has sat on a number of not-for-profit boards, including the Brisbane South Primary Health Network. In 2017, Cindy was recognised as a Queensland Great for contributions to Indigenous Health and Education and, in 2020, was made a Member of the Order of Australia (in general division) for contributions to Medical Education and Indigenous Health.

Deputy Board Chair

Ms Teresa Dyson

Ms Teresa Dyson, LLB(Hons), BA, MTax, MAppFin, GAICD

Teresa Dyson is a Non-Executive Director, with a portfolio of directorships across listed companies, government entities and not-for-profit entities. She sits on Boards in the media, energy and finance sectors. She is also a member of the Takeovers Panel. Teresa has previously been a Partner of a global law firm and a global accounting firm. Teresa is a former Chair of the Board of Taxation and a former member of the Foreign Investment Review Board.

Board Members

Ms Colette McCool PSM

MIM, BA, FAICD

Ms Colette McCool PSM has more than 25 years’ experience as a senior executive in large and complex public sector organisations. She has held senior leadership positions across economic, environmental and social portfolios in Territory and Local Governments, in diverse functional areas such as community services and health, waste management and transport. Ms McCool has highly developed skills and extensive experience in community consultation, engagement and capacity building, coupled with a deep knowledge of the diverse Gold Coast community and its needs. In recognition of her contribution to public service, in particular the community of the Gold Coast, Ms McCool was awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM).

Prof Nicholas Zwar

MBBS, MPH, PhD, FRACGP

Nick Zwar has extensive experience as a General Practitioner and primary health care teacher and researcher. He has a national and international reputation in health services research on the prevention and management of chronic illness, with a focus on respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Nick has led and contributed to several sets of Australian and international clinical practice guidelines and has more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. He is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine at Bond University while working part-time in a local general practice.

Adjunct Professor Michael Hogan

BA(Hons) / LLB

Michael Hogan has extensive Board, Chair and CEO experience across not-for-profit, statutory and government spheres. He is the Convenor of the Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership, an initiative of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth. He is also an Industry Fellow with the University of Queensland’s Queensland Brain Institute, and an Adjunct Professor with Queensland University of Technology Centre for Justice. Michael was an inaugural Paul Ramsay Foundation Fellow and is an Executive Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government. Michael is also a Director of the Torres Indigenous Health Corporation and a member of the Council of the Queensland Library Foundation. Michael has had an accomplished career as Director-General and Deputy and Assistant Director-General of multiple Queensland government departments, including responsibilities for community engagement, community services, child safety, youth, youth justice, disability services, women and multicultural affairs. He was, earlier in his career, CEO of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, a member of the Board of the Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia and on the advisory committee to the then New South Wales Health Consumer Complaints Unit.

Ms Daile Kelleher

Daile Kelleher is a not-for-profit executive leader with expertise in sexual and reproductive health policy and advocacy as well as domestic and family violence. Daile is the CEO of Family Planning Alliance Australia working nationally to uphold, strengthen and advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. Daile was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2023 to investigate abortion advocacy models to increase access to abortion in Australia. She is passionate about access to culturally safe and responsive healthcare services close to people's local communities and listening to people with lived experience about their needs. Daile is a Director and Company Secretary for the Australian Breastfeeding Association and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Community Directors. She values volunteering and previously spent five years at the Children's Hospital Foundation as a volunteer and has volunteered for many charitable organisations.

Mr Michael Kinnane ESM

FAICD, FAIM

Michael Kinnane has extensive Board and Chair experience across not-for-profit, charity, statutory, and public company spheres. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has had an accomplished career as Director-General of several Queensland government departments, including emergency services for more than 12 years. He was CEO of the Queensland Ambulance Service for five years. Michael is a strategic change leader who is community and outcomes-focused with a record of achievements resulting in positive patient outcomes for the community. Michael was a Director of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation from 2020 to the end of April 2024. Michael was awarded an Emergency Services Medal (ESM) in 2005 for his leadership in reforming emergency services in Queensland, in addition to being awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 by the Governor-General.

Mr Lucas Patchett OAM

GAICD 

Lucas Patchett is the Co-Founder and CEO of Orange Sky, a not for profit with a mission of positively connecting communities through a free mobile laundry and shower service for people experiencing homelessness. Started in 2014, Orange Sky has expanded to more than 65 services across Australia and New Zealand with a team of 4,000+ volunteers and 60 staff providing a range of services across a variety of different communities. Lucas is passionate about serving the community, innovation and how to create and build organisational culture. Lucas was awarded the Young Australian of the Year award in 2016 and an Order of Australia Medal in 2020 and completed a Churchill Fellowship in 2024.

Dr Alexandra Markwell

FACEM MBBS (Hons) BSc FAMA GAICD

Dr Alex Markwell is a senior emergency physician and immediate past Chair of the Queensland Clinical Senate where she was heavily involved in the COVID-19 pandemic response. With a strong interest in clinical education, Dr Markwell is a Senior Lecturer with the University of Queensland and recent member of the National Health and Medical Research Council Australian Health Ethics Committee.  She has extensive experience with policy development, education and training and health leadership. Dr Markwell is a member of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Me Foundation, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an experienced Non-executive Director. She is also a Past President of the Australian Medical Association Queensland (2012-2013).

Last updated 28 Mar 2024