Board

The establishment of Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS) as a statutory body under the control of the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Board (GCHHB) occurred on 1 July 2012. This provides an opportunity to have enhanced local decision making about local health services to benefit the local community. The Board will strive to add genuine value to Gold Coast Health. The Board is committed to developing ways to involve the community in designing local health service delivery into the future.

The GCHHB will continue to focus on strategies to meet the growth in demand for health services. It will consider innovative ways to increase resources to the region, including the possibility of increased public / private partnerships. The Board looks to improve access to hospital services, including making sure the excellent facilities in the region are used to their capacity. The range of services provided locally will continue to be increased. This helps to reduce, and in some cases eliminate, the need for the public to travel to Brisbane for treatment.

The GCHHB regularly review all current services that are provided across the spectrum of health care, including community services. This will allow informed decisions to be made on the direction of health services that the GCHHS will provide into the future.

Board Chair

Mr Ian Langdon

MBA, BComm, Dip Ed (Melb Uni), FCPA, FAIM

Ian Langdon has extensive Board experience, encompassing roles such as Chair, Audit Committee Chair and Non-Executive Director with a wide range of companies in agribusiness, food production, marketing and health. Ian has held various academic positions including Associate Professor and Dean of Business at Griffith University (Gold Coast campus). Ian is also currently the Chair of the Gasfields Commission Qld and Chair of Autism Qld.

Deputy Board Chair

Prof Judy Searle

BMBS, FRANZCOG(ret), MD, GAICD

Judy Searle started her career as a medical specialist before moving primarily into leadership and management positions in academia, health professional advocacy and health policy. She continues to contribute to the health and education sectors as a Non-Executive Director and as an academic consultant, with particular focus on clinical service provision, health policy development, regulation and accreditation, and medico-politics.

Board Members

Prof Cindy Shannon

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

Professor Cindy Shannon is a Ngugi woman and descendant of the Quandamooka people. She is an Emeritus Professor with the University of Queensland and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) at Griffith University, among many other roles. Cindy was the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) at the University of Queensland from 2011-2017, and inaugural Director of its Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. Cindy led the development and implementation of Australia’s first degree-level program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and played a key role is supporting the establishment of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health in South-East Queensland. Cindy has contributed to Indigenous health policy in Queensland and nationally.

Ms Teresa Dyson

LLB(Hons), BA, MTax, MAppFin, CTA, 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 Foreign Investment Review Board and 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.

Dr Andrew Weissenberger

MBBS (Hons), FRACGP, GAICD

Andrew Weissenberger began his career in hospitals, working at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, before moving into community general practice in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. Andrew has a keen interest in the training and education of both medical students and registrars and is a Senior Lecturer with Griffith University. He is also actively involved as a surveyor for accreditation in general practice.

Ms Colette McCool

PSM, MIM, BA, GAICD, FAICD

Colette McCool 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, cultural and social portfolios in state, territory and local governments, in diverse areas such as community services and health, waste management and transport. On behalf of the Board Chair, Colette was a Director of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation until 30 June 2020.

Mr Robert Buker

FCA, AMIIA

Robert Buker has more than 47 years’ expertise as a Chartered Accountant, with extensive experience delivering internal and external audit, accounting services, corporate governance, project management, as well as providing financial and management consulting. Rob’s extensive experience includes both the public and private sectors in local, national and
international markets.

Prof Helen Chenery

BSpThy, MspThy, PhD, GAICD, FQA

Helen Chenery has extensive strategic and operational experience in executive leadership roles within the higher education and health sectors and has led policy and practice reform in dementia care, health workforce and service design, and interprofessional education/practice. She has a 20-year history as a leading language and rehabilitation researcher, with a particular interest in the application of digital technologies in healthcare and was previously Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine at Bond University. She is currently an Emeritus Professor at The University of Queensland and an Honorary Professor at Bond University.

Dr Cherrell Hirst

AO, FTSE, MBBS, BEdSt, D.Univ (Hon)

Cherrell Hirst practised medicine for 30 years in community health and paediatrics, with a focus on the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer and support for women and families. Since 1990, Cherrell has a consultant and a Non-Executive Director in a wide range of private and public entities in the health, education, insurance and biotechnology sectors and in various not-for-profit organisations. She was Chancellor of QUT from 1994 – 2004 and was named Queenslander of the Year in 1995.

Mr Michael Kinnane

ESM, FAICD, FAIM

Michael Kinnane has had an accomplished career as Director-General of several Queensland government departments, including emergency services for more than 12 years and 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.

Last updated 03 Jul 2020