Our Chief Executive and leadership team implement our operational strategy, including responsibility for the day-to-day running of the service.
Executive team
Chief Executive
Mr Ron Calvert
BSc (Hons), MBA
Ron Calvert was appointed as Chief Executive of Gold Coast Hospitals and Health Service in 2012. Gold Coast Health serves a population of 660,000, as well as providing specialist tertiary services for the circa 240,000 residents of Northern New South Wales and the millions of visitors to the Gold Coast each year. Gold Coast Health runs Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH), Robina Hospital, Varsity Lakes Day Hospital, and numerous other health precincts and community health centres. Gold Coast Health is the largest employer on the Gold Coast, with a turnover of over $2 billion per year and employing well over 9,000 FTE staff. Since 2012, Gold Coast Health has gone from strength to strength in terms of scale and reputation. The “state of the art” GCUH hospital was opened in September 2013, and is now ranked 224 in Newsweek magazine’s “World’s Best Hospitals” list, with more than 2,300 hospitals ranked. Gold Coast Health is one of three hospitals in Australia holding Magnet recognition, the highest international honour for nursing and midwifery excellence, and is the only entire health service in Australia to be designated. Gold Coast Health is at the forefront of the digital revolution sweeping health across the globe, and prides itself on being a learning organisation. Ron is particularly proud of the culture established over the last decade: in a biannual staff survey with a 61% response rate, over 71% of the staff agreed with the statement “Gold Coast Health is a truly great place to work.”
Ron is now an Australian citizen, having emigrated from the UK after working for more than 20 years in the British National Health Service (NHS). In the UK he held Chief Executive posts at Doncaster & Bassetlaw NHS Foundation trust, and Trafford NHS Trust, after holding Board level roles at University Hospitals Leicester and University College London Hospitals (UCLH).
He is passionate in his support of Newcastle United (his home town football club) and is an avid golfer.
Executive Leadership Team
Ms Upinder Bhalla
A/Executive Director, Corporate Affairs
A/Executive Director, Corporate Affairs
LLB, BBus (Banking and Finance), Grad.Dip.Leg.Prac. LLM.
Upinder joined Gold Coast Health in July 2023 in the role of General Counsel, overseeing the Office of the General Counsel which includes Legal Services, the Ethical Standards Unit and Right to Information and Privacy. Since joining Gold Coast Health, Upinder has acted in the role of Executive Director of Corporate Affairs during periods of leave.
Upinder has extensive experience working in the public sector, including in the Department of Justice and the Attorney General and in local government. She is admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland since 2008 and the High Court of Australia since 2010. She has jurisdictional experience in Queensland and Commonwealth courts and has managed governance, compliance and workplace integrity functions.
Mr Ian Moody
Chief Finance Officer, Finance Services
Chief Finance Officer, Finance Services
BA (Hons), FCA, MAICD
Ian has been with Gold Coast Health since 2013, following an international career of 15 years in assurance and consulting in various commercial industries and government sectors. He is Chair of the Healthcare Financial Management Association QLD Chapter.
Mr Matthew Lunn
Executive Director, Nursing Midwifery and Patient Experience
Executive Director, Nursing Midwifery and Patient Experience
MBA, B.Nursing, Grad Cert Health Economics, MAICD
Matthew Lunn is a distinguished Registered Nurse and healthcare leader with over 29 years of experience across the UK, Ireland, and Australia, including more than 15 years at Gold Coast Health. He holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Nursing, and a Graduate Certificate in Health Economics, and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).
In 2022, Matthew joined the Executive Team at Gold Coast Health, bringing with him a wealth of leadership experience and a commitment to high-quality, patient and consumer-focused care. He also serves as the Disaster Management Lead at Gold Coast Health.
Matthew has extensive experience in tertiary health Nursing Executive roles, having worked across acute and community settings, including Emergency Services, Adults, Paediatrics, and Maternity Services. His diverse and contemporary leadership skills are evidenced by his work in both clinical and non-clinical health service executive positions across various health services.
Mr Grant Brown
Executive Director, People and Operations
Executive Director, People and Operations
BCrim, BCom, CAHRI
Joining Gold Coast Health in 2017, as Senior Director, Human Resource Services, Grant has more than 14 years’ experience in senior Human Resources and Industrial Relation roles within Queensland Health, Queensland Government agencies, Metro South Health and SEQ water.
He started his career in complex commercial fraud investigations and transitioned into the business sector where he held various management, leadership and sales roles in manufacturing, mining, processing, chemicals and bulk handling industries.
With over 20 years’ experience in senior leadership and management roles, Grant has led numerous enterprise bargaining negotiations on behalf of Queensland Health and has developed an extensive understanding of factors impacting operational and strategic direction of health services. This includes recognising the value of appropriate and collaborative organisational change to improve employee performance and productivity to build a culture of success.
Mr Domenic Girolamo
Executive Director, Digital Transformation and Research
Executive Director, Digital Transformation and Research
BEng(Hons), MBA
Domenic joined Gold Coast Health in 2025, bringing over two decades of technology leadership to the health service. A specialist in digital transformation, AI-driven innovation, and commercialising emerging technologies, he has led large-scale digital initiatives across healthcare, finance, banking, and aerospace in the UK and Australia. With a track record of scaling successful startups and forging high-impact tech partnerships, Domenic is passionate about harnessing cutting-edge technologies to accelerate clinical research, enhance patient outcomes, and drive digital excellence in healthcare. His leadership is pivotal in advancing Gold Coast Health’s strategic vision, ensuring it remains at the forefront of innovation and digital healthcare transformation.
Prof Martin Connor
Executive Director, Performance
Executive Director, Performance
Martin has more than 20 years’ experience in senior academic, executive, strategic management and entrepreneurial positions in Australia, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and the United States of America. Considered a thought leader in healthcare innovation, his work has been published in leading journals including the British Medical Journal and Social Science and Medicine.
In 2013, he was appointed Professor at Griffith University to lead the Centre for Health Innovation as a joint venture between the University and Gold Coast Health. He held this post until 2017 and is currently adjunct Professor at Griffith and adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Bond University.
His current research interests are integrated care policy and hospital access improvement.
Ms Sarah Dixon
Executive General Manager, Medicine
Executive General Manager, Medicine
B Bus (Comms), JP(Qual), GAICD, MCPRA
Sarah joined Gold Coast Health’s executive team in 2018. She has worked across a wide variety of sectors, including health, and has advised Boards and executive management teams on a range of complex issues and situations in the national spotlight. She is an experienced non-executive Director, having previously served as Chair of an independent school and as a Trustee of a public offer superannuation fund. She is currently the Deputy Chair of a charitable trust.
Ms Sandra Lenehan
Executive General Manager, Surgical and Critical Care
Executive General Manager, Surgical and Critical Care
Sandra joined Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service in 2017 after many years of clinical and management experience in a variety of roles within acute healthcare settings both in Queensland and in New South Wales. These varied clinical, strategic and operational experiences have enabled Sandra to develop a broad level of understanding and knowledge of the drivers of health service performance and the importance to strive for continued service improvement to enhance patient safety, access to services and greater patient experience. Sandra is known for her strategic vision, strong relationships and inspirational leadership to the division of Surgical and Critical Care by achieving the organisation's goal of delivering world-class care.
Ms Alison Ewens
Executive General Manager, Emergency and Specialty Services
Executive General Manager, Emergency and Specialty Services
MSc, BSW, PGCert Disaster Mgt, PGDip Health Mgt
Alison is an executive leader with more than 25 years’ experience across local government, health and social care industries in Australia, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Alison’s current portfolio includes Emergency Care Services, Allied Health and Rehabilitation. Women’s, Newborn and Childrens services, Outpatient’s and Mental Health. Alison holds two Board Director roles for the Gold Coast Primary Health Network and Multiple Sclerosis Queensland.
Emergency and Specialty Services
Ms Sara Burrett
Executive Director, Allied Health and Rehabilitation Services
Executive Director, Allied Health and Rehabilitation Services
Sara Burrett commenced at the GCHHS in 2019, relocating from NSW where she held senior operational and strategic roles in the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. Her passion for patient-centred care saw her sponsor several successful redesign projects within the Network and with external stakeholders. Sara championed change in the allied health services to increase quality and safety and establish clearer governance. Sara trained as a social worker and has post graduate qualifications in Human Services Management.
Mr Nicholas McIntyre
Executive Director, Emergency Care Services
Executive Director, Emergency Care Services
B.Psych.Sc., B.Nursing, M.Adv.Prac.Nursing(Hons)
Nicholas joined Gold Coast Health in 2010 and has extensive operational and management experience, specifically in Emergency Care Services through his prior roles as Business Practice Improvement Officer, Assistant Director of Nursing and Nursing Director. He brings a wealth of knowledge on budget management, business planning frameworks and governance of financial performance and operational excellence. Committed to innovation and continuous improvement, Nicholas specialises in strategies that leverage evidence-based practices and advanced technologies.
Mr Malcolm McCann
Executive Director, Mental Health and Specialist Services
Executive Director, Mental Health and Specialist Services
Malcolm McCann is the Executive Director for Gold Coast Health’s Mental Health and Specialist Services. Before moving to the Gold Coast, Malcolm worked in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) for more than 30 years. He graduated from Manchester University (Bachelor of Nursing Honours Degree) in 1988 and followed a career in health leadership. This included acute, community and mental health services management; the latter two as an NHS Trust Board Executive member for more than 15 years. Malcolm also has extensive experience of primary care and was a Primary Care Trust Chief Executive for five years, gaining expertise in commissioning, integration and partnership working. Malcolm is passionate about Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs services, and is proud to be co-chair of the Gold Coast Regional Plan Steering Committee. He is a compassionate leader, committed to value in the public service and a believer in ‘stronger together’.
Ms Hazel Brittain
Executive Director, Women, Newborn and Children's Services
Executive Director, Women, Newborn and Children's Services
Hazel has worked in many diverse roles, mainly related to her primary area of interest – service for women and children. She was also the Midwifery Advisor for the Chief Nurse and the Director for the Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies. Hazel has also been the Midwifery/Nursing Director for Women and Children’s Services at both Logan and Gold Coast Hospitals where she coordinated the setting up of continuity models of care for disadvantaged women.
Hazel coordinated the re-opening birthing services at Beaudesert Hospital. The birthing service has been up and running since March 2014. This reopening has been an enormous event for the Beaudesert community who have been campaigning for over a decade for the return of their birthing service.
She also works closely with the nursing and midwifery team at Griffith University and is an adjunct Professor there.
Hazel was awarded a Churchill scholarship in 2015 which enabled her to travel extensively and look at innovative ways of implementing the maternity care reform agenda.
In addition, she is a recipient of the Australian College of Midwives leadership award; the NAIDOC partnership award and a Golden Gala award for staff empowerment - from Gold Coast Health.
