Two new directors appointed to Healthdirect Australia

Healthdirect Australia welcomes two new directors, Dr Emily Kirkpatrick and Ms Elizabeth MacLeod, to its Board from 1 May 2025.

The new Board directors were appointed for a two-and-a-half-year-year term following a merit-based recruitment process endorsed by Healthdirect’s shareholders; the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments.

The directors bring extensive experience in public health policy, digital health, health system transformation and leveraging technology to improve health outcomes.

They replace outgoing Board members, Ms Jane Muirsmith who served a nine-year tenure including four consecutive years as Chair, and Mr Richard Taggart who served two years before stepping off the Board when he commenced as CEO of eHealth NSW.

Dr. Emily Kirkpatrick is a respected health care leader and board director based in Adelaide, South Australia. She has extensive experience as an executive and non-executive director, with a commitment to addressing the complexities of modern health systems by championing value-based care and leveraging virtual models of care.

Ms Elizabeth MacLeod is an experienced and strategic leader with 15 years at an Executive level within WA Health Department, with high level expertise in transformational change and engagement, service delivery, clinical risk and governance, operational reform, organisational governance, management, financial stewardship and strategic planning.

Chair of the Healthdirect Australia Board, Professor Christine Kilpatrick AO, says, “I welcome the incoming Board members to Healthdirect. Healthdirect is becoming increasingly embedded in the Australian health system and playing a critical role in connecting millions of Australians every year to the right care. I look forward to continuing our work with a strong Board of Directors with considerable experience and understanding of the health system and the needs of consumers.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to acknowledge the significant contributions of the two outgoing Board members. Ms Muirsmith guided the company though the fast-paced upscaling during the COVID-19 pandemic, built trust with consumers and governments, and ensured we were ready for the future. Mr Taggart provided deep and valued digital health expertise and practical experience implementing novel technology in health at scale,” says Prof Kilpatrick.

With 85 million interactions with Australians in FY24, Healthdirect plays a major role in helping consumers care for themselves and their families, find a service that meets their needs, and receive telehealth services from Healthdirect when other options aren’t accessible or available. Services include the digital Symptom Checker and Service Finder, 24/7 nurse helpline, the virtual GP pathway, and the My Aged Care contact centre.

Full details of the Healthdirect Australia Board are available here.