Our Board of Directors

Healthdirect Australia’s Board of Directors works closely with our shareholders to set the strategic direction of our organisation, in line with government priorities.

The Board appoints the CEO of Healthdirect Australia and works closely with our leadership team in strategic decision-making.

Internal governance

The Board is supported by two internal governance committees which manage the risk, finance and compliance functions of the organisation.

The Clinical Governance Committee supports the Board in ensuring the integrity and robustness of the clinical governance and operations, clinical risk management processes, clinical compliance, and internal controls of the Company. It promotes a culture of quality improvement and advises the Board on clinical governance and clinical risk management and manages the Clinical Governance and Quality Framework to ensure quality control.

The Finance, Risk Management and Audit Committee supports the Board in ensuring the integrity and robustness of the Company’s financial reporting, risk management processes and internal controls. It oversees and monitors the effectiveness of our risk and compliance frameworks and coordinates the Company’s internal and external audit functions.

Image of Professor Christine Kilpatrick AO

Professor Christine Kilpatrick AO

Chair

MBBS, MBA, MD, FRACP, FRACMA, FAICD. FAHMS, DMedSci (Hon, FCHSM (Hon))

Christine had a 20-year career as a senior executive, including 15 years as a chief executive, most recently Chief Executive Royal Melbourne Hospital. Prior to these appointments she was a neurologist, specialising in epilepsy, working in both public and private practice.

Christine is also Chair of the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Chair of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Board Director of Victorian Managed Insurance Authority and Central Adelaide Local Health Network. Professor Kilpatrick is an Enterprise Professor Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne.

She was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 and in 2019 appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.

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Dr Emily Kirkpatrick

Director

BMed, MMed, MPH, MHA, MBA, GAICD, FCHSM, FISQua, FRSPH, FRACGP, FRACMA, DCH, GCHPE, CHIA

Emily is a highly regarded general practitioner and medical leader across the public, private and academic health systems.

Emily is a Non-executive Director of the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network , Australian Medical Association (SA), UNE Life, the Managing Director of the EKology Group and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Australian Institute for Machine Learning, where she applies her clinical governance expertise to advancing health technologies.

Emily’s past roles include Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer and Executive Director of Community and Primary Care Partnerships within SA Health. Emily was critical in leading South Australia’s COVID-19 response as the COVID Community Commander and establishing virtual hospital care.

Emily is a member of the Clinical Governance Committee at Healthdirect Australia.

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Dr Stephen Duckett AM

Director

MHA, PhD, DSc, FAICD, FASSA, FAHMS

Stephen has been a leader in health care operations and policy in Australia and Canada, including as a past Secretary of the Australian Department of Health.

An economist by profession, he is renowned for evidence-based innovation and reform in areas ranging from the introduction of activity-based funding for hospitals to new systems of accountability for the safety of hospital care. Stephen is a Life Member of the Australian College of Health Service Executives.

Stephen is a member of the Finance, Risk Management and Audit Committee at Healthdirect Australia.

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Mr Peter Lewinsky AM

Director

BEc, MBA, FCA, FAICD

Peter is an experienced Board and Committee Chair and member. He has an extensive private and public sector career spanning investment banking, corporate and government advisory and stockbroking, both in Australia and internationally. Over the past 30 years, he has been appointed across various Victorian Government departments in governance roles, often as a finance, audit and risk and integrity specialist and including in Administrator roles.

Peter is currently a Board member of Early Childhood Management Systems and Emmy Monash Aged Care, National Blood Authority, Chair of Holmesglen Foundation, a former Chair of Holmesglen Institute and a former Board member of Ambulance Victoria.

Peter also holds appointments as Chair of Audit and Risk Committees, of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, Directorate of Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development, the Environment Protection Authority, Essential Services and Labour Hire Authority.

Peter is Chair of the Finance, Risk Management and Audit Committee at Healthdirect Australia.

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Ms Liz MacLeod PSM

Director

BAppSc(Phys), MHA, FCHSM, GAICD, FIPAA

Liz is a physiotherapist by background with extensive experience in healthcare starting with and founded by the provision of care. She has been a senior leader in Health for approximately 15 years and most recently Chief Executive (CE) of the East Metropolitan Health Service in Western Australia from 2016-2023. During this time, Liz played a pivotal role in WA’s response to COVID-19 as CE for COVID-19 Health Operations, where she led the coordination and oversight of activities carried out by WA’s healthcare providers in response to the pandemic.

Liz was recognised for her excellence in public service leadership when she was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) in 2023, Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Patrons Award 2023, the Australian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) WA Branch Presidents Award 2023 and the Leader of the Year working within a division, team or organisation at the 2021 Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Achievement Awards.

Liz is a member of the Finance, Risk Management and Audit Committee and Clinical Governance Committee at Healthdirect Australia.

Image of Sabrina Walsh

Ms Sabrina Walsh

Director

GAICD, Exec MPA, M App Psych

Sabrina has extensive experience in the health service delivery and digital health. Originally a clinical psychologist, she moved into policy and then leadership roles. Past roles include Chief Information Officer roles in Queensland and NSW and health service Chief Executive roles in Queensland. More recently, she was Chair of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Board in Queensland.

Sabrina is passionate about using technology to improve health outcomes and combines practical experience with strategic insights and governance expertise.

Sabrina is a graduate of the AICD, and her qualifications include a Master of Applied Psychology and an Executive Master of Public Administration.

Sabrina is Chair of the Clinical Governance Committee at Healthdirect Australia.

Headshop of Jo Willoughby

Ms Jo Willoughby

Director

BBus, GAICD, LLM (EntGov)

Jo is an experienced Non‑Executive Director and Board Chair with more than 25 years’ experience in governance, strategy and organisational transformation across ASX‑listed, private and government‑linked organisations. Her career spans infrastructure services, logistics and industrials, professional services, technology and finance, where she has supported organisations to strengthen performance, navigate transition and steward long‑term value creation.

Jo currently serves as a Non‑Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at Northrop Consulting Engineers. She brings a strategic, commercially grounded and future‑focused perspective to her board roles, with a strong commitment to innovation, performance and sound governance in complex and evolving operating environments.

Jo is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Master of Laws in Enterprise Governance.

Jo is a member of the Finance, Risk Management and Audit Committee at Healthdirect Australia.

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