Key Capabilities:

• Accredited and experienced corporate governance practitioner and consultant
• Strong experience as an executive with honed commercialisation skills
• Proven leadership abilities, with excellent people skills and managing government and community stakeholders
• Proven strategic planning development and implementation abilities
• Extensive experience in financial management and capital projects

Overview of Professional History:

• Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District – Chairman
• Relationships Australia NSW Ltd – Chairman
• Inclusive Boards Pty Ltd. – Managing Director
• Australasian Spinal Cord Injury Network – Executive Director
• Corporate Governance Specialist – Principal Advisor
• Parramatta Mission – General Manager
• Dtecht Pty Ltd – Managing Director
• CBHS Health Fund Ltd – Chief Executive Officer

Milestones:

• Raised $1.5 million for research projects in 2017.
• Grew Parramatta Mission from $8M to $20M turnover in 4 ½ years through building key government relationships.
• Awarded the 2005 CRC Association Excellence in Innovation Award for Dtecht and raised $3.7M funding from venture capitalists.
• Led the development of a new enterprise wide IT system for CBHS which enabled increased efficiency. Four other funds now use the system thus generating income for CBHS.

Value Proposition:

• Experienced CEO, Director and Chairman with impeccable personal integrity.
• A strong determination to succeed at every challenge faced. Everything is an opportunity.
• Builder of organisational capacity through collaborative relationships.
• Outstanding strategic planning and governance experience delivering sound outcomes.
• Thorough understanding of the challenges of not for profit organisations.

Directorships*

Director of NSW Health Fund Association (1997-2001)

• Chairman (2000-2001)

Director of HIRMAA (1997-2004)

Chairman Net Grammar School Pty Ltd (1998 – 2008)

Chairman of Ranshaw Pty Ltd. (1998 – present)

Director of the Australian Health Service Alliance Limited (2002 -2004)

• Audit Committee Member

Chairman of Australian HealthCover Pty Limited (1999 – 2004)
Managing Director of Dtecht Pty Limited. (2005 – 2006)

Director of the Australian Health Service Alliance Limited (2002 -2004)

• Audit Committee Member

Relationships Australia NSW Limited (2013 – present)

• Governance Committee and Audit and Finance Committee Member
• Board Chairman (2014 – present)

Australasian Spinal Cord Injury Network Ltd

• Executive Director (Jan 2019 to June 2019)

Non-executive director Swimply Australia Pty Ltd (2019 – present)
Managing Director Inclusive Boards Pty Ltd (2018 – present)
Director of St Andrews House Corporation. (2018 – present)
Chairman Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (July 2021 – present)

*All directorships with the exception of Ranshaw Pty Ltd, Net Grammar School Pty Ltd and Dtecht Pty Limited are Non-executive Independent directorships.

Executive Roles:

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE SPECIALIST (JUNE 2011 – PRESENT)

With the backing of 30 years’ experience as CEO of five very different organisations I have been consulting with range of organisations. I have facilitated courses for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and am accredited by NSW Education Standards Authority to teach governance to private school councils. I have taught Corporate Governance, Finance for Directors and Risk and Strategy to various commercial and not-for-profit directors around Australia and Fiji.

AUSTRALASIAN SPINAL CORD INJURY NETWORK (NOV 2014 – JAN 2019) – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The ‘Spinal Network’ was established in 2008 to bring together clinicians and scientists researching in the field of spinal cord injury to foster collaboration among them to assist people to recover from spinal cord injury. The Spinal Network has a wide reach across Australia and New Zealand and is highly valued by government at State and Federal level.

Responsibilities:

• Full management, strategic advancement and risk management.
• Foster collaborative relationships in the SCI research community.
• Secure ongoing funding.
• Facilitate the establishment of a national spinal cord injury registry.
• Facilitate national and international clinical trials.

Achievements:

• Brought together all spinal units across Australia and New Zealand to enable collaborations and cohesion.
• Developed strategic, operating and financial plans for 2015 – 2018.
• Negotiated the establishment of the Kevin Hortle research scholarship fund.
• Secured a $1.2 million bequest for research into recovery from spinal cord injury.
• Secured NSW government funding through the Office of Health and Medical Research.
• Negotiated $10,000,000 funding for the spinal cord injury registry.
• Organised Research Showcases highlighting the Spinal Network activities.
• Participated on the Council of the Health Science Alliance at UNSW.

PARRAMATTA MISSION (DECEMBER 2006 TO JUNE 2011) – GENERAL MANAGER (CEO)

Parramatta Mission was established over 40 years ago by the Methodist Church in Parramatta and now incorporates the Parramatta Benevolent Society established by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1810. It was a complex organization delivering over 100 government funded programs and 20 self-funded programs. Its activities were divided into three classes. They were Support and Accommodation, Mental Health and commercial.

The Commercial activities of Parramatta Mission include the ownership and management of a 59-room motel and Wesley Apartments at Westmead – a haven for families who have very sick children at The Children’s’ Hospital. As a community housing provider, they provided 140 properties to house the disadvantaged through UnitingCare Community Housing.

Responsibilities:

• Full management, strategic advancement and risk management of Parramatta Mission.
• Development of strategic objectives and funding plans.
• Liaise with local, state and federal government funding agencies.

Achievements:

• Reorganized the financial structure and balance sheet of PM to make it the only Uniting Church Parish Mission in NSW generating a surplus from a sound financial foundation.
• Developed Australia’s first charity-based capital adequacy scheme with Deloitte Actuaries to enhance the financial information for management decision making.
• Merged the Parramatta Benevolent Society into Parramatta Mission in 2008.
• Created UnitingCare Community Housing to manage a portfolio of 140 community housing properties.
• Grew turnover from $8M to $20M and staff from 120 to 250. This was achieved by winning new government programs and driving greater productivity and efficiency.
• Supervised the GM Wesley Lodge in the refurbishment and upgrading of the 59-room motel. Drove the surplus from operation from $250,000 to $580,000 over 4-year period.
• Conceived, purchased and renovated 6x2br apartments to accommodate families of sick children at Westmead opposite the Children’s’ Hospital. Delivered on time and on budget.
• Sold underperforming real estate and purchased high grade replacement stock. Consolidated motel site for future development. Negotiated redevelopment of central Parramatta site with Grocon Ltd.
• Negotiated the $7.3 million redevelopment of Hope Hostel by the NSW Government. It now houses 36 homeless men in a state-of-the-art facility designed specifically for the purpose, including the only 6 bed intoxicated persons unit in greater western Sydney.
• Oversaw the growth of mental health services throughout the Blue Mountains, North Western Sydney and Central Coast including two HeadSpace centers at Mt Druitt and Parramatta.
• Reorganized Lifeline Western Sydney from sustaining a $250,000 loss per annum to generating a small surplus by developing their educational services unit to provide fee for service courses.
• Grew fundraising from a net $45,000pa to $750,000pa.

 

Dtecht Pty Limited (December 2004 to October 2006) – Managing Director

Dtecht Pty Ltd (an IBM business partner) is a world leading edge fraud risk management company which has developed high speed processing technology combined with expert domain knowledge of health transactions and fraud pathology to identify potentially fraudulent health claims prior to payment for public and private payers of health transactions. Dtecht identified significant fraud within the private health insurance payments system.

Responsibilities:

• Full management, strategic advancement and risk management.
• Compete the product development.
• Sign up customers in Australia and globally.
• Secure ongoing Venture Capital investment.

Achievements:

• Achieved the 2005 CRC Association Excellence in Innovation Award.
• Completed the product (Ancillary) on time and budget.
• Signed up the initial customers.
• Completed two rounds of Venture Capital funding ($3.7M).
• Awarded a government grant – Commercial Ready Grant of $2.7M Awarded May 06.
• Established Office and teams.
• Achieved all VC funding objectives.

 

CBHS Friendly Society Limited – (Nov 1996 to Sept 2004) – Chief Executive Officer

CBHS is a member based private health insurance fund initially established for staff of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) in 1951. At the time I left, it was the third largest restricted membership fund in Australia with an annual income in 2004 of $120 mill. That year it paid over 350,000 claims totaling $110,000,000.

Responsibilities:

• Full delegation of authority to manage CBHS.
• Ensure that all claims are paid correctly.
• Grow membership by 5% per annum.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements at all times.
• Represent the interests of members to government.

Achievements:

• Restored sound financial management – CBHS was about to breach minimum solvency levels for the second time in 12 months when I took control in Nov 1996.
• Managed administration costs below 6% of contribution income against an industry average of 11%. My mantra is ‘It is other people’s money.’ Only spend what is necessary to add value.
• I was appointed Director of the Australian Health Services Alliance Ltd, a service company supporting 28 private health insurance funds.
• Developed a revolutionary new health fund computer system on time and on budget. Four other funds have now been licensed to use the system, thus generating income and reducing CBHS’ IT costs.
• Re-engineered claim processing procedures to reduce a two month backlog to pay claim on day of receipt.
• Managed investment of $48 Million to maximize income within regulatory structure.
• Grew membership from 32,000 to 50,000
• Purchased, renovated and occupied new corporate premises on time and below budget.
• Participated in several government inquiries to determine the best outcome for private health insurance contributors. These have included:
  • The Reinsurance Review (twice).
  • The new solvency and capital adequacy arrangements.
  • Several ACCC consultations.
  • PHIAC/IAA seminar speaker. (PHIAC is the Private Health Insurance Government Regulator).

EMPLOYMENT PRIOR TO NOV 1996:

• St Andrew’s Cathedral School
• August 1992 – November 1996
• Director of Development & CEO of St Andrew’s Cathedral School Foundation Ltd.
• AMP Representative
• January 1989 – August 1992
• Selling financial products
• Anglican Board of Education
• March 1988 – December 1988
• Advising the Board on its restructure, developed strategic plan
• St Thomas’ Anglican Church
• January 1986 – February 1988
• Pastoral Assistant
• Aushome Conveyancing Services
• January 1984 – December 1985
• Student
• January 1978 – December 1983
• Moore Theological College and University of New England. A.M.L. & F
• January 1976 – December 1977
• Personal Assistant to the State Manager
• Gingie Pastoral Company
• March 1974 – December 1975
• Jackeroo

ASSOCIATIONS

• Member of the International Spinal Cord Society
• Associate Member of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance
• Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (2002 – present)
• Member of the Health Insurance Restricted Membership Association of Australia (HIRMAA) (1996-2004)
• Member of the NSW Health Funds Association (1997 – 2003)
• Member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia (1992-1996)
• Member of Association of Development and Alumni Professionals in Education – ADAPE (NSW) Ltd (1992-1996)
• Treasurer of ADAPE (NSW) Ltd. (1994 –1996)
• Justice of the Peace (1985- 2019)

 

EDUCATION

• University of New England – Master of Commerce (E-Commerce) – 2005
• Australian Institute of Company Directors – Company Directors Diploma – 2002
• University of Technology Sydney – Bachelor of Business (marketing major) – 1997
• Australian College of Theology – Diploma in Theology – 1990