John Batten (MBBS Hon1, FRACS Orth, FA Orth A) is an orthopaedic surgeon based in Launceston, Tasmania. He is a visiting medical officer to the local public hospital and a senior lecturer for the University of Tasmania Medical School in Surgery, as well as a senior member of an orthopaedic unit of eight surgeons.
He has served in many administrative roles including President of the Australian Orthopaedic Association, and Chairman of the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. Prior to his election as the RACS President in 2017, he served the College in various roles, including Chair of the Court of Examiners and immediate past Censor in Chief.
Each year John leads an orthopaedics surgical team to Vanuatu, as part of the Pacific Islands Project, and has established a Ponseti program for the conservative management of Club Feet in Vanuatu.
John chairs a Speciality Orthopaedic Clinical Advisory Group for the Commonwealth Department of Health advising on the introduction of new device technology in Australia.
Maggie Beer is not just an Australian food icon, she’s an essential ingredient in any discussion about food and flavour.
In April 2014, Maggie Beer established her own foundation; Maggie Beer Foundation, to create an appetite for life, regardless of age or health restrictions.
The wellbeing and nutritional welfare of those in aged care homes has been an ongoing concern of Maggie’s for a long time and she is so happy to finally have found the time and people to support her passion.
In fellowship with her board of industry leaders, professors and health advisors, Maggie has made it her personal mission to link the latest research of nutrition’s impact on brain health and general wellbeing, with her innate knowledge of what good food can do for everyone’s state of mind; a truly nourishing mix, so much greater than the sum of its parts.
Maggie’s hope to ‘create an appetite for life’ leads her to work on many levels, with the hope of encouraging everyone (young, old and in between!) to enjoy quality, seasonal cooking every day.
Rob has more than 35 years’ experience in business, financial services and the health sector.
In 2017 Rob stepped down from his full time role as Managing Director of HBF Health Limited, a position he had held since 2008.
During Rob’s 12 years at HBF, the organisation consolidated its position as Western Australia’s leading health fund, reaffirming its focus on member health and embarking on an ambitious strategy to become a valued health partner to HBF members.
Rob has long held a leadership position within the health insurance sector and continues in his role as Chair of the industry association, Private Healthcare Australia (PHA).
Lucy brings to the commission extensive experience in psychology and has a strong commitment to helping others and building stronger communities.
Lucy’s primary areas of focus are issues facing Mental Health and Wellbeing particularly in the workplace and the community. She takes an evidence based approach to problem solving and social investment.
Lucy has more than 25 years’ commercial experience with companies including Macquarie Group and Ernst & Young and more than ten years in organisational psychology. Specifically, Lucy has worked in trusted advisory roles with some of Australia’s leading CEOs, Managing Partners, Ministers and Chairs in investment banking, finance, law and government.
Emeritus Professor Terry Campbell AM
BSc (Med) MB BS MD (UNSW), DPhil (Oxon), FRACP, FACC, FESC
Professor Campbell recently retired from the positions of Head of the Department of Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital, University of New South Wales, and Deputy Dean of Medicine at UNSW. He is Director of Research at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.
He is a Past President of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (2000-2), and served as the Chair of the Therapeutics Advisory Committee of the Royal Australian College of Physicians from 1996 to 2000. He has also served 10 years as a Director of the New South Wales Division of the National Heart Foundation, and was the Honorary Secretary/Treasurer of the XIV World Congress of Cardiology in Sydney in 2002.
Professor Campbell was a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee from 2001 to 2017 and was a member of ADEC from 1992-8. He has been Chair of the Prostheses List Advisory Committee since September 2016.
Professor Campbell is a clinical cardiologist and spent 10 years as Director of the Coronary Care Unit at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney (1990-99). His extensive research work has encompassed both basic laboratory research in cardiac pharmacology and clinical cardiological research, and he has published well over 100 peer-reviewed papers in these fields.
He was awarded the Order of Australia in 2003.
Sue Dunlevy is the national health reporter for News Corp papers including the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun. In her 29 year career in the Press Gallery she has covered the health policies of seven prime ministers and 11 health ministers.
As powerful vested interests compete for advantage she knows where the bodies of failed initiatives are buried and her job is to unravel policy complexity and determine how it will impact on the lives of ordinary people.
Adam Elshaug, PhD, MPH, is the HCF Research Foundation Professorial Fellow and Co-Director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) at The University of Sydney, Australia, where he returned in late 2013 after 3.5 years in the United States; one as a Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow based at AHRQ and two in the Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School.
Adam sits on 5 national health care advisory panels, including as a Ministerial appointee to the MBS Review Taskforce.
He has pioneered methods for measuring the prevalence of low-value health care in administrative data sets, and regularly advises international governments, third-party payers, and NGOs, on quality and efficiency enhanced health system delivery and payment reforms.
Since joining the team in 2002, Mark has been instrumental in guiding the national and international expansion of the health fund. He also led nib through its demutualisation and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2007.
From its humble beginnings in the Hunter more than 60 years ago, today nib is Australia’s fourth largest health insurer, as well as New Zealand’s second largest provider of medical insurance. As one of Australia’s fastest growing health insurers, nib employs almost 1,300 people across the globe. In financial year 2017, the health fund generated $2.0 billion in premium revenue and currently has a market capitalisation of more than $2.5 billion.
He has also previously served as CEO of both the national and NSW peak industry bodies for licensed clubs and held several CEO positions in local government.
Mark holds a Masters in Business Administration (UTS) and Masters in Arts (MGSM) and is also a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Michael Gannon MBBS (WA) MRCPI FRANZCOG AMA President.
He is Immediate Past President of AMA WA and Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at St John of God Subiaco Hospital in Perth.
Dr Gannon is an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist in public and private practice with an interest in medical problems in pregnancy and perinatal loss. He is the Lead Obstetrician in the Perinatal Loss Service at King Edward Memorial Hospital and the RANZCOG nominee to the state Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee.
He was born at St John of God Subiaco Hospital. He grew up in Perth and was educated at Guildford Grammar School. He lives in Perth with his wife and two children.
Dr Gannon graduated from the University of Western Australia, before training at Royal Perth Hospital, King Edward Memorial Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin and St Mary’s Hospital in London.
He is Chairman of the Federal AMA Ethics & Medico-Legal Committee. He has been a member of the AMA’s Public Health Committee and Medical Practice Committee. He is a Member of the Cases Committee of MDA National.
Dorian se
rves clients across a broad range of industries, including healthcare (hospital systems, private health insurers and health systems at State and Federal level), mining, oil and gas, telecoms, and utilities. His focus is on business technology, and his expertise in this area stretches from IT strategy and operating-model design to tech enablement and digital transformations.
His passion for data and analytics to make fact-based, impactful decisions is a common theme throughout his work.
Prior to moving to Australia in 2012, Dorian served McKinsey clients across Europe on health IT topics.
Jamie-
Lee Gardham is a young Australian who has had first-hand experience in the private hospital sector as both an insured and uninsured patient.
She has a personal understanding of the issues that arise when waiting for non-emergency surgery and the impact it can have on a young person’s life and family finances. Jamie-Lee has since joined a health fund and is an advocate for private health insurance for young people.
Jeff Harmer has been the Secretary of two large Commonwealth departments: the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Department of Education, Science and Training.
Prior to that, he was Managing Director of the Health Insurance Commission (now Medicare Australia). His career in the APS has included senior positions in the departments of: Finance; Housing and Regional Development; Community Services and Health; and Social Security.
In 2008-2009, Dr Harmer led a review of the adequacy of the Aged Pension and Disability Support Pension in Australia. He was also a member of the panel, chaired by Dr Ken Henry, to review Australia’s Future Tax System.
In 2009, Dr Harmer was the inaugural Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants Australian Government Leader of the Year and in 2010 was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for the significant achievements in his public service career, particularly his leadership of key policy initiatives such as programs for housing assistance, child support, mental health, disability, and initiatives for Indigenous Australians.
Dr Harmer has a PhD in Economic Geography and currently holds the following positions:
• Chair of the Private Health Ministerial Advisory Committee;
• Director of the Capital Health Network in the Australian Capital Territory;
• Director of the John James Foundation;
• Director of The Smith Family;
• Director of the Board of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute;
• Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (FAIM);
• Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (FIPAA);
• Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG);
• Member of the Advisory Council for Medicines Australia.
Sheena Jack
BA (Acc), CA, GAICD
Chief Executive Officer
Ms Jack was appointed Chief Executive Officer of HCF in August 2017. Prior to this appointment she served as Chief Financial Officer from 2006, during which time she led the acquisition of Manchester Unity, and Chief Strategy Officer from early 2014.
Ms Jack has been responsible for development of HCF’s 2020 Strategy, the strategic roadmap for the business, and the creation of HCF Catalyst, Australia’s first corporate backed health tech accelerator.
Ms Jack has more than 25 years’ experience as a finance professional and corporate executive across various industries including health and life insurance, banking, superannuation and wealth management.
She also has extensive experience across business transformation. As Chief Financial Officer of IAG Financial Services, had a key role in the creation of ClearView and was responsible for the business integration when they were purchased by MBF.
Ms Jack is also a Non-Executive Director of Uscom, an ASX listed medical device company.
Tim Kelsey is Chief Executive of the Australian Digital Health Agency which is responsible for all national digital health services and systems, with a focus on engagement, innovation and clinical quality and safety.
He was formerly National Director for Patients and Information in NHS England – a role which combined the functions of chief technology and information officer with responsibility for patient and public participation. He took up the post in 2012 after serving as the British government’s first Executive Director of Transparency and Open Data.
He was also National Information Director for health and care in England and Chair of the National Information Board which advises the Secretary of State on national priorities for data and technology.
Tim is a leading advocate of a popular knowledge revolution in health and care and, in 2000, was co-founder of Dr Foster, a company which pioneered publication of patient outcomes in healthcare.
He is also an internationally regarded expert in digital transformation of the customer experience in healthcare. In 2007, he launched NHS Choices, the national online health information service (www.nhs.uk) which now reports around 40 million users per month. In 2014 Tim was named one of the 500 most influential people in the UK by The Sunday Times.
Before Dr Foster, Tim was a national newspaper journalist and a television reporter. He worked for the Independent and the Sunday Times, as well as Channel 4 and the BBC.
He is co-author with Roger Taylor of Transparency and the Open Society which was published by Policy Press and the University of Chicago in 2016.
Tim is visiting professor in the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London.
Follow Tim on Twitter: @tkelsey1
Dan is a social and market researcher who has spent 20 years’ trying to better understand Australians.
Since 2013, Daniel has directed the Ipsos Healthcare & Insurance Australia report, a long running monitor investigating community perceptions of the Australian health system, from confidence in the public and private hospital systems to forecasting the impact of government policy initiatives (for more information on the study see:http://hcia.ipsossurveys.com.au/Home).
Daniel has delivered many other health related research projects for state and federal health departments, statutory authorities, private health insurers, and peak bodies covering topics such as patient experience, program evaluation, mental health, and health insurance product development.
Sophie Scott is on a mission to educate and empower people to focus on their health and happiness.
She is the ABC’s National Medical Reporter reporting and presenting news and current affairs in medical and health, ABC news, radio, 730, Lateline, and ABC online. Read, hear and watch her latest stories here.
She is an award-winning journalist, including winning a Eureka Award for medical reporting, and Kennedy Award for excellence in consumer reporting. Her stories on patient safety have led to changes in the regulation of cosmetic surgery in Australia and increased Government support and resources for patients with eating disorders.
She has been an MC, host and panel facilitator for organisations including the George Institute, Australian Catholic University, Rare Cancers Australia, the University of Sydney, the Heart Research Institute and the Lung Foundation.
She has presented at conferences including the Mayo Clinic Healthcare and Social Media Summit, the Mind and it’s Potential, Happiness and it’s Causes with the Dalai Lama and the University of Melbourne Medical Students Association.
She writes a popular blog for ABC on health and happiness http://www.sophiescott.com.au/blog
She is a board member of AMA NSW Charitable Foundation, an ambassador for Bowel Cancer Australia and the author of two books, Live a Longer Life and Roadtesting Happiness.
Daniel Sims was appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ramsay Health Care’s Australian operations on 1 January 2015. In Australia, prior to his appointment as CEO, Mr Sims was the Chief Operating Officer of Ramsay’s Australian and Asian operations since 1 July 2008. In this role, he was ultimately responsible for the operating performance and strategic directions of Ramsay’s hospital businesses in Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Mr Sims started with Ramsay Health Care in 2003 after emigrating from the United States. He commenced with the Company as Group Financial Controller-Hospital Operations before moving to operational management as the New South Wales (NSW) State Operations Manager on 1 July 2006.
Prior to coming to Australia in 2003, Mr Sims was a health care financial executive for a variety of companies between 1990 to 2003, including Ramsay Health Care, Inc., a publicly-traded company specialising in inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment across the United States.
Mr Sims has been a Board member of The Australian Private Hospital Association (APHA) since 2007. He is currently the Vice-President of the APHA and Chairman of the APHA Policy and Advocacy Task Force. Mr Sims is also a Board member of Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care.
Jacinta is a 26 year old public relations professional, with PPR Australia. Nearly three years ago she was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumour. Luckily, as a private patient, she was able to choose her doctor, have a private room and have the financial protection that private health insurance provides.
Spending time in hospital and a rehabilitation facility for eight weeks, and then four weeks as an out patient, plus ongoing medical support, Jacinta can account for the value of private health insurance. Having health issues as a young person ensured Jacinta learnt how important her health, and others, is to her.
Rami was appointed as Healthshare’s Chief Executive Officer in 2014, having previously spent three years leading the company’s Product Development & Strategy teams. In that role he had responsibility for building a product set that met the needs of Healthshare’s diverse stakeholders and also focused on customer acquisition and monetisation strategies, organic traffic initiatives and strategic partnerships.
Rami previously founded Boomerater.com, an online decision guide helping the 50+ demographic make better-informed life choices. Under Rami’s leadership, the website formed partnerships with major players across the financial planning, legal, senior housing and health verticals, providing a one-stop portal for Baby Boomers to research, compare and find service providers in these areas.
He is also a founding mentor in Startmate, an Australian startup accelerator which offers mentorship and seed financing to founders of Internet and Software businesses based in Australia. Rami has a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology from the University of New South Wales and also studied at New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.
Dr Andrew Wilson is Group Executive, Healthcare and Strategy at Medibank, Australia’s leading private health insurer with more than 3.8 million members.
In this role, Dr Wilson is responsible for group strategy as well as Medibank’s $5.5 billion of healthcare purchasing.
He also heads up Medibank’s Health Solutions business, which employs more than 770 health professionals and delivers each year more than two million healthcare interactions, in the community, via the telephone and online, as well as managing healthcare delivery for the Australian Defence Force.
With 25 years’ experience in the health system, Dr Wilson remains a practicing clinician and lecturer.
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