Our Executive Team includes the Health Service Chief Executive and a group of eight Executive Directors who are each responsible for a key area of our service.
Susan Gannon | Chief Executive
Susan commenced as Mackay Hospital and Health Service’s Chief Executive in June 2023.
She was previously Chief Executive Hospitals at Tasmanian Health Services for three years and the Executive Director Operations for three years. Prior to this she was the State-wide Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery.
Susan has been on the Board of Directors for Women’s Health Care Australia since 2014 and has worked in policy, quality and education in both the public and private sector.
Her previous roles include several senior management positions, including medicine, emergency, cancer, surgical and women’s and children’s services.
Dr Charles Pain| Chief Medical Officer
Charles is a Fellow of the UK Faculty of Public Health, a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management, and a Fellow of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, and an Associate Professor at the Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health.
He has had a 39-year career in medicine in which he has worked in four public health systems (Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Qatar) as a clinician, public health physician, medical administrator, director of clinical governance, and health systems improvement program director.
Read More...His most recent role before moving to Queensland was as the Acting Chief Health Officer for the Northern Territory.
Ms Susan Frieberg | Acting Executive Director Operations Mackay
Susan has been an executive leader in health for fifteen years. Susan has demonstrated skills and expertise at managing whole of campus services functions and clinical service delivery. Susan has worked across various jurisdictions and across rural, regional, and tertiary sectors of the health system.
Susan holds qualifications in nursing, midwifery, Executive Master of Business Administration, leadership coaching, arbitration, and mediation. Susan has a passion for women’s health, maternity services, paediatrics, and child health service delivery. Susan has held associate adjunct professor positions and collaborated on various research and innovation ideas. Susan is an active member of Women’s Health Australasia. Susan has been involved in the roll out of electronic medical record systems in Queensland, New South Wales, and Canberra. Susan brings a courageous authentic leadership style working from a values platform.
Mrs Alison Broadbent | Acting Executive Director of Public Health and Rural Services
Alison has held various executive leadership roles for the past 13 years and her most recent role was Executive Director Nursing, Midwifery and Clinical Governance for Southern NSW Health, based in Queanbeyan.
She began her career in specialist nursing roles with cancer, renal and cardiac units and has always had a strong interest in rural and regional health.
Alison has extensive experience in leading public and private health organisations in acute care, mental health, community health, and aged care services across regional and metropolitan environments in New South Wales and Queensland.
Mr James William Jenkins | Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery
James has extensive experience as a nurse practitioner and has spent many years working in emergency, paediatrics and acute medicine.
He trained at St George’s University Hospital Medical School and Kings College in London and was instrumental in the establishment of an innovative community nursing service at Guys and St Thomas Hospital.
James moved to Australia in 2017 and has worked in nursing leadership roles throughout Central Queensland including at Rockhampton and Yeppoon.
He also spent a year working on practice innovation as the Director of Nursing in the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.
His most recent position was Acting Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services at Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service.
Dr David Farlow | Executive Director Research & Innovation and Associate Professor/Clinical Dean
David first arrived in the Mackay HHS in 1984 with a passion for rural and remote medicine. He was a rural generalist for 25 years with credentialing in procedural Obstetrics, Anaesthetics and Surgery and Executive Officer Whitsunday Health Service.
David then moved to the role of Executive Director Clinical Services for MHHS from 2007-2015. He reduced direct patient care over the last 6 years and now has no “hands on” clinical practice. After taking a 12 month sabbatical in New Zealand with his family in 2015, he moved into a joint role between MHHS [Research/Innovation/Medical Workforce] and James Cook University [Clinical Dean Mackay School].
His expertise and experience includes undertaking a range of investigations, Service reviews and consultancies for QH. His community achievements include an Australia Day Shire Award in 2008 for his outstanding contribution to the community and a Queensland Health Leadership in Health Services Award in 2007.
In addition to his executive, clinical and community work, David is foremost a family man who enjoys fishing and golfing.
Mr Martin Heads | Interim Executive Director Corporate Services
Martin is the interim CFO while Mackay recruits permanently to this role. Martin provides significant experience to this role. Martin has over 20 years of experience in the health sector having worked at all levels of the health system including within hospitals, health services and at departmental levels. Specifically, to this role, Martin is a former CFO for Metro North Hospital and Health Service and acted as CFO for Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service for the duration of 2021.
Martin has a collaborative approach with a strong focus on supporting our clinical services. He has an interest in activity based funding models and optimising health service funding, providing analysis to support informed decision making and working, with the team, to ensure we are safely maximising the available clinical care with the available resources.
Martin is a Chartered Accountant and holds degrees in Laws and Business. Martin volunteers his time as a member of the Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF)’s Finance Committee.
Mrs Kerry Maley | Executive Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Kerry is a dedicated and proud Kamilaroi and Mandandanji Aboriginal woman. Growing up on Barunggam country (Miles, Queensland), Kerry has a deep connection to her community and the land. Her passion for health and commitment to making a positive impact stem from the influence of her grandmother and mother, who collectively served Queensland Health for over 55 years.
Kerry is recognised as an Advanced Social Worker. With a career spanning more than 25 years in community service delivery, Kerry has acquired extensive expertise in various areas, including community health, therapy, child protection, women’s services, youth programs, and disability services. Kerry possesses a keen interest in organisational and strategic theoretical approaches, as well as stakeholder and community engagement. Kerry has an unwavering commitment to empowerment and successfully coordinating and implementing projects that foster inclusivity, support, and independence.
Kerry’s professional qualifications include:
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Graduate Certificate in Business (Public Sector Management) [underway]
- Diploma in Disability Work
- Diploma in Community Services
Ms Raelene Eves | Executive Director People and Culture
Raelene is an accomplished HR and people and culture leader bringing over 13 years of executive experience, primarily within the health, energy, and higher education sectors. She has been a key member of numerous senior leadership and executive teams, playing a pivotal role in driving strategic workforce initiatives, developing workforce strategies, implementing capability development programs, and leading organisational redesign efforts.
Her dedication to professional growth is exemplified by her Fellowship and Accreditation with the Australian Human Resources Institute. Raelene is also deeply committed to giving back to the community, actively participating in various volunteer committees and boards, where she provides invaluable industry advisory insights, strategic direction, and governance expertise. Raelene’s educational background includes a Master in Business Administration with Distinction, coupled with postgraduate qualifications in workplace relations and management. Her diverse skill set, combined with her hands-on experience and commitment to excellence, makes her a highly respected leader in the field of HR and people management.
Ms Janet Geisler | Executive Director Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Janet has held senior and executive roles within public sector management, with extensive experience in leading strategy development and execution in complex environments with a proven record of adding value through the public health and community sectors.
She has worked across both the public and private sectors and is committed to driving strategies to enhance organisational performance, engagement and governance. Janet has extensive experience in partnering across government, industry, community with a strong commitment to improve the delivery of health and social care services for regional, rural and remote communities.