The Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel was established in 2022 to strengthen community engagement and foster genuine co-design principles in the development of healthcare in regional NSW.
The Advisory Panel plays an important role in advising the Minister for Regional Health, the Minister for Health and the Secretary for NSW Health on opportunities and solutions to improve healthcare, hospital and support services in regional NSW.
The inaugural panel has been appointed for up to three years.
Dr Richard Colbran PhD is Chief Executive Officer of NSW Rural Doctors Network. He is an experienced executive officer of non-profit and charity organisations that specialise in health and social services. His professional interest is building contemporary business practices of non-profits so that the sector can enhance its impact and benefit for communities. Dr Colbran's doctorate explored organisational performance of health charities. He is an advocate for social leadership and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Social Leadership Australia.
Miss Meg Austin has completed a Bachelor of Midwifery (University of Canberra). Until recently she worked as a registered midwife with the Broken Hill Midwifery Group Practice team and has a particular interest in Antenatal Care and Midwife-Led Continuity of Care. She currently works with Young Health Service in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
Mrs Anna Barwick is a practising pharmacist, diabetes educator, asthma educator, researcher, and pharmacist immuniser. She holds a Master of Clinical Pharmacy and is currently working on her PhD in telehealth at the University of Queensland. Mrs Barwick has been recognised as the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia 2021 NSW Pharmacist of the Year, the 2022 Regional Woman and NSW Premier's Woman of the Year. Her research interests focus on rural health and women’s health. Anna has extensive board and committee experience, including as a past member of the NSW Poisons Advisory Committee.
Ms Karen Booth is a Registered Nurse and has worked as a primary healthcare nurse and manager in general practice for 25 years. Ms Booth is the current President of Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. She has held multiple ministerial appointments to federal government health policy groups including: the Primary Health Care Advisory Group, Health Care Homes, the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review for Primary Care, Allied Health and Nurse Practitioners, the Nurse Practitioner 10 Year Plan Steering Committee, the National Nursing Workforce Plan and National Rural and Remote Nurse Generalist Framework.
Mrs Jo Caldwell has a Bachelor of Nursing Science, and is currently undertaking her Masters in Business Management. Mrs Caldwell has 21 years nursing experience and has dedicated the past 15 years to rural and regional health. She is rural born and bred and has a strong community commitment and passion for her team and for rural health.
Ms Leone Crayden is the current Chief Executive Officer of The Buttery service in Northern NSW, which serves the north coast from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads. She has a clinical background in mental health and other forms of nursing, psychology, social science, governance, and business administration. Ms Crayden has worked in the community managed sector for many years and has been the Co-Chair for the Agency for Clinical Innovation Mental Health Network, the Chair of the Mental Health Coordination Council and a board member of the Northern NSW Local Health District. She is currently on the board of the NSW Network Alcohol and other Drug Agencies.
Councillor Rick Firman OAM has a passion for rural and regional health. Working in local government for 18 years - the last 10 as Mayor of Temora Shire Council - he has immersed himself in enhancing the health service offerings from both a Council and Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC). perspective. Councillor Firman was Chairman of Temora LHAC from 2006-2012 and took up the role again in 2019. He is Board Chairman of both Riverina Eastern Regional Organisations of Council and the Riverina Joint Organisation.
Mrs Louise Fox has worked in regional and rural health for 18 years and has a background in Allied Health. She holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy), a Graduate Diploma of Education, a Diploma of Management, and an Executive Masters of Public Administration.
Ms Laura Hand-Ross holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) and has 14 years experience working in the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol (MHDA) landscape. She has worked across several levels of management and clinical leadership during that time, including district roles.
Dr Warren Kealy-Bateman is a specialist psychiatrist, and current Clinical Director Mental Health Drug and Alcohol, Dubbo and Regions, Western NSW Local Health District. He is involved with specialist and medical student training and has many years’ experience working with others in educational leadership across Australia and New Zealand. Dr Kealy-Bateman has an executive level business degree and has a heartfelt commitment to rural Australian health.
Councillor Kenneth Keith OAM was first elected as a Councillor on the Parkes Shire Council in 1983 and has served continuously since. He was Deputy Mayor for 17 years and has been Mayor for 15 years. Councillor Keith has also served two terms as Chair of the Central NSW Regional Organisation of Councils. He is a division representative on the Shires Association of NSW and is the current Chair of the Country Mayors Association of NSW. He is a delegate on the Lachlan Health Council, the Newell Highway Taskforce (Chair), Regional Integrated Transport Group (Chair), and Country Universities Centre Board member. Councillor Keith is also former Chair of the Melbourne Brisbane Inland Rail Alliance. He has had a long association with NSW Life Education and has been an NSW board member since 2011.
Professor Jennifer May AM is a practicing rural clinician graduating in 1984 with a Bachelor of Medicine (Hons) Newcastle. Professor May has worked in rural general practice in remote, rural and regional locations including rural British Columbia (2003 and 2016). She has both a Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Professor May works as a General Practitioner, Visiting Medical Officer at Tamworth and Tamara Hospitals. In 2016 she was awarded a PhD (Monash) for work on regional medical workforce. She is the current Director of the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health.
Mrs Georgina Rosee has worked within the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) for 28 years as an Occupational Therapist, and for the last 10 years as a Health Manager. Mrs Rosee has acted as Director of Allied Health and is currently Manager Community Allied Health. She has held positions on the CCLHD COVID Executive Committee, the CCLHD Clinical Council and other executive committees and task forces.
Associate Professor Dr Ayman Shenouda is the immediate past president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and has held other leadership positions within the College for the last 15 years. He has represented, communicated and advocated on behalf of the profession to State and Federal Governments. Dr Shenouda established his practice in Wagga Wagga and has worked in rural NSW for the past 23 years.
Dr Anna Windsor is a senior medical advisor, senior program manager, medical educator, General Practitioner, Visiting Medical Officer and Surgical Assistant. She is the medical lead in a pilot project Avenues to Rural, which is a collaboration between the University of NSW Regional Training Hub and GP Synergy. Dr Windsor’s qualifications include a BSC, MBBS (Hons), a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and a Diploma of Essential Skills in Medical Education. Dr Windsor is currently working toward a MBA majoring in organisational behaviour, governance and change strategies. She is also currently undertaking the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.
The Advisory Panel will meet quarterly, or more frequently as required, and a communique will be published following each meeting.
There are currently no Advisory Panel positions available. You can, however, submit an expression of interest form for consideration when positions become available in the future.
To apply, please complete our Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel - Expression of Interest form, indicating your skills and experience.
For more information on how to apply for an Advisory Panel position please phone 1800 328 998.
To find out more about the Advisory Panel, please email: MOH-OCG-RegionalHD@health.nsw.gov.au
