Our People
Board of Directors
The Board of Seymour Health is appointed by the Governor-in-Council, upon the recommendation of the Minister for Health.
The functions of the Board as determined by the Health Services Act 1988 are to:
Oversee and manage the organisation, and ensure the services provided comply with the requirements of the Act and the aims of the organisation
The Board is responsible for setting the strategic directions of the health service within the framework of Government policy. Board Directors monitor the performance of the organisation with a focus upon the provision of high-quality care, meeting the needs of the community and operating in accordance with financial and non-financial performance targets. The capacity of the Board is 10 directors.
The Board meets on the last Thursday of the month, in addition to attending other nominated sub-committee meetings, community meetings and training, development and business activities.
Helen Hull
Appointment 2020 | Term expiry 30 June 2026
Helen is a senior consultant that specialises in governance and information technology management. Helen is also a member of the Nomination and Remuneration and Credentialing & Scope of Clinical Practice subcommittees. Helen has extensive experience with state government in corporate roles including information technology, risk and audit, governance, and strategy. She utilises this expertise for the Seymour community through her Board participation. Helen is keen to ensure the hospital’s patients receive the highest possible service, and the staff are acknowledged for their dedicated service.
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Russell Harrison
Appointment 2019 | Term expiry 30 June 2027
Dr Russell Harrison is the Chief Outcome Officer of a large disability support organisation that operates across Victoria. Russell has a passion for improving systems and supporting staff to ensure that consumers are at the centre of everything we do. Before entering the community service sector, Russell was Head of Hospital Services at Lort Smith, Australia’s largest dog and cat hospital. Russell has held non-executive and committee positions in the aged care, disability and animal health sector. Russell has a passion for service.
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Sue van Buuren
Appointment 2019 | Term expiry 30 June 2027
Nomination & Remuneration Committee | Finance Risk & Audit Committee
ANZIIF (snr Assoc) CIP
Sue is an experienced risk management and compliance specialist, with a background in general insurance and health insurance. Sue has strong skills in influencing, communication and stakeholder engagement. Sue holds a Diploma in Integrated Risk Management and a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.
Julie Paul, OAM
Appointment 2020 | Term expiry 30 June 2026
Clinical Governance Committee Chair
RN, BaAppSc., MPHC, GradCertHlth, GradDipHlthSc.
Julie has a nursing background with extensive experience in clinical, education and management roles. She has worked in the public, private and not-for-profit health sectors. Julie is passionate about providing best practice health care which meets the needs of the local community and has a strong interest in communities partnering with services to achieve this.
Laura Jeffery
Appointment 2021 | Term expiry 30 June 2027
Finance, Risk & Audit Committee Chair | Community Reference Committee
CPA, BCom
Laura is a Certified Practicing Accountant who has used her 14+ years’ experience in the Mining Industry to build her company, Tundra Resource Analytics – providing asset management, financial modelling, project management and acquisition & divestment services to the Resources industry. Laura has held Non-Executive Director and committee positions for a number of organisations including the peak body of a federated organisation in the early childhood industry.
Ewan McDonald
Appointment 2021 | Term expiry 30 June 2026
Community Reference Committee Chair | Nomination & Remuneration Committee
BA (Crim.JusticeAdmin), M. Ed (Org. Leadership), M.Proj.Mgt (Property & Construction), Grad.Cert (Tertiary Teaching)
Ewan has a background in public safety and emergency management. His interests are centred upon the importance of building resilient communities and the relevance of social justice indicators in measuring performance of public sector agencies.
Andrew Jaworski
Appointment 2022 | Term expiry 30 June 2025
Finance, Risk & Audit Committee | Credentialing & Scope of Clinical Practice Committee
LLB(Hons) BScOptom GradDipLaw(Comm) GradCert TMLP AFCHSM CHM MAICD CIPT CIPM FGIA
Andrew is a solicitor with almost 20 years’ experience in corporate and commercial law and a focus on health and technology. Admitted in Australia and England and Wales, Andrew has worked in top tier private practice, consulting firms and in senior in-house roles in the UK, throughout APAC and ASEAN. He holds non-executive and committee positions on several Boards in the NFP/health sectors. Andrew has a strong interest in public health, with a clinical and research background prior to studying law.
Katherine Reeves
Appointment 2023 | Term expiry 30 June 2026
Finance Risk & Audit Committee | Clinical Governance Committee
BSc, CA, GAICD
Katherine is a chartered accountant with over 25 years of strategic and leadership experience across three countries (UK, New Zealand and Australia). Initially working for KPMG (one of the big four global accountancy practices) in transaction services for over 14 years focusing on due diligence and capital raising processes, she has subsequently focused on education and health. Katherine has significant experience in public sector governance, audit processes and risk management frameworks and has first-hand experience with rural and remote organisations. Katherine has a strong focus on maximising services to the community whilst ensuring long term financial viability of the entity.
Maree Feery
Appointment 2023 | Term expiry 30 June 2026
Nomination & Remuneration Committee | Credentialing & Scope of Clinical Practice Committee
BHlthSci, GradDipHlthAdmin, GradDipBusMgt, MBusL’ship, MAICD
Maree has over 25 year’s extensive senior executive experience in public, private and not for profit healthcare. She brings to the Board her broad expertise in culture, strategy, governance, leadership and workforce development, people experience, diversity and inclusion and health, safety and wellbeing across various strategic horizons. Maree’s passion lies with continually improving the consumer healthcare experience and the employee experience and overall performance and outcomes for the community.
Executive Team
Chief Executive Officer
Ward Steet
App Sc (Physiotherapy), Grad. Dip (Bus. Admin), MBA (Strategic Operations), GAICD
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible to the Board for the efficient and effective management of Seymour Health.
Director Business Services
Colin James
Financial Administration, CA Member Aus & NZ
CFA Member
The Director Business Services oversees and integrates business, financial and service activity reporting. The position provides business analysis that supports senior management in effectively leading, monitoring and evaluating organisational performance. In addition, the Director is required to provide financial and performance reporting to the Board and its sub-committees.
Director Clinical Services
Anne Daley, RN
The Director Clinical Services has professional responsibility for all clinical staff and operational responsibility for all clinical services across the organisation. The role involves community engagement.
Director Medical Services
Dr. Dean Pritchard
MBBS (Hons) FACEM CCPU CEDE
Chair – Senior Medical Staff Association
Clinical Advisor – Safer Care Victoria
Emergency Physician Northern Health
The Director Medical Services has professional responsibility for credentialing and managing Visiting Medical Officers and oversight of clinical governance.
Director Quality, Risk & Safety
Vickie Callaghan, RN
B. Nursing, B. App. Science, Cert. Critical Care
The Director Quality, Risk and Safety is responsible for quality activities, accreditation processes, safety and quality of patient care, organisational improvement, risk management, consumer feedback, legislative compliance and policy development and review.
Director People and Culture
Jason King
B.A. (Law & Legal Studies), CAHRI, FIML
Director People and Culture is responsible for overseeing the human resource services, including; staff recruitment, employment, orientation and induction, performance management, employment relations, industrial relations, equal opportunity, WorkCover and promoting a healthy workplace culture by supporting all staff and their wellbeing.
Leadership and Management
Nurse Unit Manager, Acute Services
Tricia Knight
Nurse Unit Manager, Urgent Care Centre
Cindy Newman
Nurse Unit Manager, Operating Suite Services
Georgina Lowerson
Nurse Unit Manager, Barrabill House
Jatinda Kaur
Nurse Unit Manager, District Nursing & Palliative Care
Paula Sutherland
Health Independence Program & Oral Health Service Manager
Julie Crook
Hotel & Food Services Manager
Annette Kennedy
Facilities Manager
Steven O’Brien
The Community Reference Commitee was first established in 2013 with meetings supported and attended by Seymour Health Board Directors.
The purpose of the Community Reference Committee (CRC) is:
- To provide advice and opinion to the Board of Seymour Health (SH) in relation to the needs of consumers, carers and the community; and
- To provide a reliable source of critical strategic information through coordinated engagement and feedback
The CRC has a role in supporting and informing the quality and safety priorities of SH and to assist with the planning and delivery of services. The committee will bring information to the Board and Executive from the community’s perspective, contributing to sound governance, and in relation to the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard 2: Partnering with Consumers.
The CRC will improve communication between SH and the community, thereby enhancing community access to healthcare and improving health outcomes through:
- Representing and advocating for the community
- Engaging with the community to understand their needs
- Advising the Board and SH on consumer, carer and community views on health service development, planning and quality
Community Reference Committee Members
Lance Marke – appointed 2022
Lance, a farmer, has relished being a CRC member since June 2022. He is a community-spirited chap who endeavours to support Seymour’s health service so that it grows to meet community expectations. Lance seeks to ensure practical decisions are made in the local community’s best interests.
Lance has been proud to live, work and raise a family in Seymour since 1987.
Jonathan (Jon) Jones – appointed 2023
Jon was born at the ‘Seymour Memorial Hospital’ in the late 50’s and is a proud fifth generation resident of Seymour.
Entering the workforce at age 17, Jon was employed with the State Public Service for over 33 years; over 16 years at V/Line, based in Seymour, before joining the Department of Human Services at Wangaratta for over 17 years.
Jon was fortunate to undertake a wide variety of roles throughout his career including, but not limited to, Senior Project Manager within policy and legislation areas for Children & Family Services and Disability Services, Property & Fire Risk Management and Emergency Recovery. Jon returned to Seymour more than 10 years ago.
Jon has always maintained very strong community engagement values and has undertaken a wide plethora of volunteer activities since first entering the work force. Jon’s interests include Human Rights, Cultural Heritage, the environment and fishing.
Ian Chadwick – appointed 2023
Ian came to Seymour in 1982 to teach at Seymour Technical High School Woodwork Department.
He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Seymour since 1991 and soon after that became a member of the, then, Seymour and District Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, now Seymour Health.
Being a member of the Board for 21 years he has seen many changes and worked with some outstanding CEO’s. Witnessing the first turning of soil by the then Aged Care State Minister Gareth Jennings, for the commencement of the building of Barrabill House Aged Care Facility would have to have been the most significant achievements for the Current Board at the time. Many great changes have occurred during Ian’s time on the Board. Chairing the Community Reference Committee (as a member of the Board) and as required by the Department of Health, ensured that the Community were well informed on the procedures of Seymour Health. Ian chaired this committee for a few years and until he was no longer on the Board.
After his retirement from the Board Ian continues to be a Member of the Community Reference Committee. At the last Annual Meeting, Ian had the honor of being made a Life Governor of Seymour Health. He regards this honor very highly and feels very privileged to be included with such a great list of fellow Governors
Liz McBean – appointed 2024
Liz has been actively volunteering in her earlier years when her children were involved in various groups and participating on those committees. Liz took a break from volunteering to ‘recharge her batteries’, however, since retirement she has been keen to support her local community again.
“I think that Seymour Health does an amazing job, and I would like to see that everyone in the public arena gets to know this.”
John Keeffe – appointed 2024
John has served in a range of management roles in his career. His experience includes law, electronic data processing, sales and marketing, and not for profit work.
John’s principal work was in motor sport, where he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport for 20 years. This involved a great deal of domestic and international work.
Following his retirement in 1998, with his wife Jill, he moved to Seymour to continue to work as a consultant in the areas of his experience. John commenced at Seymour Coaches, where he filled several management roles until his final retirement from the bus industry in 2019.
In the community, John is a member of the Rotary Club of Seymour (serving twice as President), is a Life Member and former President of Seymour Business and Tourism/Go Seymour and was Mitchell Shire Council representative on the former Goulburn River Valley Tourism Board.
John was a member of the Board of Seymour Health for nine years, three as Chairman.
Daniella Paidi – appointed 2025
Daniella is a proud Avenel local and the granddaughter of olive farmers; she brings deep community roots and a strong commitment to regional life. She owns a small business and works as a property, wills and estates lawyer across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Passionate about community advocacy, Daniella is focused on strengthening systems that support country living and fostering meaningful conversations that help regional communities grow and thrive.
Daniella’s connection to healthcare began early working as a medical receptionist for over a decade while studying at high school and university. Influenced by her mother’s work in private medical practice, hospital operations, and the pharmaceutical sector, Daniella developed a lasting belief in the importance of accessible, compassionate, and community-informed care. Daniella is currently undertaking further studies to deepen her understanding of medicine and healthcare, with the goal of contributing meaningfully to the future of community health.
Daniella has held leadership roles including Vice President of Avenel Active, Director of Renewable Avenel Energy, and committee member of GoNagambie. She enjoys helping out at the Avenel Farmers Market, hiking in the Strathbogie Ranges, rowing on Lake Nagambie and lifeguarding at the Avenel pool during summer.
Above all else, Daniella treasures the quiet richness of country life; gardening, baking, reading, walking her dogs, and sharing hearty meals with neighbours and loved ones.
“I love where we live and feel deeply invested in its future; not just as a professional or business owner, but as someone who intends to raise a family here. I believe strong, resilient communities are built on trust, empathy and kindness, by listening to one another and ensuring the services we rely on, especially our hospitals and healthcare systems, meet the needs of our patients and are inclusive and accessible to all. If I can play even a small part in that, I’m proud to do so.”
Jan McCarthy – appointed 2013
Nigel Divito – appointed 2015
Mary Boruch – appointed 2022
Organisational Structure
