Executive team
The Board appoints and delegates the administrative function for Metro North Health to the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive and leadership team are responsible for the operational implementation of the strategic direction and day-to-day management of Metro North Health.
Acting Chief Executive: Nick Steele
Nick Steele is an experienced senior executive with more than 20 years working in public health systems in the United Kingdom and Australia. Nick has extensive experience in engaging and partnering with health service executives, clinicians and external service providers to develop innovative approaches to service delivery that drive service and system sustainability while delivering better care for patients.
During his career in Australia, Nick worked as the Deputy Director-General Healthcare Purchasing and System Performance Division for six years, which was responsible for purchasing hospital and health services and community-based health and social services, to support delivery of improved health outcomes for Queenslanders.
Most recently, as the Deputy Director-General for the newly formed division, Clinical Support Queensland, Nick was responsible for leading the division in delivering of key clinical support functions that enable the delivery of timely and high-quality health services across the state.
Nick is a visible and person-centred leader with a strong focus on transparency and clinical collaboration to achieve improved patient outcomes.
Nick has an Economics degree from the University of Leeds, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has dual membership with CPA Australia and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in the United Kingdom.
Office of the Chief Executive
Prior to joining Metro North, Stephen was the Chief Operating Officer at Townsville Hospital and Health Service since late 2018. He brings comprehensive experience in the operational leadership of health care organisations, and has also held a number of senior management roles across public, private and non-government organisation sectors, while based in Europe and South East Asia.Hari Iyer is Metro North’s Acting Chief Finance and Corporate Officer.
With more than 17 years of health sector experience working in senior leadership roles across Victoria and Queensland, Hari possesses a powerful suite of problem-solving and strategic planning skills, coupled with effective governance and leadership capabilities. Before joining Metro North Health, Hari was Executive Director Financial and Performance Management for Queensland Public Health and Scientific Services (QPHaSS), where he led financial governance, performance reporting and risk management across QPHaSS, as well as infrastructure and facilities management at Coopers Plains campus.
Prior to joining Queensland Health, Hari held senior leadership roles within the Victorian public health and not for profit sector, including The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Northern Health Services.
Hari is a Fellow of CPA Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Jason Brown is a Burns and General Surgeon, the A/Director of the Stuart Pegg Adult Burns Centre and the Chief Digital Health Officer at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH).
He has been delivering health outcomes across Queensland for over 25 years, 14 of those at the RBWH. He is passionate about delivering innovative, person-centred healthcare and optimal patient outcomes. Jason is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and a member of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.
He is also currently the clinical lead for the Burns Program at Herston Biofabrication Institute (HBI), where he leads a diverse team that implements innovative, safe and optimal recovery solutions for injured burns patients.
Grant Carey-Ide is an experienced health leader, having worked across three Australian jurisdictions. He is a Registered Nurse by profession and holds an Executive Masters degree in Public Administration. He has worked across acute, community and mental health settings, and is passionately committed to patient safety and the quality-of-care health services provide, as well as the achievement of health equity for First Nation peoples.
Grant’s commitment to the Metro North community is shaped by a long career delivering and leading the delivery of health care, and in developing platforms of change to empower consumers in their health care journey, and to embedding patient-centred health care as a guiding principle.
Dr Liz Rushbrook is a Specialist Medical Administrator who graduated Medicine from The University of Queensland in 1994. She has extensive medical and military experience and is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.
Liz initially worked as a young doctor in Queensland before serving in the Royal Australian Navy. She rose steadily through the Navy ranks as a Medical Officer to Commodore, serving ashore and afloat before returning to Queensland in 2016. She is passionate about Emergency and Disaster Management, Business Continuity, Medical Workforce Wellbeing, and Management and Clinical Governance.
Liz separately serves as a Member and Director of the Australian Medical Council (Member with experience as a Senior Executive of an Australian Public Hospital) and as a Director (and Chair) of Disaster Relief Australia.
Liz is married to Andrew. They have three (mostly independent) sons who they enjoy supporting making their way in the world.
Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary has a nursing and midwifery career spanning more than 30 years and has worked in various specialties at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital including surgery, intensive care, orthopaedics, general medicine and infection control. Alanna holds a Masters of Health Science, and is Adjunct Professor at University of Queensland and Adjunct Associate Professor at Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University.
As Acting Chief People and Culture Officer, Lorna Morton brings extensive experience leading people and culture functions across large complex public health services. She has a deep understanding of the Hospital and Health Service operating environment and the role of effective workforce strategy, governance, and culture in enabling safe, high-quality care.
Lorna has held a range of senior and executive leadership roles within Queensland Health, providing trusted advice on complex workforce, organisational and industrial matters. She is known for her collaborative, values-led approach and her ability to work effectively with clinical, corporate and executive leaders within complex system settings.
Lorna holds a Master of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations and is committed to evidence-informed practice, continuous improvement, and workforce innovation. Lorna is also a Co-Founder and Director of Hampo’s Youth Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation supporting disadvantaged young people, reflecting her strong commitment to equity, community and inclusive leadership.
As Acting Chief People and Culture Officer, Brett delivers strategic human resources leadership for more than 25,000 people working at geographically dispersed locations across Metro North Health.
He has a strong background in leadership, having held several corporate roles in the private sector, tertiary education and public sector in Queensland and Tasmania.
Brett delivers transformational and cultural change by building high-performing teams. He navigates complex operational and business challenges to deliver customer-centric business outcomes.
He is an experienced employment and industrial relations specialist who has a strong understanding of contemporary workforce planning, building capability, talent acquisition and workplace health and safety.
Brett joined Metro North Health as General Manager Workplace Relations in 2019.
Outside the office, Brett enjoys watching and coaching rugby union. He is passionate about spending time with his family and enjoys building small pieces of furniture.
Perry Judd is Metro North’s Acting Chief Allied Health Practitioner. His substantive role as Director of Allied Health Services at The Prince Charles Hospital encompasses nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, social work, speech pathology and many other health professionals. He has a keen interest and passion for research translation and innovation, and been the recipient of numerous research support and quality improvement awards.
Perry has held several senior allied health roles with Metro North and Queensland Health, including leading more than 170 professional and operational staff as Deputy Director of Physiotherapy at RBWH. He was also leader of the Metro North Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) and Community Based Rehabilitation Team. He co-developed a Spinal Physiotherapy Screening Clinic and Multidisciplinary Service (SPSC & MDS) and a State-wide Burns Telerehabilitation Strategy, which continue to be used in clinical practice today.
However, one of his biggest challenges came in 2013, undergoing aggressive treatment and a bone marrow transplant to successfully overcome Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. He now advocates on behalf of other people who have undergone similar health challenges as Chair of Transplant Australia’s Queensland chapter.
As a keen cyclist, just a year earlier in 2012, Perry was principal team physiotherapist and soigneur (team caretaker) for the Serbian national and Olympic cycling team for the London Summer Olympic Games. In 2023, Perry won Gold in the cycling time trial and road race events at the World Transplant Games. He is also the reigning Australian National Cycling Champion for both events in the para–transplant category.
When not at work or riding his bike, Perry is a father to two children and enjoys travelling, speaking three different languages and keeping fit.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Executive Director: Adjunct Professor Sherry Holzapfel
Sherry Holzapfel is a proud Yidinji woman from the Atherton Tablelands and has cultural blood line connections with the Kuku-Thaypan tribe from Laura, Gungarri tribe from Mitchell and the Butchulla tribe from K’gari (Fraser Island).
Sherry has over 25 years of extensive health experience, working in a variety of roles including health worker, registered nurse and midwife, management and senior leadership roles within Queensland Health and the Aboriginal community controlled primary health care sector.
Sherry’s priority is community and clients, she demonstrates on a daily basis that their voices, lived experience and stories are heard. Sherry listens and learns with her community and follows through by ensuring better health outcomes, improved access, and the delivery of culturally appropriate services.
Sherry led the implementation of the Metro North Health Equity Strategy which made history of being the first strategy launched across the state. She worked in true co-design and consultation with the community and stakeholders and remains committed to achieving life expectancy parity for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples by 2031.
Sherry holds a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Midwifery from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and a Master of Applied Management at University of Newcastle. She was awarded the 2021 USQ Alumni of year for Health and Wellbeing.
Metro North Executive Director Clinical Services Dr Jason Jenkins is a vascular surgeon and Executive Director of the Surgery Stream (since 2014). He is also RBWH Director of Vascular Surgery and Director of Procedural Services for STARS.
Dr Jenkins is a distinguished surgeon renowned for unwavering commitment and vast expertise in providing support to hundreds of vascular clinicians through comprehensive training and mentorship. Additionally, he acts as an indispensable point of contact within Metro North, offering invaluable surgical support for executives, his surgical colleagues and for emergency and complex vascular cases. Throughout this career, he has contributed to numerous published vascular research studies and papers, further solidifying his reputation as a leading authority in the field.
Jason is focussed on providing quality care to patients with highly complex vascular issues, and champions preventative care and opportunistic screening where possible to ensure better health outcomes. He has been extensively involved in pursing health equity for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Queensland and is the Executive Sponsor for the Deadly Feet Vascular Outreach Program.
Vivienne has extensive experience in the Queensland public sector, leading small teams across a range of departments. Her versatility and proven ability in problem solving, planning and capacity for network building are coupled with an extensive knowledge of the Queensland and Australian health systems. Vivienne is committed to increasing operational performance and high-quality outcomes through strategic reform, business improvement, and effective collaboration and engagement with stakeholders. Throughout her career, she has honed her understanding of the Queensland Government objectives and the challenges and opportunities for the delivery of sustainable and appropriate public healthcare services, complementing her well-developed understanding of Metro North’s priorities, challenges and opportunities.
Vivienne’s focus on people first enhances her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to integrity, openness and accountability. She brings motivation and energy to her role, working closely with team members to build skills and capacity. Vivienne has qualifications in public sector management.
Professor Steven Lane is Executive Director of Research for MNH. He is a clinical haematologist with special interest in myeloid blood cancers. He is a lab head at QIMR Berghofer and formerly, Head of the Cancer Research Program there. His research encompasses basic science to translational research and national/ international clinical trials He is funded by NHMRC, MRFF and a number of charitable and philanthropic organisations.Board Secretary: Jane Albatal
Operations
Chief Operating Officer: Stephen Eaton
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Executive Director: Louise Oriti
The Prince Charles Hospital, Executive Director: Tami Photinos
Redcliffe Hospital, Executive Director: Cang Dang
Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford Clinical Directorate, Executive Director: Karlene Willcocks
Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), Executive Director: Dale Dally-Watkins
Community and Oral Health, Executive Director: Glynis Schultz
Mental Health, Acting Executive Director: Dr Hitesh Joshi
Clinical services
Clinical Services, Executive Director: Dr Jason Jenkins
Heart and Lung, Executive Director: Professor Peter Hopkins
Medicine, Executive Director: Prof Michael O’Sullivan
Surgery, Executive Director: Dr Jason Jenkins
Critical Care – Emergency Medicine, Executive Director: Dr Michelle Davison
Critical Care – Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Acting Executive Director: Dr Michelle Davison
Women and Families, Executive Director: Dr Lee Minuzzo
Paediatrics, Executive Director: Dr Peter Stevenson
Cancer Care, Executive Director: Dr Melissa Eastgate
Contact us
Metro North Chief Executive
Located: Level 14, Block 7
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
HERSTON QLD 4029
Phone: (07) 3647 9501
Email: MD16-MetroNorthHHS@health.qld.gov.au