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: Naomi Hebson
Naomi is a dynamic healthcare leader with a passion for driving innovation and transforming care delivery. With extensive experience in health policy, commissioning and strategic purchasing, she is committed to creating sustainable healthcare models that prioritise efficiency, quality, and patient outcomes. Naomi excels at fostering collaborations across teams and stakeholders, leveraging her expertise to deliver innovative solutions that ensure long-term system stability and improved service delivery.
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 services, to support delivery of improved health outcomes for Queenslanders.
Most recently, as the Deputy Director-General for Clinical Support Queensland (formally Queensland Public Health and Scientific Services), Nick was responsible for leading the division in delivering critical 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.
Ian Wright brings extensive financial and executive leadership experience to Metro North Health, having held senior leadership roles across major Australian and international healthcare organisations.
Prior to joining Metro North Health, Ian was Chief Financial Officer at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare in Saudi Arabia, where he provided strategic financial leadership across a complex, integrated healthcare organisation. He has also held senior finance and executive leadership roles within Queensland Health, including Executive Director of Finance and Business Services at West Moreton Hospital and Health Service and Health Support Queensland.
Ian’s healthcare leadership experience also includes serving as Chief Financial Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer at Mater Misericordiae Limited. Earlier in his career, he gained valuable international experience as Budget and Fiscal Manager at NATO Headquarters in Germany and Afghanistan.
With extensive experience in financial strategy, organisational performance, transformation and governance, Ian is passionate about using financial insight to support better decision-making and sustainable healthcare outcomes. His collaborative leadership style and ability to engage effectively with clinicians, executives, boards and other stakeholders will support Metro North Health in delivering its strategic priorities and shaping the future of healthcare for the communities it serves.
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.
Adjunct Associate Professor Kellie Wren MBBS, FRACMA, FANZCA, MBA, GAICD
Adjunct Associate Professor Kellie Wren is the Chief Medical Officer of Metro North Health and one of Queensland’s most experienced medical leaders, with more than 25 years of clinical, executive and governance experience across the state’s largest health services. She is a specialist medical administrator and anaesthetist, holding Fellowships of both the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, in addition to an MBA and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors qualification.
Kellie has held senior executive leadership roles across Queensland Health, including Executive Director Medical Services at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Executive Director Medical Services and Clinical Governance at Gold Coast Health, Director of Medical Services at Redcliffe Hospital, and Acting Executive Director of Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she provided strategic leadership for one of Australia’s leading quaternary hospitals. Her portfolio in leadership has encompassed clinical governance, patient safety and quality, medical workforce, education, research, disaster management, digital health, and organisational transformation.
As Chair of the Queensland Clinical Senate, Kellie provides independent clinical leadership and strategic advice to Queensland Health, championing innovation, healthcare reform and collaborative approaches that improve consumer outcomes and health system value. She is widely recognised for bringing together clinicians, consumers, executives and policymakers to address complex healthcare challenges and drive system-wide improvement.
Throughout her career, Kellie has led major health service redesign initiatives, accreditation programs, service expansions and governance reforms. She played a key leadership role in the planning and development of the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) facility and has extensive experience in workforce planning, models of care development and large-scale service transformation.
Kellie has served on numerous committees focused on clinical governance, safety and quality, service capability planning, disaster management and healthcare improvement. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor with the University of Queensland and has contributed to research and quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient-centred care and health system performance.
As Chief Medical Officer of Metro North Health, Kellie is committed to strengthening clinical excellence, supporting a skilled and engaged workforce, advancing innovation and digital transformation, and ensuring patients and communities remain at the centre of healthcare delivery. She is a passionate advocate for prevention, equitable access to care, clinician leadership and sustainable health system reform.
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 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.
Michelle has held several senior leadership roles with Metro North, including most recently as Director Allied Health STARS and Senior Director Clinical Operations Community and Oral Health.
For twenty years, she has worked in designing, implementing and evaluating allied health workforce and service reforms, for both Metro North and across Queensland, using her Masters of Health Services Management and post graduate studies in leadership and digital healthcare.
Michelle’s desire to help people live healthier, better lives pointed her to a career in healthcare. She chose her first degree in occupational therapy for its pragmatic, holistic nature.
Outside of work and study, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband, three children and their golden cocker spaniel Jasper.
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.
Jodi has extensive healthcare leadership experience across Australia’s and New Zealand’s public, private, and non-government health sectors. With deep expertise in strategy, planning, and system transformation, Jodi has extensive experience designing and delivering health service, infrastructure, and workforce strategies across Australia and New Zealand, working collaboratively with governments, health services, clinicians, and community stakeholders to strengthen health system performance and improve health outcomes.
Having also recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Company Directors Course, Jodi brings a strong blend of clinical insight, strategic thinking, and governance capability. A values-driven leader, Jodi is recognised for translating complex strategic priorities into practical, deliverable actions that achieve sustainable organisational and system-wide change.
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: Jamie Spencer
Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), Executive Director: Dale Dally-Watkins
Community and Oral Health, Executive Director: Glynis Schultz
Mental Health, Acting Executive Director: Ms Sandra Eyre
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