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.

Rob held a number of senior financial leadership roles across various Queensland health services, including at Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Metro South Health, Health Support Queensland and most recently at Townsville Hospital and Health Service.

In addition to his healthcare expertise, Rob’s background spans project consultancy, commercial management, financial accounting, governance, support systems and strategic advisory.

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.

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.

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.