Karlene Willcocks

Executive Director, Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals, Woodford Correctional Facility

Karlene Willcocks is the Executive Director for Metro North’s Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals, Woodford Correctional Facility, as well as Caboolture and Bribie Island Satellite Health Centres. A Registered Comprehensive Nurse with dual registration from the New Zealand Nursing Council (1993) and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (2009), Karlene has an extensive educational background, including a Diploma in Nursing from Auckland Technical Institute (1993), a Bachelor of Health Science in Nursing (1995), and postgraduate certifications in Health Sciences and Resuscitation.

In 2015, she completed an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) at Monash University, further enhancing her leadership capabilities. Karlene is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

With a proven track record as a strategic healthcare leader, Karlene excels in building high-performing, diverse teams that deliver exceptional outcomes, even in the most challenging circumstances. She is dedicated to creating a positive, values-driven culture, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders and teams to ensure the delivery of safe, timely, and effective care. Her leadership is rooted in empowering individuals and bringing teams together to achieve shared goals while constantly striving for excellence.

Tracy Grant

Manager of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services

Tracy Grant is a strong proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman and the Manager of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services for Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford Clinical Directorate (CKW). Tracy’s role provides strategic leadership to the CKW Clinical Directorate to inform the cultural appropriateness of service delivery, that aligns to Safety & Quality Cultural Actions requirements and Health Equity actions.

Tracy is responsible for high level operational planning, management and evaluation of designated services and maintenance of professional delivery of health care services within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Team.

Tracy is continuing to support the legacy in creating a welcoming atmosphere in the hospital and satellite’s environment by increasing cultural capability, providing primary health care, co-designing and working with community engagement and growth in the identified workforce.

Tracy is determined and motivated in providing cultural leadership strategically and operationally to contribute for planning and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the CKW directorate. Life and work experience demonstrates Tracy’s work ethic is working “with” all people in health and community for a simple “way” to have a positive experience and the best health outcome.

Nikia Goldsmith

Director of Performance and Planning

She leads, develops, coordinates and manages integrated planning and a program of performance activities to support the Executive Director. Nikia is the interface between Metro North and CKW Directorate in relation to performance-based reporting and management.

This service also provides leadership in priority projects, innovative service development, operational planning and performance outcomes, driving a focus on value, quality, timeliness and results in the delivery of health services across CKW.

Nikia is also a registered Nurse with over 22 years of experience.

Ansuyah (Anne) Padayachee

Director Allied Health at Caboolture & Kilcoy Hospitals and Woodford Corrections Health Service and Bribie & Caboolture’s Satellite Health Centres

Ansuyah (Anne) Padayachee is the Director Allied Health at Caboolture & Kilcoy Hospitals and Woodford Corrections Health Service and Bribie & Caboolture’s Satellite Health Centres. Anne holds a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Bachelor of Science (Psychology), a Graduate Certificate in Health Innovation (Implementation Science) and completed the Executive Leaders program in 2025.

She has more than 25 years’ experience as an allied health practitioner and leader, working in the United Kingdom and Australia. Anne is recognised as a state-wide allied health leader in advanced practice models of care, innovation, and implementation. Anne has supported the implementation of key allied health projects within Queensland Health such as Kilcoy Connect Project (Increasing the utilisation of beds in rural setting for sub-acute care), successfully driving the need for weekend Allied health services at CKW and led the Caboolture site in the state-wide Frailty Project.

She is currently leading the implementation of the CKW Disability Action Plan and is the Shatter the Stigma champion. She continues to drive improvements for frail older patients and oversees the complex and stranded patient committee and support the sub-acute patients.

Janelle Chin

Facility Services Director at Caboolture Hospital

Janelle Chin is the Facility Services Director at Caboolture Hospital, responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of all non-clinical support services across the facility. This includes administration, engineering, food services, protective services, procurement, infrastructure, and more.

With a strong focus on service delivery, efficiency and safety, Janelle ensures these critical services operate seamlessly in support of clinical care and patient wellbeing. She also plays a key leadership role in emergency and disaster management, infrastructure planning, and service redesign initiatives.

As an integral member of the hospital’s executive team, Janelle contributes to strategic governance forums and fosters cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-quality, patient-centred support services.

Janelle brings extensive experience in health service operations and is passionate about creating systems that are sustainable, innovative, and responsive to the evolving needs of the hospital and its community.

Adj Assoc Professor Dr Thuy Frakking

Director Research

Adj Assoc Prof Dr Thuy Frakking is an Advanced Speech Pathologist (Paediatrics) and Research Director with more than 18 years’ experience across clinical and research roles across tertiary, secondary and community hospitals in Queensland Health.

 As Research Director, she leads the growth of research across medical, allied health and nursing/midwifery professions at CKW through research promotion, translation and collaborative partnerships. She is passionate about building research capacity and capability to continuously drive innovation that improves healthcare access and outcomes for our community.

 She is a foundational member and current chair of the CKW Research Council; and has led the establishment of multiple conjoint research positions with academic partners.  Using her demonstrated experience with research translation (e.g. national/international guidelines, co-inventor of swallow sounds algorithm), she mentors and guides research and clinical teams in their pursuit of clinical research that provides a meaningful impact in their chosen field of interest.  

Katherine Carey

Acting Director of Finance

Katherine Carey is the Acting Director of Finance for Caboolture, Kilcoy and Woodford Directorate, overseeing an annual operating budget of more than $450 million. She leads a high-performing team through contemporary leadership, financial management, and business practices that support the delivery of safe, high-quality care. Katherine provides strategic and operational advice to the executive, driving budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis while ensuring compliance, efficiency, and alignment with Metro North’s strategic objectives. Ultimately, her goal is to support the executive and wider teams to deliver better outcomes for both the hospital and the community it serves.

Prior to her current role, she held senior finance positions with the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Redcliffe Hospital. Katherine holds graduate and postgraduate qualifications in Science, Education, and Accounting.

Beyond work, she enjoys spending time in her rural setting, where caring for the land and animals provides a grounding balance to her professional responsibilities.

Vanessa Smith

Director, Nursing and Midwifery

Vanessa provides strategic leadership to our 900 + nursing and midwifery staff who provide person centred, safe and high-quality care. Vanessa advocates meaningful caring and healthful cultures by working with people’s values and beliefs and promoting a shared decision-making approach.  

Vanessa strives to improve patient outcomes and experience through the healthcare system with research, innovation and developing partnerships with community.

Vanessa’s adaptive leadership style strengthens authentic engagement by working holistically and being sympathetically present. Her approach strongly aligns with the Metro North values of respect, integrity, compassion, high performance and teamwork.

Vanessa rejoins Metro North Health after 24 years overseas working throughout the Middle East, London and Northeast of Scotland. Vanessa’s resume includes extensive management and leadership in strategic, higher education (University) and senior operational roles across an international context. Her recent role was Chief Nurse/Perioperative Practitioner and Head of Regional Theatre Academy for NHS Grampian NE Scotland.

Vanessa is a registered nurse holding a Bachelor of Nursing Distinction, Masters in Health Science with a Health Services Management Major. Vanessa is a lifelong learner achieving Masters level learning in Research Methodology/Methods and Higher Education Teaching and Learning. Vanessa is a Practice Development Facilitator embracing and developing cultural change through the methodology and methods of the Person-Centred Practice Framework (McCormack and McCance 2014).

Narika Symes

Director of Clinical Governance

The Clinical Governance Unit oversees critical safety and quality portfolios including Patient Safety and Clinical Incident Management, Consumer Feedback and Patient Experience, Policies and Procedures, Risk and Compliance, Morbidity and Mortality, Safety and Quality Data & Analytics and quality improvement.  The Clinical Governance Unit also facilitates health service accreditation and ensures compliance with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.

Narika ensures Clinical Governance is accountable by reviewing, monitoring and continuously improving the health care services.  Narika builds relationships and responsibilities with patients, community, workforce, senior leaders and the department to ensure that we are listening, learning and working together to achieve safe, quality, patient-centred care.

Narika holds a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) and a Masters in Health Science (Health Services Management).  With over 25 years employed in Metro North facilities, originally commencing in Pathology and Scientific Services before moving into Safety & Quality in 2006, Narika has a strong background in Consumer Liaison and is particularly passionate about using patient feedback and experience to guide quality improvement initiatives, to achieve better outcomes for patients.

Dr Theodore Chamberlain

Director of Medical Services

Dr Theodore Chamberlain is the Director of Medical Services for Caboolture and Kilcoy hospitals, Woodford Corrections Health and Caboolture and Bribie Island Health Centres. The Director of Medical Services role provides professional leadership and wise stewardship to the medical workforce of approximately 250 doctors and is responsible for the operational management of the Medical Education, Medical Workforce, Pharmacy and Health Information Service teams.

Dr Chamberlain is a proud founding Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote medicine and has an interest in achieving equity in health by innovation and novel models of care. He has been a Medical Assessor for AHPRA for over 12 years and is a strong advocate in the provision of safe patient centric care. In addition to his role in the Executive team, Dr. Chamberlain enjoys providing clinical care to the community of Caboolture and is committed to delivering person-centred care that respects each patient’s unique background, values, and health goals.