Jim McGowan AM, Board Chair

On Tuesday 26 March 2024, the current Metro North Board met for the last time.

Deputy Chair Dr Kim Forrester and Board members Bonny Barry, Professor Mary-Louise Fleming, Geoff Hardy, Neil Roberts, and I are also retiring.

I thank those members for their wonderful contribution to Metro North and wish them well in their next endeavours.

On a personal note, it has been a great honour to have been the Chair of the biggest and best health service in Australia. Metro North has continued to meet its clinical performance targets, while maintaining its financial sustainability. That is entirely due to your diligent, compassionate, and empathetic commitment to the provision of high quality and safe patient/consumer care. The Board is collectively so proud of you for what you have achieved and continue to achieve on behalf of the people of Metro North.

Thank you all sincerely.

I would also, on behalf of the Metro North Board, acknowledge the leadership of Chief Executive Jackie Hanson and her Executive team. It has been a positive and constructive relationship with some fun along the way.

I am also confident that Metro North will continue to provide clinical leadership to Queensland Health and be at the forefront of innovative patient care and medical research, and the reforms which are so necessary to meet the unprecedented demands on our services and on you.

It has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated, professional, and capable group of people. Congratulations.

Thank you also to those staff who could attend afternoon tea with the Board at the RBWH Education Centre yesterday. It was wonderful to speak to many staff from across Metro North.

My last quotes to ponder:

“Retirement is wonderful. It’s doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it.” (Gene Perret, 1937-2022, American comedy writer)

“The company (QH?) gave me an aptitude test and I found out the work I was best suited for was retirement.” (Unknown)

Regards,

Jim.