The Board is responsible for the governance activities of CHQHHS (the service), deriving its authority from the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 and the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012. There is a clear distinction between the strategic role of the Board and the operational role of the Executive. The Board controls the service for which it is established, whilst the Health Service Chief Executive and leadership team are responsible for implementing the Board’s directions and for the day-to-day management of the service.

The functions of the Board are provided in the Board Charter and include:

• Developing the strategic direction and priorities for the operation of the service
• Monitoring compliance and performance of the service
• Ensuring safety and quality systems are in place which are focused on the patient experience, quality outcomes, evidence-based practice, education and research
• Developing plans, strategies and budgets to ensure the accountable provision of health services
• Ensuring risk management systems are in place and overseeing the operation of systems for compliance and risk management reporting to stakeholders
• Establishing and maintaining effective systems to ensure that the health services meet the needs of the community.

The following committees support the functions of the Board. Each operates within terms of reference describing the purpose, role, responsibilities, composition, structure and membership:

• Health Service Executive Committee
• Finance and Performance Committee
• Risk and Audit Committee
• Quality and Safety Committee

David Gow - Chair

Mr Gow brings more than 30 years’ experience in law, banking and finance, having held senior leadership roles with a multinational bank in Australia and internationally. Since returning to Australia in 2008, Mr Gow has held a number of non-executive board roles in government and private sector companies, specialising in governance, financial management, and audit and risk management. He also gained extensive knowledge of research commercialisation during his time as a director of University of Queensland Holdings.

Cheryl Herbert - Deputy Chair

Adjunct Professor Herbert has more than 20 years’ experience as a Chief Executive Officer and leader within not-for-profit and government health and regulatory organisations. A trained midwife and nurse, Ms Herbert is a fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a board member of Lives Lived Well Pty Ltd and a Director of Guide Dogs Qld Pty Ltd, UnitingCare Qld Pty Ltd and Peachtree Ltd. She was the founding CEO of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC) from 2006 and served as the CEO of Anglicare (formerly St Luke’s Nursing Service) for 10 years. Cheryl has recently retired as CEO of the Institute of Healthy Communities Australia (IHCA Ltd) and Vice Chair of the Brisbane South Primary Health Network Pty Ltd. Ms Herbert holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Diploma of Applied Science from Queensland University of Technology.

Paul Cooper

Mr Cooper has more than 25 years’ experience as an accountant in private practice. Mr Cooper has broad experience in a number of industries with current and former board positions in manufacturing, accounting, education, health and industrial electronics. He is Chairman of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre Ltd, Chairman of Rinstrum Group and Chair of the Qld Department of Health Audit & Risk Committee. Mr Cooper was previously a Director of the Export Council of Australia and CPA Australia Ltd. Paul is a member of the CHQ Health Service Executive Committee and is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Georgie Somerset AM

A company director, Ms Somerset brings extensive experience in consumer and community advocacy for children, young people and families living in rural and regional areas as well as strong Board and strategic governance experience. She is the president of AgForce Queensland, a board member of the ABC and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland) and chair of the Red Earth Community Foundation South Burnett. A Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Georgie also operates a cattle property with her family in southern Queensland.

Ross Willims

Mr Willims has held a number of senior executive positions within both the public and private sector such as Vice President External Affairs BHP Billiton Metallurgical Coal, and Director General of the Queensland Department of Mines and Energy. He has also worked in a range of Commonwealth Government departments. On his retirement from BHP Billiton, Ross was appointed Chairman of the Australian Coal Association and Australian Coal Association Low Emissions Technologies Limited. Mr Willims was awarded life membership of the Queensland Resources Council in 2011.

Dr David Wood AM

Dr Wood has more than 20 years’ experience in child protection in Queensland. He is a former Chair and Board Member of ACT for Kids (previously known as Abused Child Trust) for 25 years and until recently, Director of Paediatric Health Services at Mater Children’s Hospital. Dr Wood is a well-respected paediatrician who brings significant experience working in Queensland hospitals. As a founding member of the Abused Child Trust he has been instrumental in breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect in Australia through therapy for abused children and their families.

Heather Watson

Heather brings more than 30 years legal and governance experience with the last 10 years specifically across the charitable and nonprofit sector. She has been a partner in legal practices in both regional and metropolitan contexts. Her industry expertise covers aged care, health and community services, affordable housing and Indigenous communities. She has considerable experience in structuring and strategic advice to philanthropic entities.

Karina Hogan

Ms Hogan has a strong background in media and indigenous advocacy. In addition to her current role as an ABC journalist, Ms Hogan is also Chair of the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service and a Director on the board of Sisters Inside, which works to improve outcomes for women and children in touch with the criminal justice system.

Darren Brown

Mr Brown is a highly experienced clinician, with over 30 years’ experience as an ambulance paramedic.  Currently based in Far North Queensland, Mr Brown also provides strategic advice to Government in relation to ambulance policy, operations and industrial matters.

Mr Brown has previously held senior departmental positions in the Queensland Government, specialising in stakeholder and workforce representation.

Suzanne Cadigan

Ms Cadigan has vast experience as a registered nurse in both the public and private health sectors, working in a range of clinical roles such as surgical nursing, education and staff development, and paediatric nursing. She has served as the Nursing Director of Surgery and Perioperative Services at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for 12 years, with a background in previous leadership roles in critical care and emergency nursing. Ms Cadigan currently holds membership of the Nursing and Midwifery Board Queensland and is a past President of the Queensland Nurses’ Union and former member of the Queensland Nursing Council. She has recently joined Karuna Hospice as a Board member.

Board meetings are held monthly and venues alternate between Children’s Health Queensland facilities, to allow the Board Members to meet and hear from patients and staff. Committee meetings are held quarterly, with membership made up of a smaller group of Board Members focused on the oversight and monitoring of the relevant functions.

Meeting agendas are prepared by the Board Secretary and approved by the Chair of the Board/Committee. Minutes of Board and Committee meetings are recorded by the Board Secretary and a summary of Board meeting outcomes is prepared following the approval of meeting minutes.

• Board Charter
• Board Audit and Risk Committee Terms of Reference
• Board Finance and Performance Committee Terms of Reference
• Board Health Service Executive Committee Terms of Reference
• Board Quality and Safety Committee Terms of Reference

The primary point of contact for the Board is via the Board Secretary, with formal meeting requests and appointments for the Board or Board Members coordinated by the Board Office.

e: CHQ_Board@health.qld.gov.au
t: 07 3068 5577