Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS) has new leadership in its board of directors as it is set to continue delivering high-quality health care to the East Gippsland region in the financial year ahead.
Professor Sandy Leggat has been elected as the new board chair, with Chad Burrell to serve as her deputy, while the board also welcomed experienced health administrator Amanda Cameron to the team.
Sandy, who was the board’s deputy chair and is an East Gippsland resident, brings extensive health experience and knowledge, having worked as a physiotherapist, health services manager and public sector management consultant in both Canada and Australia.
After retiring as Professor, Health Services Management at La Trobe University, Sandy was appointed as an Emeritus Professor and maintains Visiting Professor status at a number of universities throughout the world.
Her teaching focused on equipping health professionals to become successful managers. Her research encompasses people and performance and she has published extensively on human resource management and quality and safety in health care organisations.
Sandy joined the BRHS board in 2021. She brings solid governance experience, having served on boards at community health and disability services, a metropolitan health service, the Victorian Healthcare Association and a primary health network.
“I am proud and delighted to become the chair of the board of directors. I am looking forward to the challenges and achievements to come,” she said.
Chad Burrell is the board’s new deputy chair. He is a director of an East Gippsland accounting firm. He has more than 20 years’ experience as a chartered accountant and auditor with a focus on not-for-profit organisations.
Chad joined the BRHS Board in 2017, contributing to governance and taking an active role as chair of the finance, audit and risk sub-committee. Chad enjoys expanding his directorship to all elements of the business including quality and culture.
At this time the board also farewelled well-known East Gippsland locals, board chair Chris Barry and board member Brendon Moar, after nine years’ service each.
“We thank Chris and Brendon for their outstanding service, particularly noting the extreme circumstances over which they have governed, including a significant cyberattack, the 2020 bushfires the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sandy said on behalf of the board.
“Amanda, our newest board member, brings to us considerable health sector knowledge and a longstanding connection to East Gippsland.”
Amanda is the chief operating officer at Geelong-based Barwon Health and has 18 years’ health management experience, including in Gippsland and East Gippsland.
Amanda worked previously at many health services in Gippsland including Latrobe Regional Health and has generational family connections in East Gippsland.
“The Camerons are well established East Gippsland residents with four generations involved in agriculture business in the region,” she said.
Local representation on the BRHS board has been a key to the success of the BRHS board, Sandy said.
The vast majority of BRHS board members either live in or have business or personal interests in Gippsland, lending vital local knowledge to their required skill set.
“They know the region and they have important skillsets to support the governance of BRHS. They understand our communities and the health sector. That has helped us to shape high-quality services that are growing with our community,” Sandy said.
