The BRHS Board of Directors
CHRIS BARRY
chair - BSc, GAICD
Chris Barry was appointed to the BRHS Board of Directors in 2015 and is currently the chair.
He also chairs BRHS’ Clinical Credentialing Committee and Medical Advisory Committee.
Chris has had over 35 years experience in the Victorian Public Sector, mainly in Executive roles.
He was the CEO of several state government committees, authorities and ministerial taskforces.
Chris has also managed the State Government’s responsibilities for the preparedness and response to natural disasters in Gippsland.
Chris has a long history of involvement in community activities including education and school councils, and is currently a Board Member of Noweyung (Disability Services) as well as several other not-for-profit organisations.
SANDRA LEGGAT
DEPUTY CHAIR - MHSc (Physical Therapy), MBA, PhD, GAICD, FCHSM
Prof Sandra (Sandy) Leggat was appointed to the Board in 2021.
Sandy has had a fulfilling career as a physiotherapist, health services manager and public sector management consultant in Canada and Australia.
After retiring from her position as Professor, Health Services Management at La Trobe University she 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 has previously been a board member of community health and disability services, a metropolitan health service, the Victorian Healthcare Association and a public health network (PHN). Now living in East Gippsland, Sandy looks forward to making a useful contribution to the BRHS Board.
SIMON FRASER
MBBS, FRACP (Child Health), FRACMA, FASCHM, GAICD
Dr Simon Fraser was appointed to the BRHS Board of Directors in 2017, and is currently the deputy chair.
Simon is a former Chief Medical Officer and Senior Paediatrician at Latrobe Regional Hospital, and has worked in the Australian health system for more than 35 years.
Later in his career he developed an interest and expertise in medical administration, clinical governance and more recently the private health and insurance sector, and having lived in regional Victoria since 2005, has a strong interest in issues facing families in rural communities.
CHAD BURRELL
BA, BCom, Grad Dip Fin Plan, CA
Chad Burrell was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2017.
Chad has 20 years’ experience working as a chartered accountant and auditor with a focus on not-for-profit organisations and is a director of a local accounting firm.
He is actively involved in a number of community organisations.
KARLY McCASKILL
BBus, MBA
Karly was appointed to the BRHS Board of Directors in 2019.
A strategic marketing professional, Karly worked for eight years as the Executive Officer of East Gippsland Marketing, a regional marketing body created by local Government and the community to promote the region to investors, new residents and visitors.
She is currently the National Marketing & Communications Manager for Workways Australia, a NFP employment and community services provider; and previously served on the Board of Committee for Gippsland.
Karly is passionate about access to quality healthcare in regional and rural communities and sees it as a driving force of economic development in East Gippsland.
BRENDON MOAR
BPharm, MPS
Brendon Moar has served on the BRHS Board of Directors since 2015.
He is currently the proprietor and pharmacist in charge of Corner Amcal in Bairnsdale. Brendon has been a community pharmacist in East Gippsland for 12 years, and has a strong interest in integrated healthcare, indigenous and public health, and health literacy in regional communities.
Brendon is a board member of the Victorian Pharmacy Authority, and a member of the East Gippsland Primary Health Care Network’s Clinical Advisory Committee.
JOHN PAPATHEOHARI
John Papatheohari joined the BRHS Board of Directors in 2022.
John has spent the past 12 years as a CIO and executive business partner, working across public and private health services.
Engaging extensively with a range of stakeholders, John has delivered digital transformations with tangible benefits on consumer experience and service delivery improvements in acute, allied health, primary care, and community and in-home settings.
John made the transition to industry after 26 years as a management consultant, leading national and regional practices and having spent over 12 years in various overseas postings.
John is a non-executive director of Benalla Health (Chair), Mallee Track Health & Community Service (Chair) and Distinctive Options.
He is also a Chisholm Institute Board Sub-Committee member advising on digital, cybersecurity and ICT.
SUE SMETHURST
GAICD
Sue Smethurst joined the BRHS Board of Directors in July 2021.
Sue is an award-winning journalist and author with more than two decades of experience in media, most recently as a Senior Journalist with The Australian Women’s Weekly.
She is a communications and media specialist who has worked across magazine, television, radio and newspaper and is the author of ten books.
Sue currently serves on the community panel of Ad Standards Australia and has previously served on the Boards of the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital and Destination Gippsland.
STEPHANIE McCAUGHEY
Ms Stephanie McCaughey develops and leads mental health and well-being services with a person-centred approach. She is an accredited mediator with a background in criminology and victimology, including developing and leading organisations through Royal Commissions. Ms McCaughey is a women’s leadership advocate.
Ms McCaughey serves as a Member of the Australian Classification Review Board and is a member of various Australia-wide safeguarding advisory Boards. She is a CEO of an institutional abuse organisation, and director of a trauma-informed, victim-survivor psychosocial service provider.
