The BRHS Board of Directors
SANDRA LEGGAT
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.
DR ANAND PONNIRAIVAN
Dr Anand Ponniraivan is a specialist medical administrator and senior healthcare executive with a strong focus on clinical excellence, patient safety and building high-performing health systems.
He currently serves as Director Medical Services, Quality & Safety at Monash Health.
Throughout his career, Anand has led major improvements in clinical governance, quality systems and organisational performance, with a focus on creating lasting system-wide change.
He is also Chair of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators Victorian Jurisdictional Committee and is passionate about developing future leaders across the health sector.
Anand brings to the Board a strong commitment to good governance, strategic thinking, continuous learning and creating the conditions for people to deliver exceptional care.
AMANDA CAMERON
Amanda Cameron joined the BRHS Board of Directors in July 2024.
Amanda is a healthcare professional with more than 30 years of health experience, including 15 years in executive management and senior operational roles.
Amanda is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Barwon Health. She has been in this position since 2018.
Amanda has an extensive executive career in health, holding a number of senior positions in the Gippsland region.
She is an Adjunct Professor with Deakin University and holds a Masters in Health Administration from Latrobe University.
JAMIE WILLIAMSON
MAICD
Jamie Williamson has a background in governance and community engagement, with strong ties to East Gippsland and a long-standing commitment to supporting regional communities.
Jamie works across governance, strategy, community engagement and organisational development.
He currently serves as Director of East Gippsland Water and the Australian Dental Council and is a member of APHRA’s Community Advisory Council.
Jamie brings a strong understanding of the importance of listening to community, building trusted relationships and ensuring community perspectives to inform good decision-making.
He is passionate about contributing to a strong, responsive and community-focused health service for people across East Gippsland.
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 and 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.
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 magazines, television, radio and newspapers and is the author of 10 books.
Sue currently serves on the community panel of Ad Standards Australia and has previously served on the Boards of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and Destination Gippsland.
KIERAN DONOVAN
Kieran Donovan joined the board of Bairnsdale Regional Health Service as a Non-Executive Director in July 2025 and brings over 20 years of executive leadership, strategic oversight, and risk expertise to the role.
As Founder and Managing Director of Lower Capital, a climate and corporate advisory firm, he specialises in public infrastructure delivery in regional and remote communities, and currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of Gladstone Airport Corporation.
Kieran holds an MBA, Bachelor degrees in Engineering and Science from the University of Melbourne, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
JANE GREACEN OAM
Dr Jane is a rural GP and retired Occupational Physician. She has a long-term involvement with occupational health, Aboriginal health, rural health workforce and conservation issues, and believes that healthy people need a healthy country.
Jane is involved with several community organisations and recently was a Councillor for the East Gippsland Shire Council. She has been senior lecturer with Monash University, Director Medical Services for rural hospitals, CEO of the Rural Workforce Agency Victoria and other senior management roles in state government.