Our Board

Jane has a longstanding career in clinical management of paediatric disorders, with particular application to the related supportive corporate activities. Subsequent to her initial oncology training, she has played a key role in the development of the Hear and Say Centre from its inception to its current leading place as the premier childhood deafness centre.

She served as the Centre Chairman from 1996-2008 and continuing to date as the Deputy Chairman, together with long-term hands-on experience in the Centre’s committees. Jane was pivotal in the development of Queensland Otology and Attune, Australia’s leading private audiological company. She has a proven record of executive leadership having worked for both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations.

Jane was awarded a Doctorate for her studies in prognostication in paediatric cochlear implantation at the University of Queensland, a field in which she is an acknowledged expert. She has a strong focus on health innovation and research, early intervention and clinical ethics.

Jane joined the Board in December 2019. She is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Remuneration and Nominations Committee, and an ex officio member of the Grants Committee.

Sara is Chief Executive Officer of Hand Heart Pocket. Sara has more than twenty-five years’ experience in sustainability, stakeholder relations, communication, and marketing, with both corporate and community organisations, holding staff and board positions.

Previously, Sara has worked for Suncorp as the Head of Suncorp Group’s corporate responsibility function, leading the development of environmental and social impact strategy group-wide. Sara has also worked for resources giant Xstrata, global investment firm Babcock & Brown, and accounting firm Ernst & Young, leading sustainability policy, social impact management, stakeholder engagement, and community investment at regional, national and global levels.

Sara has also held executive and management roles in the community sector in advocacy, communications, and marketing with Australia’s largest social enterprise and childcare provider Goodstart Early Learning, as well as international development agency TEAR Australia and the human services agency Uniting Church Queensland.

Sara has volunteered her professional skills in Australia and overseas to support international relief and development agencies. Sara holds a Bachelor of Business-Management and a Master of Business-Marketing from QUT.

Sara joined the Board in December 2019. She is Chair of the Grants Committee.

Frank is the Health Service Chief Executive at Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service. He has 40 years’ experience working in health systems which includes executive roles in large health organisations and the non-government sector. He has a clinical background in nursing and holds advanced qualifications in health management and governance. His extensive experience in health commissioning and provision in clinical and community settings is complemented by strong executive management and leadership skills.

Frank has an applied interest in population health planning and translational health research. While working in both government and non-government roles he has focused on delivering sustainable health strategies that serve the best interests of patients, health professionals, the broader health system, and the community.

Frank joined the Board in December 2019.

Michelle is a passionate advocate for rural health, especially around issues of equitable provision of health care in rural communities and in overcoming barriers to accessing tertiary healthcare services for rural people. Michelle sits on the Board of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and previously served on the boards of the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania, the Rural Doctors Association of Australia and General Practice Training Tasmania.

A Fellowed rural GP and Rural Generalist, Michelle has an interest in paediatrics and has a Diploma of Child Health, as well as a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in addition to her medical and science qualifications. Her clinical work involves both aeromedical retrieval and primary care clinics with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Mount Isa

She is also a statewide Medical Education Officer for RFDS and has a conjoint academic appointment with the University of Tasmania. She trained across city, regional and remote NSW, Queensland, and Tasmania, where she was able to combine her medicine with her skills as a vigneron, running a vineyard in southern Tasmania. She currently divides her time between Tasmania and Queensland.

Michelle joined the Board in December 2019. She is Chair of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee and a member of the Grants Committee.

Sharon is a Director in BDO’s Healthcare team looking after large medical groups, hospitals, doctors and allied health professionals. Whilst working in an accounting and taxation environment her advisory skills extend to management accounting, business structuring, personal wealth creation, self-managed superannuation, succession planning, family business and indirect taxation.

Sharon also sits on the Board of St John Ambulance (Qld), chairs their Finance and Risk Committee, and sits on their Remuneration and Performance Committee. Her role as a board member of Community Canteen Co Ltd is a very hands-on one, providing meals for Brisbane people in need. She is also the Secretary for the Ideas Van Partnerships Ltd which takes world-class eye clinics to rural and remote communities in Australia.

Sharon joined the Board in December 2019. She is a member of the Finance, Audit, and Risk Management Committee.

Karina is a proud First Nations and South Sea Islander woman, deeply rooted in her ancestral connections to northern New South Wales. She has extensive experience in media and governance and has made significant contributions to the industry.

While her expertise primarily lies in broadcasting and radio production, Karina has recently ventured into the realm of documentary making. In 2022, Karina and her colleagues were honoured with a prestigious Logie award for their documentary, “Incarceration Nation,” which shed light on important social issues.

Karina is an esteemed ABC journalist and holds prominent leadership positions. She is also:

• the Chair of BlakDance, where she advocates for Indigenous representation and storytelling through dance
• a Non-Executive Director for ATSICHS Brisbane, a community-controlled organisation
• a Non-Executive Director for Deadly Coders, promoting digital literacy among Indigenous youth.

Karina is a member of the Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service Board. Karina joined the Board in February 2024.

Garth is an experienced Information and Technology executive with over 30 years’ experience in public, not-for-profit and private sectors.

He is currently the Chief Information Officer at Queensland Fire and Emergency Services where he has been setting the strategy and delivery of digital initiatives. Previous to that, Garth has held executive roles in Brisbane City Council, UnitingCare Queensland and Rio Tinto. Garth has extensive experience in strategic planning, roadmap development, portfolio management, risk management and service delivery.

Garth joined the Board in December 2022 and is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Cheryl’s career spans the private sector, and both state and federal governments in diverse fields including health, taxation, education and transport. In her most recent role, Cheryl worked to support partnerships with First Nations people to co-steward Queensland’s unique cultural landscapes and protect the rights and interests of First Nations peoples. In her previous role as Deputy Commissioner at the Queensland Family and Child Commission, Cheryl supported QFCC’s drive to oversight improvement and reform of Queensland’s child protection and family support system.

Cheryl has also enjoyed a long career in governance, serving on several boards including the Queensland Art Gallery, Canberra Museum and Gallery, ACT Cultural Council, the Queensland Music Festival, and Brisbane Writers Festival and the Institute of Modern Art, where she also chaired First Nations advisory councils.

Cheryl is a Kooma Traditional Owner. Kooma Country is South-West Queensland, between St George and Cunnamulla. Cheryl is passionate about language revitalisation and uses poetry as tool for her own learning. Cheryl is the most recent winner of the prestigious Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poetry Prize.

Cheryl joined the Board in December 2022 and is a member of the Grants Committee.

Cath joined the Board in December 2022 and is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.