Our Board of Directors
CHA benefits enormously from the wisdom and guidance of our Board of Directors. We acknowledge and thank all of our directors who so generously donate their time and expertise to CHA.
Leadership & Governance
Meet our Board
CHA is a not for profit Company Limited by Guarantee. CHA is committed to meeting the highest standards of governance and accountability to our members, and to the children and families they serve. You can find more information about how we work, our processes and policies in our Constitution & Governance Charter.
CHA is registered with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission. See our latest Annual Report –
Our President
Mr John Stanway
We are pleased to welcome our new president of CHA,
John Stanway.
As President of CHA John brings many decades of experience both in children’s healthcare and in health system governance & leadership.
John was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at The Royal Children’s Hospital from April 2017 until his retirement in July 2021. Prior to commencing in this role, John was the Chief Operating Officer at The Royal Children’s Hospital for more than ten years, overseeing clinical operations. From 2012, John also held the position of Deputy CEO.
Before joining The Royal Children’s Hospital, John managed Monash Medical Centre, was Chief Executive of the Transport Accident Commission and held various senior management roles at General Motors Holden.
John has a double major in Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. John was also President of the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association and Chairman for 10 years. John is a former Board Director of The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Ltd, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Before joining The Royal Children’s Hospital, John managed Monash Medical Centre, was Chief Executive of the Transport Accident Commission and held various senior management roles at General Motors Holden.
John has a double major in Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. John was also President of the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association and Chairman for 10 years. John is a former Board Director of The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Ltd, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Vice Presidents:
Emma Maddren
Interim Associate Director – Medical & Community
Starship Children’s Hospital / Child Health Directorate
Starship Children’s Hospital / Child Health Directorate
Emma’s 20+ year career in the health sector has spanned primary care, community, secondary and tertiary services in both public and private services in New Zealand. Her strong interest in health system improvement is reflected in leading the design and implementation of the National Mental Health KPI Framework and a diverse portfolio of national change and improvement initiatives.
Emma has a background in allied health (Speech Language Therapy) and her post graduate studies have focused on quality, strategy and financial management. Emma’s particular areas of interest and focus are currently community services redesign, tertiary services sustainability, financial sustainability, productivity and patient and family centred service design.
As General Manager of Starship Child Health, Emma works closely with the Directors Mike Shepherd and John Beca. The significant transformation activity underway at Starship will be greatly informed by benchmarking activity with CHA members.
Emma has a background in allied health (Speech Language Therapy) and her post graduate studies have focused on quality, strategy and financial management. Emma’s particular areas of interest and focus are currently community services redesign, tertiary services sustainability, financial sustainability, productivity and patient and family centred service design.
As General Manager of Starship Child Health, Emma works closely with the Directors Mike Shepherd and John Beca. The significant transformation activity underway at Starship will be greatly informed by benchmarking activity with CHA members.
Dr Carola Wittekind
Director of Paediatrics & Staff Specialist Paediatrician,
Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW
Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW
Carola a General Paediatrician in Sydney with extensive clinical and managerial experience both in the tertiary context and in Paediatric units within Adult teaching hospitals. She is currently the Head of the Department of Paediatrics at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) and Lecturer at the University of Sydney, Northern Clinical School. Her special interests lie in the continuous improvement of clinical services, and thus patient care, including the development and implementation of innovative models of care. Over the past few years, and in particular since the recent RNSH campus re-development, activity has increased significantly and the hospital now provides the largest acute service for Paediatric patients in NSW outside the tertiary Children’s Hospitals. To meet the care needs of patients and their families and to provide high quality, effective and efficient services she has led the development and implementation of close observation, acute review and short stay capacity as well as a Paediatric Hospital-in-the-Home care model.
To facilitate networking and peer support within Sydney and with the aim to provide high quality specialist paediatric care for infants, children, adolescents and their families as close to home as possible she was instrumental in creating ‘MP4’, the Sydney Metropolitan and outer Metropolitan Paediatric Level 4 Unit network, and served as co-chair of the Steering Committee from 2011-17. She currently represent MP4 on the Paediatric Network Executive of the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, ACI.
To facilitate networking and peer support within Sydney and with the aim to provide high quality specialist paediatric care for infants, children, adolescents and their families as close to home as possible she was instrumental in creating ‘MP4’, the Sydney Metropolitan and outer Metropolitan Paediatric Level 4 Unit network, and served as co-chair of the Steering Committee from 2011-17. She currently represent MP4 on the Paediatric Network Executive of the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, ACI.
Board Members:
Dr Neil Archer
Clinical Director of Paediatrics,
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, QLD
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, QLD
Dr Neil Archer is the Clinical Director of Paediatrics for CHHHS and has been practicing Paediatrics for over 20 years. He completed specialist training in Australia and the UK. He has specific training and special interest in respiratory medicine, allergy and paediatric rheumatology.
He has a keen interest in system approaches to improving service provision in terms of effectiveness and equity for all children in regional Australia, communication and Safety
He has a keen interest in system approaches to improving service provision in terms of effectiveness and equity for all children in regional Australia, communication and Safety
Ms Cathryn Cox
Chief Executive, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, NSW
Cathryn Cox has many years’ experience as an Executive within the NSW Ministry of Health with responsibility for a range of health policy, planning, infrastructure and strategic reform programs. Her early role as a physiotherapist at RPA paved the way for a long-term career in health which included leading Health Infrastructure as its interim Chief Executive.
Cathryn is passionate about the role of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network in providing world-class patient-centred care for children and young people, and their families.
Recently, Cathryn led the COVID-19 System Planning stream of the Ministry’s coordinated COVID-19 response, which included the establishment of the COVID-19 Clinical Council and Communities of Practice and oversight of the infrastructure planning, in partnership with Health Infrastructure.
Cathryn is passionate about the role of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network in providing world-class patient-centred care for children and young people, and their families.
Recently, Cathryn led the COVID-19 System Planning stream of the Ministry’s coordinated COVID-19 response, which included the establishment of the COVID-19 Clinical Council and Communities of Practice and oversight of the infrastructure planning, in partnership with Health Infrastructure.
Dr Paul Craven
Executive Director, Children & Young People and Family Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, NSW
Dr Paul Craven, having trained in the UK as a Paediatrician and then Paediatric Neurology, he moved to Australia in 1999 to NETS NSW. From 1999-2003 completed FRACP and neonatal training. He commenced as a Neonatologist at JHCH in 2004 and was actively involved in developing a number of programs.
Dr Paul Craven became the Director of Newborn Services in HNE including the NICU at JHCH and then co-Director of the Children’s Hospitals in Newcastle in 2017. In 2019 He was appointed permanently to the position of Director of the Children, Young People and Families Service for Hunter New England LHD in 2019.
He believes it is important to not only be involved in provision of health services locally but to share with and learn from others in order to provide world class care to children throughout Australia
Dr Paul Craven became the Director of Newborn Services in HNE including the NICU at JHCH and then co-Director of the Children’s Hospitals in Newcastle in 2017. In 2019 He was appointed permanently to the position of Director of the Children, Young People and Families Service for Hunter New England LHD in 2019.
He believes it is important to not only be involved in provision of health services locally but to share with and learn from others in order to provide world class care to children throughout Australia
Ms Maeve Downes
Nursing Director, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA
Maeve is currently a Nursing Director, Women and Children’s Division in NALHN, with a portfolio that includes Neonatal, Paediatric and Perinatal Mental Health, together with operational leadership of nursing and midwifery for the Women and Children’s Division.
Maeve trained as a Nurse in Ireland before emigrating to Australia in 1987. She has worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Nursing Manager in NSW Sydney and Armidale, where she completed her post graduate studies in Health Management at the University of New England.
Maeve subsequently worked at the Tertiary Women and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide from 1994 to 2008 where she managed the paediatric cancer services. Maeve was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2007 to undertake a study of models of care for adolescent cancer. Maeve is most proud of the opportunities she had in her career to establish a Virtual Adolescent Young Adult Cancer Service for South Australia, establishment of a paediatric Nursing Practice Development Fellowship, and the planning of a child protection service NALHN, following the Nyland Royal Commission.
In 2008 Maeve joined the Department of Health and Ageing team for 5 years up until her current appointment in NALHN, where she worked across multiple cancer, statewide planning and workforce Reform portfolios.
Maeve trained as a Nurse in Ireland before emigrating to Australia in 1987. She has worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Nursing Manager in NSW Sydney and Armidale, where she completed her post graduate studies in Health Management at the University of New England.
Maeve subsequently worked at the Tertiary Women and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide from 1994 to 2008 where she managed the paediatric cancer services. Maeve was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2007 to undertake a study of models of care for adolescent cancer. Maeve is most proud of the opportunities she had in her career to establish a Virtual Adolescent Young Adult Cancer Service for South Australia, establishment of a paediatric Nursing Practice Development Fellowship, and the planning of a child protection service NALHN, following the Nyland Royal Commission.
In 2008 Maeve joined the Department of Health and Ageing team for 5 years up until her current appointment in NALHN, where she worked across multiple cancer, statewide planning and workforce Reform portfolios.
Dr David Fuller
Director Women's & Children's Directorate,
Barwon Health VIC
Associate Professor David Fuller is a general Paediatrician working in Geelong Victoria. Dave completed his paediatric training though RCH, Melbourne, with early career interests in infectious diseases and public health, completing an MPH (Monash University) during that time. He worked as a General Paediatric consultant at RCH for 3 years, before starting work in Geelong in 2005. From 2007 to 2015 he was Director of Paediatrics at Barwon Health in Geelong and from 2015 has been Clinical Director of the Women’s and Children’s Directorate at Barwon Health. He also works part time as Barwon Health’s Executive Medical Director. Dave maintains his work in paediatric clinical work in public and private settings in Geelong, as well as conducting regular outreach clinics in Apollo Bay. Dave has been Chair and then Deputy Chair of the Clinical Examination Committee of the FRACP between 2018 and 2022. Dave has a growing interest in leadership and governance and is completing an MBA, specialising in Leadership through Deakin University.
Dr Julie Green
Director, CHA & Queen Elizabeth Centre
Julie has extensive experience in child and family health and evidence-based parenting over a 40-year career. This informs her deep understanding of the continuum from primary prevention to tertiary health care and the diverse child health workforce in our healthcare systems.
She has experience with not for profit and government-funded organisations in child and family health: including the Queen Elizabeth Centre, the Raising Children and the Parenting Research Centre (2012-2021).
She holds concurrent appointments with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the University of Melbourne’s Department of Paediatrics, and the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University.
She has experience with not for profit and government-funded organisations in child and family health: including the Queen Elizabeth Centre, the Raising Children and the Parenting Research Centre (2012-2021).
She holds concurrent appointments with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the University of Melbourne’s Department of Paediatrics, and the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University.
Ms Nicola Scott
Clinical Nurse Manager, Christchurch Hospital, NZ
I have worked for the CDHB for 34 years and in that time have worked in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary care. All these positions were within the Paediatric Sector.
I have held leadership positions in all these services and have a good understanding of how services work separately and together. I have been project lead for the Collaborative Care Project, the Transition Project and will next year lead a governance group of representatives from Adult and Paediatric services to explore how we can work more collaboratively. I am member of five different CHA SIGs and value the opportunity this has given me personally and the service as a whole.
I have held leadership positions in all these services and have a good understanding of how services work separately and together. I have been project lead for the Collaborative Care Project, the Transition Project and will next year lead a governance group of representatives from Adult and Paediatric services to explore how we can work more collaboratively. I am member of five different CHA SIGs and value the opportunity this has given me personally and the service as a whole.
Mr Sean Turner
Director of Pharmacy, Women's & Children's Health Network, SA
Sean Turner is currently the Director of Pharmacy at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) in Adelaide. Sean has worked at WCH since 2004 and has been the Director of Pharmacy since 2009. Sean has previously worked at a number of major paediatric hospitals including the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London; Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool and Princess Margaret Children’s Hospital in Western Australia.
Sean has a background as a clinical pharmacist and continues to maintain an active interest in the areas of medication safety and improving access to medicines for children. Sean is a strong advocate for paediatric patients and contributes to a number of committees and groups within the hospital and at State and National levels advocating on a wide range of issues related to quality and safety of medication for children & young people.
In 2014, Sean was awarded the CHA Medal of Distinction for his services to child health, including (among many other contributions) his leadership for more than 10 years of the CHA Medication Safety Special Interest Group. Sean was first elected by members to the CHA Board in 2018.
Sean has a background as a clinical pharmacist and continues to maintain an active interest in the areas of medication safety and improving access to medicines for children. Sean is a strong advocate for paediatric patients and contributes to a number of committees and groups within the hospital and at State and National levels advocating on a wide range of issues related to quality and safety of medication for children & young people.
In 2014, Sean was awarded the CHA Medal of Distinction for his services to child health, including (among many other contributions) his leadership for more than 10 years of the CHA Medication Safety Special Interest Group. Sean was first elected by members to the CHA Board in 2018.
