Governance

Sunshine Coast Health Network (trading as Country to Coast, Qld) is an independent not- for-profit organisation, structured as a company limited by guarantee. We are registered as a charity with the Australian Not for Profits and Charities Commission. We are a membership-based organisation with a Constitution and Board of Directors and hold an Annual General Meeting each year. Our Primary Health Network (PHN) is governed by organisational (voting) members who have responsibilities, such as election of the Board and overseeing the constitution.

View the Sunshine Coast Health Network Constitution

Our Board

Our Board of Directors leads the strategic direction of the organisation and is responsible for our compliance and reporting to governing bodies such as the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission. A skills-based governing body, our Board is comprised of experienced health professionals, business and legal experts and representatives from the not-for- profit sector.

Dr Shea Spierings

Board Chair

Shea is a Gaangulu man, originally from Central Queensland. He is a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, focussing on Aboriginal men's health and COVID-19 health messaging in Indigenous communities. Shea has significant experience advising and working in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation sector, research sector, and youth sector. In 2015, he was appointed by the Australian Government to serve as the Australian Youth Delegate to the United Nations. Shea is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Peter Dobson

Board Director

Peter is a GP with more than 30 years’ leadership experience in the healthcare sector, including 10 years as Chair of the Country to Coast, QLD Board, formerly chairing the Sunshine Coast Division of General Practice and stewarding the development of Sunshine Coast Health Network Ltd. through the Medicare Local and PHN transformations, and current Board membership of Australia's first residential eating disorders facility. Peter's strong governance skills support his close involvement and networking with Country to Coast, QLD’s stakeholder groups, to explore new models of care and the benefit technology can bring to general practice. Peter is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Rebecca Bell

Board Director

Originally an Occupational Therapist, Rebecca has served in senior executive roles across health and community organisations, responsible for health and care service delivery, policy development, strategy, and business development. In her current role as Senior Executive, Member Health at Medibank Private, she is accountable for health and wellbeing support for Medibank Private's 3.8 million members. Rebecca was previously on the Boards of CASPA Family Services and Healthy North Coast. Rebecca has been included in the AFR Boss' Top 10 Young Executives. Rebecca is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr David Conry AM

Board Director

David is Managing Director of Damarcon, a privately owned advisory and investment business. He has over 20 years' experience on private, government and community sector boards. David has a strong community focus with particular interest in health and disabilities and has been awarded an Order of Australia, Queensland's Australian of the Year, and EY Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

Dr Fiona McGrath

Board Director

Fiona has worked as a GP on the Sunshine Coast since 1998. She is a passionate advocate for primary healthcare and maintains involvement in GP education, practice improvement and primary healthcare program improvement and innovation. Her experience has included both leadership and program development roles at local, regional and state levels in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors.

Dr John Menzies

Board Director

John is an experienced hospital and health service planner and administrator with more than 35 years' experience in the health field, in Australia and internationally. As an independent hospital and health services consultant, his professional interests lie in improving primary health services, particularly through the use of telemedicine services. John graduated with first-class honours in Medicine from the University of Queensland and holds a Master of Health Planning degree from University of New South Wales.

Ms Karen Murphy

Board Director

Karen is an experienced CEO and Non-Executive Director with extensive experience in ASX-listed companies, government and not-for-profit organisation across multiple sectors, including health, biomedical engineering, legal, financial services and community services. Karen has served on the Board of Gold Coast Hospital and Health District Board, the Boards of the Emergency Medicine Foundation, the Spinal Injuries Association, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the Real Estate Institute of Queensland. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently Chief Operating Officer at the Translational Research Institute.

Mr Paul White

Board Director

Paul is an accomplished Director and CEO having served with several ASX-listed companies, including a current position as Non-Executive Director with Magnetite Mines Ltd and 10 years as the Chief Executive Officer of Brisbane Broncos Ltd. Paul has also held high-level positions at Anglo American Metallurgical Coal and Xstrata Zinc. Paul’s strong connection to regional Queensland, including still calling Rockhampton home, drives his passion for community service and underpins his understanding of the diverse health challenges our region faces.

Mr John Woodward

Board Director

John is an advanced practice pharmacist, having practised on the Sunshine Coast and in the Gympie area since 2004. He provides pharmacy consultancy services to several general medical practices in the region and has worked in community pharmacy. He is a director and co-founder of MedicinesEd, which aims to improve consumers' health literacy, focussing on those living in regional and rural Australia. John has been a Non-Executive Director and Chairperson of Sundale Limited, a provider of residential care, in-home care, retirement living, and social housing services in South-East and Central Queensland. He is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sheridan Cooper

Company Secretary

Sheridan is a corporate governance and compliance professional with over 20 years’ experience advising boards and executive management with not-for-profit organisations, government and government-owned corporations, and ASX-listed companies. She has worked with Australian and international organisations across a wide range of industries including primary health, aged care, mining, financial services and aviation. Sheridan has served as a non-executive director in the aged care sector and on the board of a credit union, including roles as Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.